Featured Bride Friday: Alyssa

Our GORGEOUS bride this week is Alyssa Britson!

Alyssa and Stuart were married July 7, 2012.

Alyssa and Stuart have amazing photos, so we are going to show you everything they sent over!!

What was it like working with Charlotte's?  Charlotte's Bridal made it very easy for me to find my dream dress because they took the time to get to know me and my style, which was very specific.  I wasn't sure I would find the perfect, formal, conservative dress, but they made it possible.  And when I found it, they really helped me get the "wow" factor by convincing me to try on a bubble veil.  It completed the look.



Wedding Gown Designer:  Essense of Australia

Florist:  Sunset Gardens in Galesville, WI

Hair and Make-up:  Sue Kolve's Salon & Day Spa

What is one piece of advice you would give brides that are just beginning their search for the perfect wedding gown?  There are so many styles, shapes, colors, and fits of wedding dresses these days, and it can be extremely overwhelming choosing just one, so when it comes down to making the final decision, always go with the one that you know your husband-to-be and your guests will look at and say, "That's totally her."  It is totally possible to find the perfect balance between being bridal and still being you.

What a BEAUTIFUL couple!

What was your favorite part of the day?  It is really hard to pick just one favorite part about our day because there are several moments that stick out in my mind.  One of them was finally coming out of the Country Club with my dress on, my mom holding my train, and seeing Stuart waiting for me down at the end of the golf cart path down the hill.  When he turned around and we got to see each other for the first time, we felt like the world had somehow stopped for a moment, and it was just us.  Another favorite part was the reception from start to finish.  Our maid of honor and best man both gave such creative, memorable speeches, and the dance party was a total blast!  No one left the dance floor.  But my dad's speech definitely was another favorite moment - It was really special to me, and it really couldn't have been more perfect. 

A special thanks to Diane Knothe of Apropos Photography for these AMAZING photos!

To view Alyssa's full profile please visit our website.



Featured Bride Friday: Michaela

Our Gorgeous Bride this Friday is Michaela Hamin!

Michaela and Jace were married October 1, 2011.

What was it like working with Charlotte’s?  I really enjoyed my entire experience with Charlottes Bridal.  All the employees were very friendly and helpful. I found my dress on my first visit to Charlottes and really appreciated the wonderful service. All my alterations were also done at Charlottes which was fantastic.

Wedding Gown Designer: Casablanca.
Florist: A family friend.
Hair & Make-up: Hair - Sue Rusike, Make-up - Sjaan Lampretch 

What a beautiful, unique wedding!!

What is once piece of advice you would give brides that are just beginning their search for the perfect wedding gown?:  Tell the consultants what you are looking for and they'll find you your perfect dress.  Don't panic if you don't find it on the first day.  Try lots of dresses on and you'll find the perfect one!

Is there anything special or unique about your wedding you would like to highlight?:

Having my wedding in Zimbabwe, Africa was very important to me as that's my home.  We had a destination wedding and all guests spent the weekend ith us at two beautiful Safari lodges, Chengeta and Pamuzinda.  It was so special to have extra time with all our family and friends.  My dad and I arrived at the ceremony on elephants, which was incredible as this is not a common thing even in Africa.  They are my facourtie animals and I always wated to get married with elephants.  After the ceremony our guests had drinks and canapes whilst watching the sunset and then we moved to the reception.  This was an incredible location and very special venue for our wedding.  It was perfect.

Photos courtesy of Mandy Jarvis.

To see Michaela's complete profile please visit our website.



Featured Bride Friday: Briana

Happy Friday! Our BEAUTIFUL bride this week is Briana Swanson!

Briana and Ben were married April 28, 2012.

Wedding Gown Designer:  Essense of Australia

Florist: My Florist, Melanie is amazing!

Hair and Make-Up: Sue Kolves did my hair, and my aunt did my make-up.

What was it like working with Charlotte's?  Charlotte's Bridal was great to work with.  Everyone is very friendly and makes you feel welcomed.  Emily helped me find my dress; she picked it out.  She was very easy-going, allowed me to take my time and dealt with my talkative family.  Summer helped Ben and I pick out awesome tuxedos to match the bridesmaid dresses. 

What is one piece of advice you would give brides that are just beginning their search for the perfect wedding gown?  Stick to your gut instinct and be firm.  My family wanted me to keep trying on more dresses.  I already made my mind up, and the more dresses I tried on, the more I was becoming confused.  All of the wedding dresses looked great, but they did not fit my personality.  It was tough.  I ended up with the very first dress I tried on! I loved it so much.

 Photos courtesy of Jordana Snyder Photography.

To see Briana's complete profile please visit our website.



Tuxedo 101: Style & Formality

Will your day be formal, informal, colorful, classic, trendy, or modern?  

The style of your wedding will play an important role in what you choose for your men’s formalwear!Regardless of what style you may choose, your wedding attire should be a reflection of your personal style and complement the style of your wedding. Have fun and get creative!

INFORMAL: If your style is simple and informal or if you are having a beach or garden wedding, choosing a suit or a light-colored tuxedo may be a good choice. You may also choose to not use coats or vests to have a more informal pants, shirt and tie look.



SEMI-FORMAL: If you’re planning a day that is more formal or traditional, you may want to outfit all the guys in full tuxedos with vest and ties that coordinate with the color of the bridesmaids dresses. For a trendy look you may skip the vest and use slim ties.

FORMAL/BLACK TIE: For formal evening black-tie events the men normally are dressed in full tuxedos with cummerbunds and bow ties and studs. This style may be very classic with a black and white color palette or trendy with colors coordinating the bridesmaids.

Call Charlotte's Bridal to speak with our Tuxedo Supervisor, Summer at  608-784-3493 for more information or to set-up an appointment to choose your bridal party attire! Email inquiries may be sent to summer@charlottesbridal.net





Feature Bride Friday: Caitlin

Our Gorgeous Bride this week is Caitlin Mason!

 

 

Caitlin and Josh were married December 31, 2011.

New Year's Eve Wedding!!

 

 

Florist: Monet Floral in La Crosse, WI- Ben is AMAZING!

 Hair & Make-up: My cousin, Emmy Breuer, did my hair and my make-up was done by Alyssa at Lancome.

 

 

Wedding Gown Designer: Alyce Designs



 What was your ceremony site? The Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman in La Crosse, WI

What was your reception site? The La Crosse Center Ballroom

 

 

What was it like working with Charlotte’s? Charlotte's was great! From the moment I walked in the door, the environment was very welcoming and everyone was so nice and so excited for me. I worked with Emily the most, and each and every time, she was fabulous! I never felt pressured to buy a dress and she always was very open and honest with me. I liked the big rooms for the fittings and the atmosphere in there was great. Having the center light directly on you when you put on the gown really makes you feel like a bride. I live out of town and Charlotte's was very accommodating on getting me scheduled to come in whenever worked best for me! Irina was also a pleasure to work with! She altered my dress to be perfect and exactly what I wanted. The entire team at Charlotte's wanted what was best for me and it was a pleasure working with everyone there.

 

 

 

Photos courtesy of Jordana Snyder Photography.

For Caitlin's complete profile please visit our website.



Tuxedo 101: Color!

After you decide the style of your wedding, you’ll need to determine the colors the men will wear. This not only includes the colors of the vest, tie and pocket squares. But, also the tuxedo or suit itself.

BLACK TUXEDO OR SUIT

The most traditional color for tuxedos is basic black. Variations may include solid black, tone on tone striping, pin striping and chalk striping.

 

BROWN/KHAKI TUXEDO OR SUIT

Brown and Khaki colored tuxedos and suits are very popular alternatives to black tuxedos. Chocolate brown is a popular color in the fall or outdoor weddings, while khaki may be representative of spring or beach weddings.

GREY/NAVY TUXEDO OR SUIT

Grey and Navy tuxedos are excellent alternatives for those that want a trendy alternative to black or feel that black may be too harsh of a color for the venue or style of the wedding. Grey and Navy tuxedos have versatility to fit informal garden weddings as well as grand formal ballroom weddings.

 Call Charlotte's Bridal to speak with our Tuxedo Supervisor, Summer at 608-784-3493   for more information or to set-up an appointment to choose your bridal party attire! Email inquiries may be sent to summer@charlottesbridal.net

Tuxedo 101: The Basics

While most tuxedos will fit most types, some tuxedo styles are meant for certain occasions and particular body types. The build of the groom and the wedding party should be one major factor on which you base your decision. Tall, slim guys can pull of almost any style. On the other hand, broader guys may prefer a more athletic fit, or a two button style.

ONE BUTTON TUXEDO- This style is the most traditional and appropriate for formal occasions. It will show the most of the vest or cummerbund underneath. One button styles are best for slimmer men.

TWO BUTTON TUXEDO- This style is the most universally flattering on all body types, and is the most common style for all types of events.

 

THREE BUTTON (OR MORE) TUXEDO- This style is best for men who are either very slim or very tall. These are the most non-traditional of the tuxedos and will show the least of the vest or cummerbund underneath.

PEAK LAPEL

This style if the most traditional. The very first tuxedos had peak lapels!

This style is appropriate on all body types.

NOTCH LAPEL

This style is the most popular. More than 90% of all rental tuxedos have a notch lapel.

This style is also appropriate on all body types.

SHAWL COLLAR LAPEL

This style is traditional and has rising popularity.

Though it is better worn on slimmer men as it can add bulk.

PANTS

If the jacket you have chosen has a pattern or details, likely there is a specific pant that goes with it. However, some solid color jackets have a few coordinating pants.

The front of the trouser is where you will see the difference between pleated and flat-front pants. If the guys in your wedding party are fairly athletic or slim, they may be able to wear either type of pant. Pleated pants are a better choice for men that need a little more room.

SHIRTS

Shirts are another way to add individual style into your wedding. The collar is the most noticeable variation in shirts. Common styles include lay down collars, wing-tip collars and banded collars.

LAY-DOWN COLLAR: This type of collar is appropriate for any type of tie, windsor or bow.

WING-TIP COLLAR: This style of collar works best with a bow tie.

BANDED COLLAR: This style is typically worn with only button studs and no tie is required.

Call Charlotte's Bridal to speak with our Tuxedo Supervisor, Summer at  608-784-3493  608-784-3493 for more information or to set-up an appointment to choose your bridal party attire! Email inquiries may be sent to summer@charlottesbridal.net