Bustle Bride: Hannah Davis

Hannah and Luke’s love story began straight out of a Grey’s Anatomy episode, in an operating room. Luke works in orthopedic medical sales and Hannah was working as a surgical assistant at the time. Luke often worked with the orthopedic surgeon that Hannah assisted, so you could say fate and a little magic made by her co-workers brought them together.

“After a few hallway conversations between cases, a job change, and the help of a few co-workers who were bound and determined to get us together, we ended up going on a few dates - the rest is history!”
— Hannah

For their first date, Luke invited Hannah to hangout with some of his friends downtown. The day of, Luke mentioned to Hannah that his friends were coming to his place beforehand and he would love to see Hannah there. After a sequence of rainstorms, when Hannah arrived to Luke’s home, she was greeted with a little surprise.

“I showed up to Luke’s house, only to find out that all of his friends had cancelled due to the rain. I walked into Luke’s place to find him and his SIBLINGS (who I had never met before) ready to party! We ended up playing games for the rest of the night, which turned out to be a super laid-back and fun evening – one that we still joke about today.”
— Hannah

Although their attraction to each other came effortlessly, the logistics of their relationship made things a little more complicated. Because the pair worked together, they knew in order to experience this love story in its fullness, some decisions would need to be made. Hannah knew Luke was the one when she was willing to change jobs for their love. The relationship was a slow burn. One that came with understanding and endless compassion. 

“I was guarded – I had previously experienced a lot of heartbreak and I was so scared of repeating the past. He makes me feel safe, seen and taken care of every single day.”
— Hannah

Luke and Hannah’s Italian nuptials will live on our Pinterest mood boards forever. Because the couple traveled abroad for their wedding, the guest list was more intimate than it would have been if they had tied the knot in their hometown. The more laid back nature of their wedding gave Hannah and Luke something they wouldn’t have gotten otherwise - precious free time. Because they had the time and ability to do so, their wedding photographer suggested the brilliant idea of heading back into Florence after their ceremony and take several sunset photos. These moments became Hannah’s favorite memory of their wedding day. Every time she looks at each photo, she is instantly brought back to the best moments of her life, laughing and feeling loved.

“The experience was so much fun. Getting to have our “first dance” to a live street performer in Florence, kissing on the oldest, most famous (and most beautiful) bridge in Florence, and experiencing the gorgeous view from San Miniato al Monte – one of the highest points in the city. It was truly an unforgettable experience, and one that we will cherish forever.”
— Hannah

Knowing they were getting married in Italy, Hannah wanted a gown that was romantic and fitting for the grand location. What Hannah loved most about her gown is how it truly became one-of-a-kind.

“After finding a gown at Bustle, with the help of the team and their creative vision, we turned my gown into one that was truly “my” gown. Initially, I was hesitant that the dress was “the one.” However, my consultant, Jessica, truly helped transform my dress, creating a vision that I didn’t even know existed. It was the BEST, most intimate experience, and far greater than any dress shopping I had experienced before.”
— Hannah

When we asked Hannah how she knew Luke was the one, her answer left us reaching for a Kleenex or two.

“He makes me a better person, less selfish, more compromising. Hopeful and trusting for the first time, and he loves me even though I sleep with my mouth wide open. Three years, a purchased home, some travels around the world and the full approval of everyone I know, this is my guy. For life.”
— Hannah

Menswear Suits: Brooks Brothers – Summit  

Wedding Planner: Elizabeth // Original Tuscan Weddings  

Wedding Dress Alterations: Something You Couture  

Photographer/Videographer: David Bastioni Studio // Aqua Wedding Photography 

Venue: Villa Le Fontanelle, Tuscany, Italy  

Flowers: Viola Malva Decor 

H&M: Pamela Leti 

Caterer: Villa Le Fontanelle 

Strings/Musicians: Music & Co Italy 

Lighting: Alma Project 247 

Spray Tan: Glow Tanning Salon, Mt. Olive AL 

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10 Love Poems for Your Wedding Day!

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Deciding on a poem that eloquently embodies your partner on your special day is not an easy task. Your spouse-to-be is every beautiful word all at once and you want to personify that feeling in your wedding ceremony. This is the moment you get to share that beauty with your loved ones. It’s special. We hope that these poems give you a glimpse into your own love story. If you are planning a wedding or know someone who is mapping out their day, we encourage you to share this list with them. In a world that sometimes gets overshadowed by negativity, let’s share the words that bring light and love. Cheers to you and your wonderful story of love!

1.) Lighthouse - Nayyirah Waheed

I am your friend

a soul for your soul

a place for your life. home

know this. sun or water. here or away.

we are a lighthouse. we leave. and we stay.

2.) Touched by an Angel - Maya Angelou

We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.

Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.

We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love's light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.

3.) Wedding Toast - James Bertolino

May your love be firm,

and may your dream of life together

be a river between two shores—

by day bathed in sunlight, and by night

illuminated from within. May the heron

carry news of you to the heavens, and the salmon bring

the sea’s blue grace. May your twin thoughts

spiral upward like leafy vines,

like fiddle strings in the wind,

and be as noble as the Douglas fir.

May you never find yourselves back to back

without love pulling you around

into each other's arms.

4.) In One Another’s Souls - Rumi

The moment I heard my first love story

I started looking for you, not knowing how useless that was.

Lovers don’t meet somewhere along the way.

They’re in one another’s souls all along.

5.) In Your Light I Learn How to Love - Rumi

In your light I learn how to love.

In your beauty, how to make poems.

You dance inside my chest, where no one sees you, but sometimes I do, and that sight becomes this art.

6.) Devoted - Lori Eberhai

My heart can be your home,
my soul can be your refuge.
You can turn to me when you are weak,
you can call to me when the way is not clear.
I will be your promise and your prayer,
I will always be there,
Constant and complete.
Run to me,
reach out for me,
and I will love you in a unique and tender way.
Bring your love to me,
share your love with me,
sing your love to me,
and I will offer you peace, ease and comfort.

7.) Our Souls Are Mirrors - Rupi Kaur

god must have kneaded you and i
from the same dough
rolled us out as one on the baking sheet
must have suddenly realized
how unfair it was
to put that much magic in one person
and sadly split that dough in two
how else is it that
when i look in the mirror
i am looking at you
when you breathe
my own lungs fill with air
that we just met but we
have known each other our whole lives
if we were not made as one to begin with

8.) Habitation - Margaret Atwood

Marriage is not
a house or even a tent
it is before that, and colder:
The edge of the forest, the edge
of the desert
the unpainted stairs
at the back where we squat
outside, eating popcorn
where painfully and with wonder
at having survived even
this far
we are learning to make fire

9.) You Came Too - Nikki Giovanni

I came to the crowd seeking friends
I came to the crowd seeking love
I came to the crowd for understanding

I found you

I came to the crowd to weep
I came to the crowd to laugh

You dried my tears
You shared my happiness

I went from the crowd seeking you
I went from the crowd seeking me
I went from the crowd forever

You came, too

10.) I Carry Your Heart With Me - E.E. Cummings

I carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

Bustle’s Top 10 Wedding Poems.

Beautiful photos of Bustle Brides Morgan and Anna. Photography by Jana Musselwhite

EXPERT TIPS: THREE REASONS WHY YOU NEED FILMOGRAPHY AT YOUR WEDDING

Kayla’s path to wedding filmmaking was an unexpected one. This Auburn grad had her sights set on medical school but quickly found herself in the middle of a bigger passion. After graduating college, she began filming weddings as a way to make a little extra income in preparation for medical school. She intended on beginning her premed engineering journey. 

“My husband bought a camera for me when we got home from our honeymoon and told me to ‘go for it!’ I started watching videos online and filming every chance I got.”
— Kayla

Kayla fell hard for the filmmaking process after her first wedding in 2020. This instant love brought the realization that she wanted to make filmography her full time gig. 

Don’t just take it from us that investing in wedding filmography is a beautiful decision. Here are three reasons from the Expert herself!

1.) Videography Tells the Full Story

Photos are always a wonderful way to remember a moment, but there is nothing like experiencing the full impact of your most sincere memories on video. Most of us came into adulthood watching and rewatching cassette tapes of our childhood memories on repeat. How thankful we are that our parents had a camcorder in our faces for most of the 90s. The feeling of playing a tape and watching those moments in real time is indescribable. Video has a way of making even the most mundane memories the soundtrack of our lives.

“Photos are great but they’re all about capturing a single moment in time. Films are all about the full story & the creative process that goes into filming, editing, & producing these films.”
— Kayla

2.) There’s Nothing Like Experiencing Details on Video

Filmography effortlessly preserves the details of each moment. There is true beauty in the full context. Sometimes those intricate blips in time get lost in photos. Video allows for us to take in the full moment with sound and movement.

“ No story is the same, so no film is the same and that is just beautiful to me. Films are the only way a laugh, a look, a walk, or the way a voice cracks can be kept alive forever.”
— Kayla

3.) The Intimate Moments you Experience with your Videographer are Long Lasting

There is no way to feel more connected with another human than through personal experience. Your videographer is walking with you through one of the most anticipated days of your entire life. Their sole purpose is to tuck into those intimate moments with you and help you convey that experience for years to come. It’s no surprise that sometimes the connection that develops with your filmmaker can be significant. We love how genuine Kayla is with her clients. She truly cares about you and your memories.

“My favorite project I’ve been able to work on so far was a wedding in Birmingham at the Barn at Shady Lane. The couple was from Auburn and I ended up having a few mutual friends with them. We got along so well & they gave me a ton of creative freedom. The bride and I actually found out the morning of the wedding that we were distant cousins! We had no idea, it was wild!”
— Kayla

Kayla is a sucker for atypical details. She loves getting to film weddings in new places with unique elements. Sometimes it’s fireworks or bounce houses. Anything off-the-wall has her name all over it!

We cannot recommend Kayla enough. She would love to capture your wedding day! If you are interested in a consultation with this wonderful human, you can visit her website or check out her instagram.

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.

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Floral Preservation Art with Once Upon a Bloom

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“I am following nature without being able to grasp her, I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers.”
— Claude Monet

We’ve all had this feeling once in our lives. You see a painting that is so beautiful, you wish you could reach in and tangibly hold it. In a world where we cannot physically jump into a canvas, we have flowers. These little breaths of art can bring happiness to you in the simplest way. Flowers have the ability to hold sweet memories on their shoulders and remind us of some of the best and hardest days of our lives. That’s why bouquet preservation is so incredible. You can hold the beauty of your most sentimental flowers as artwork in your home forever.

Heather Jones has made a career out of her craft and appreciation for floral preservation with Once Upon a Bloom. When Heather isn’t busy making the botanical art of our dreams, she is spending time with her sweet yorkie, Louie. Heather comes from a big family and is an aunt to some precious kiddos. And in her words, “Yes…I’m their favorite aunt.”

 This 31-year-old powerhouse has been working in the wedding industry for her entire life. Heather’s mom has been a caterer since she was born. When most kids were learning how to walk, Heather was learning how to set a table. After college, Heather went into full time catering with her Mom. 

“I quickly fell in love with florals and started offering florals in addition to the catering. One of my floral brides had her wedding bouquet preserved, and that really caught my interest.”
— Heather

 She thought adding a preservation service to her floral business would be something that could set her apart from other florists. After a couple months of extensive research, Heather started taking flowers home from weddings to practice her newfound skill. 

“I surprised several brides with pieces that turned out well. In the beginning of 2021, I decided to officially separate my florals and planning from my Mom’s catering business, then Once Upon A Bloom was created.”
— Heather

 After a few months of perfecting the temperamental art of resin work, Heather felt comfortable enough to take on her first commissioned order. Heather’s ultimate goal is to create for the special moments in life. She hopes her resin pieces bring joy. Whether it’s the happiness you feel on your wedding day or a memorial piece, she wants her artistry to be a reminder of love. 

“For some, the pieces represent a love and commitment between two people. For others, a piece represents an entire life and legacy of a loved one they’ve lost. I am honored to be able to create such meaningful art for people, and it’s a privilege I don’t take lightly.
”
— Heather

Heather’s favorite preservation art she’s ever created is one that will have you reaching for a tissue or two. Last fall, she created a beautiful memorial piece for a sweet three-year-old girl whose father tragically passed away in a car accident.

“To me, this piece represented so much. And the little “Daddy” charm in there just breaks my heart every time I see it.”
— Heather

When it comes to bridal preservation pieces, Heather is a wonder at what she does. She loves when her clients give her creative freedom to create botanical magic. We love how she added the couple’s cake topper in this piece. It gives the best personal touch!

We couldn’t recommend Heather and her beautiful business more. Sometimes it’s easy for personability to get lost in business. With a lot of businesses the clients become another invoice in a long line-up of orders. Heather is a significant reminder that there are people out there that make it their purpose to make sure others feel seen. Seeing the smiles on her clients faces gives her the reassurance that she’s exactly where she’s supposed to be.

When we asked Heather who her DREAM client would be, her answer did not disappoint.

“Oh! I’d be lying if I said my first thought when Britney Spears posted pictures from her wedding wasn’t ‘Man... I wish I could get my hands on those flowers!’ I am currently trying to stalk my way into Mallory Pugh’s DMs in an effort to try to preserve her bouquet. I am a huge Braves fan, so Mallory and Dansby’s wedding is like my version of the Royal Wedding. I cannot explain how badly I want to preserve her bouquet!”
— Heather

If you would like to talk with Heather about a floral piece of your own or take a look at her gorgeous portfolio of floral preservation pieces, you can visit her website here. She would love to give your florals a life that lasts as long as the love you have for them.

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Top 5 Wedding Preservation Tips

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After years of planning and endless anticipation, your wedding day came and vanished in what seems like minutes. We all know that bittersweet feeling. Still mesmerized, you are so thankful the day happened, but how is it over so fast? You want to live in that first dance moment forever. You wish you could see all your friends light up one more time. Your bouquet, your gown, you wish they could stay like this for as long as you live. What if we told you they could? In this blog we are gushing over our Top 5 Wedding Day Preservation Tips. Brides, you don’t want to miss this one!

Before we get into the fun stuff, we want to answer a question that our Bustle team gets asked often, “HOW do I preserve my wedding gown??”

We recommend using weddinggownpreservationkit.com for all your gown preservation needs! Just visit their website and follow the easy step-by-step prompts.

Bustle’s Top 5 Ways to Preserve Your Wedding Day

1.) Bouquet Preservation

The only thing that could possibly make flowers more magical is if they lasted forever. Where is Belle’s enchanted rose when you need it? With Bouquet Preservation that sweet dream is a reality. Our friends at Once Upon a Bloom specialize in making those unforgettable wedding florals last for a lifetime. With so many resin settings to choose from, they have a style that suits every bride - that calls for a garden party!

2.) Disposable Cameras for Wedding Guest Table(s)

We LOVE this idea! As a bride, you can only be in so many places at one time. With all the chaos, it’s impossible to see all the special moments your guests are experiencing. And thus, DISPOSABLE CAMERAS. Instead of dishing out money on wedding favors that your guests will most likely never use, we recommend a more interactive option by placing a disposable camera at every guest table. Let your guests snap away for the evening then ask that the disposable cameras be returned to the newlyweds by the end of the night. Once you and your love come back from your honeymoon, send in your film to be developed. In a couple weeks, you’ll have the best time looking and laughing at the best day of your life through the eyes of the people that love you most. 

Disposable Camera Signs from Zazzle

3.) Song Lyric Art from First Dance

After months (sometimes years) of endless song scrolling in search of the PERFECT music that would tell the story of your love, you want that first dance moment to last way longer than 3 minutes. The idea of having your first dance lyrics tastefully displayed in your home makes us shed a sentimental tear. With so many different styles of lyric art on Etsy, you’re sure to find a look that pairs beautifully with your beloved tune - that’s something to dance about!

4.) New Perfume for Your Wedding Day

This tip might sound simple, but it’s truly one that will have you feeling butterflies. Did you know the brain tracts smells with memory? If you think hard enough about some of your favorite memories throughout your lifetime, you can almost always find a scent associated with that memory. We recommend choosing a new signature perfume SPECIFICALLY for your wedding day. Select a fragrance you’ve never worn before, but smells like how you want to feel on your special day. Then, long after your “I Do’s” you can think about how you felt on your wedding day every time you wear that fragrance. It’s such a beautifully effortless way to keep that incredible day fresh on your heart (and your nose).

5.) Wedding Day Memory Box

This tip is pretty self-explanatory but TOTALLY worth it! There’s something about those wedding invitations that you worked so hard on. Every detail, down to the napkins, was a choice that you pondered over with the upmost intention. Throwing away the extras just feels criminal. With a Wedding Memory Box, you can keep one of every detail that you love about your wedding and relive those moments over and over again. Maybe you want to hold on to a boutonnière, a place card, a copy of your vows, YOU NAME IT. Select a memory box that feels like your style as a couple and then have fun filling it up with all the little details that made your day feel like…you. 

Wedding Memory Boxes from Etsy. Blue - Wood

 We hope you enjoyed these tips and can find something to help you hold on to the best moments from your wedding day. Never lose sight of the true meaning behind all of the details, you and the person you love forever navigating through life together. You found a person who wants to grow with you, hurt with you, live every moment that comes next with you. That is truly something that can never be forgotten. 

Bustle Bride: Emily Criswell

Bustle Bride, Emily Criswell, with her husband, Jeffrey, in Avondale.

The story of how Emily met Jeffrey is straight out of a Netflix romcom. The only thing that would make this tale more cinematic would be a cameo from your favorite celebrity actor. Jeffrey is a member of the Hoover Country Club and was randomly partnered with Emily’s parents for a summer scrabble tournament in the summer of 2020. Throughout their game time together, the group’s bubbly connection was warm and familiar. In true parental fashion, by the end of the tournament Emily’s parents were offering Jeffrey her phone number. Fast forward to a couple weeks later, Jeffrey and Emily “coincidentally” ran into each other at the country club.

“I now know that Jeffrey saw me there and made it a point to run into me. We spoke briefly and that was that. I told all my friends how cute he was and how kind. I just couldn’t get him out of my head.”
— Emily

About 4 months after that first meeting, Emily’s best friend, Amanda, playfully took her phone during their dinner date and added Jeffrey on Facebook. (That’s what best friends are for, right?) 

Bustle Bride, Emily Criswell, and her best friend, Amanda in Saturn Birmingham.

Emily with her best friend, Amanda

“I was freaking out and told her he would never remember me all these months later, but while we were still at dinner, he reached out. He came with me and my friends to hang out at Back Forty the very next day and the rest is history.”
— Emily

Emily’s first date with Jeffrey was nothing short of magical. Because he already knew her family (thank you scrabble tournament), she felt comfortable asking him to pick her up. The couple immediately hit it off and the conversation was effortless. Jeffrey treated Emily to dinner at Roots and Revelry and they laugh now because neither of them liked what they ordered but of course raved about how amazing it was that night.

“After dinner, we had drinks at the Elyton and he kissed me on the rooftop overlooking the Birmingham skyline. We spent 5 hours together that first night and it was perfect.” - Emily

Emily knew Jeffrey was “the one” in the summer of 2021. Jeffrey’s family invited her to join them on a family vacation in Wyoming. The pair spent the week hiking and fishing together with Jeffrey’s parents and his sister.

Bustle Birmingham Bride, Emily Criswell with her husband Jeffrey Criswell.
“I knew when I left that I would marry him one day. Seeing him love and serve his family on that trip made me realize he would love and take care of me for the rest of my life. After we got engaged, he shared with me that he had a similar moment on that trip and had been planning his proposal since we returned. ”
— Emily
Bustle Bride, Emily Criswell, with her husband, Jeffrey, in Avondale Birmingham, AL.

Emily went into her wedding gown appointment at Bustle expecting to walk out with a mermaid satin wedding dress with not a stitch of lace on it. 

“Little did I know, the dress of my dreams was not the dress that would make me feel like a bride. The Bustle team was incredibly patient as I came to this realization and guided me through different styles and materials until I finally put on THE dress. ”
— Emily

The neckline of Emily’s wedding gown was her favorite part. She gushed with us over how enchanted her dress was to her, 

“The Bustle team spent well over an hour with me and honestly, I am SO thankful they understood my overall vision for our wedding even better than I did, and they didn’t let me get in my own way when it came to what I expected my dress to look like.” 

Bustle Bride, Emily Criswell, with her bridal party in Avondale, Birmingham, Alabama.

Emily’s favorite memory from our wedding day was, without any doubt, Jeffrey praying with her from around the corner of the venue. The beautiful couple chose not to have a first look. When Emily’s pastor came to pray with her and her bridesmaids, Emily asked if there was a way she could pray with Jeffrey without him seeing her.

“My amazing wedding coordinator found a way for us to pray with each other from around the corner and being able to hear his voice brought me so much joy and peace. It was completely unplanned and beautiful, and I am so glad our photographers and videographers were able to capture that special moment. ”
— Emily

The pair had a gorgeous brunch wedding in Birmingham’s iconic Avondale district. We might be a little bias, but we think Avondale is such a beautiful backdrop to the perfect wedding day. A downtown wedding is a fool-proof way to insure your guests feel energized and comfortable. What a refreshing way to say, “I do.”

Details from Bustle Bride, Emily Criswell’s wedding in Birmingham, Alabama.
Details from Bustle Bride, Emily and Jeffrey Criswell’s wedding in Birmingham, Alabama.
Details from Bustle Bride, Emily and Jeffrey Criswell’s wedding in the Saturn Birmingham, Alabama.
The wedding cakes from Daughter's Baking for Bustle Bride, Emily and Jeffrey Criswell’s wedding in Birmingham, Alabama.
Details from Bustle Bride, Emily and Jeffrey Criswell’s wedding in Birmingham, Alabama.

Dress: Bustle

Hair: Hannah Griffin at Orchid Salon

Makeup: Jessica Witt at Haven Space Salon

Spray Tan: Glow by Gabby

Suits: Men’s Warehouse

Photographer: Eric and Jamie Photography

Videographer: RJackson Media

Venue: The Upstairs at Avondale

Cakes: Daughter’s Baking 

Flowers: Designs by Robina 

Caterer: B&A Warehouse

Musician/ Entertainment: Robert Abernathy 

Birmingham Highlight: Frothy Monkey Bham is Open!

For anyone who loves the Downtown Food and Bev scene, losing Urban Standard in 2021 was a heart-wrenching goodbye. You can imagine our excitement when we heard that Frothy Monkey would be settling in that space and calling it home - EEK!

The front counter at Frothy Monkey Birmingham.

Photo By: FROTHY MONKEY

This Nashville based cafe is beloved not only for their 10/10 menu. Their passion for true hospitality keeps us coming back. Frothy Monkey knows that the way to Birmingham’s heart is through community and they aren’t missing a beat. This inclusive wonderland is going to be an amazing addition to Historic 2nd Avenue.

In their recent blog post announcing the Birmingham opening, Brittany Russler, Director of Hospitality, expressed, “We were given the gift of this building with so much character. We have to recognize so many guests of the previous business, Urban Standard, know this space, and have wonderful memories here. There’s comfort in maintaining some familiar pieces of that history for local guests.”

Beautiful Photos By: BHAM NOW - Follow them here.

Frothy Monkey’s goal is to preserve the character of the former Urban Standard building while creating a meaningful space and new experiences for the community they serve.

When we visited, the space was buzzing with an electric energy and the entire team was incredibly warm and inviting. We watched as multiple members of their team approached every guest with kind smiles, asking “Are you enjoying everything?”

We tried the Loaded Biscuits and Chorizo Gravy and the PMP (prosciutto, mozzarella, and provolone) sandwich and spoiler alert, it was AMAZING. You cannot leave Frothy Monkey without trying their signature Monkey Mocha. Made with decadent chocolate and their house made Banana syrup, this is easily one of our favorite coffees in Bham. 

Their current business hours are:

Wed – Fri 7a – 9p & Sat – Sun 7a – 3p (Mon – Tues Closed).

Once Frothy is fully staffed, this location will be open Mon – Sun 7a – 9p!

This is a MUST DO on your next date! Whether you’re in the mood for coffee and brunch or dinner and cocktails, Frothy is the THE place to be. And if you’re like us and crave breakfast food all day, you’re in luck because they serve breakfast until 5pm!

Keep up with this culinary class act through instagram or browse their menu here.

EXPERT TIPS FROM MAKEUP ARTIST: ASIA NICOLE

Hair and Makeup expert, Asia Nicole.

Asia Nicole is no stranger to the love of getting dolled up for the pure pleasure of feeling good for herself. A main character in her own right, she was playing with hair and makeup long before it became her career. Asia’s admiration for all things beauty grew from her dancing roots and in college she found herself working her first wedding. As Asia booked more brides after that first wedding, her calendar wasn’t the only thing filling up. She quickly began to feel the fulfillment in this industry and made it her full time job.

“I was a dancer at a very young age and was the designated person to apply all of my teammates fake eyelashes and braid their hair before performances.”
— Asia

The beauty industry can come with its fair share of stigmas and sometimes it’s easy to assume how someone will be when you hear what they do for a living. Even the most unassuming careers aren’t free from the occasional skeptical judgement (insert David Rose/Schitt’s Creek gif). We can say with 100% transparency that Asia is one of the good ones. After working with her on Bustle’s last photoshoot, Asia left us with so much joy. She is one of the most comforting and radiant women we’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. It’s IMPOSSIBLE to leave her makeup chair without feeling like you could conquer the world.

“As cheesy as it may sound, my favorite part about being a makeup artist is getting to see women light up when they realize how beautiful they are. I point out their glowing skin, gorgeous eye color, long lashes. After applying makeup, not only do they now look glamorous, but they leave my chair noticing their beautiful features even without the makeup on.”
— Asia

We asked Asia for some much-needed advice on how brides can best prep for their wedding day makeup. 

1.) Start a skincare routine three months before your wedding.

This will give you the time you need to see which products your skin responds to the best while allowing for time to adjust any steps that might be hindering your skin from it’s full glory.

2.) DERMAPLANE

We will link a full explanation here on this miracle-working skincare procedure here. We personally would like to recommend our friends at Fancy Face for this quick aesthetic procedure. Asia says that the difference in how makeup applies to skin after this procedure is mind blowing and we will take her word for it.

3.) HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE

One of the surest pathways to supple skin is through the art of hydration. Keep that comfort water bottle filled and drink up, ladies!

BONUS TIP FOR WEDDING DAY MAKEUP - Asia assured us when bridal makeup is done properly it should not budge on your wedding day! A good makeup artist is trained in makeup application and longevity. The only exception to this rule is lip product. With an evening of eating, drinking, and kissing on the forecast, Asia recommends buying your lip product and having it with you in the chance that you might need to reapply. Gotta’ keep that lip color looking fresh, honey!

Makeup Artist, Asia Nicole, applying makeup to a client.

One of the standout moments in Asia’s career this far was when she traveled to Los Angeles in February with Sophie Scott and her long-time boyfriend and *cough* *cough* QUARTERBACK of the New England Patriots, Mac Jones. Asia helped them glam up for the NFL honors night on the Red Carpet! We are fangirling hard over you, Asia.

Stunning before and after makeup application by Asia Nicole.

If you would love to learn the art of makeup application or have a bride in mind that would like to learn how to do their own bridal makeup, Asia just launched a dreamy online masterclass that teaches you all of her tips and tricks. There are so many little gems in this course; from what powders help avoid flashback in photos to tips on how to insure your makeup shows up on camera without looking cakey in person. Visit Asia’s website if you need this Master Class in your life or if you would like to set up an appointment for beauty services! You can also freely follow along with Asia’s daily tips by following her on instagram.