On July 31, Chelsea Clinton, daughter of Hillary and Bill Clinton, will be tying the knot with Marc Mezvinsky. Speculation has lead us all to believe that the wedding could cost nearly $2 million. Reports have also said that the high-profile wedding will be held at the Astor Courts estate in Rhinebeck, New York. CBS news has reported that the event will be hosted by three different catering companies, one for the cocktail hour, one for the main course, and one for late night snacks. The estimated cost for the catering alone is said to be $750,000.

There are debates on what gown Chelsea will be wearing, but she has been rumored to have purchased an Oscar de la Renta, but there is speculation now that she will be wearing a Vera Wang. It has been rumored that President Obama, Barbra Streisand, Stephen Spielberg, and Oprah Winfrey will be present for this extravagant wedding. I will follow up with the real details once the wedding is over and the photos have leaked!

On May 17, 2010 Rima Fakih from Dearborn, Michigan won the Miss America pageant. Rima wore a stunning Marisa gown for her formal attire. The gown was a taffeta Marisa gown, with an asymmetrical drop-waist, complimented with custom bead work. Rima will be competing in the Miss Universe pageant this August.

We carry the same Marisa dress in our store, so call or stop by to get a closer look at this beautiful gown!

Every bride wants to look fantastic on her wedding day. She starts by buying that gorgeous dream dress. Then come the specifics of the venue, food, cake, and decor. Somewhere in between she starts a rigorous work out plan all in the hopes of looking her best on this unforgettable day. However, most brides don’t think about their skin. She books a make-up artist to make her beautiful as she walks down the aisle but make-up can only do so much. Shari Hess is a licensed Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist. She also does make-up applications for special occasions. She works out of the Jenny Drake Salon and Spa in Winter Park. She is very knowledgeable about skin care as well as make-up application as she has been an exclusive make-up artist for the past 15 years. When speaking to her I learned so much about skin care in general as well as for brides to get that bridal glow they desire. Shari says it is very very very important to not rely on make-up to make your skin flawless. And it takes more than just one facial. You should start working on your face just as you would your body, 3-6 months out. Shari does not have a menu per say, because for every client she does a personal skin care analysis and gives you what you need as opposed to choosing something from a list that you really don’t know anything about. She uses an all organic line called SKIN DEEP Cosmeceuticals. She claims she gives “no fluff facials” meaning you pay for what you need with no extra fluff. Shari had me in for a visit and it was amazing. Even if you don’t have time for a full hour treatment, you can schedule a lunch time peel as well. Jenny Drake Salon and Spa also does manicures, pedicures, and spray tanning! To schedule an appointment or get more information, call Shari Hess at 386-383-6135!

On July 17, 2010 Solutions bride Ana-Carolina married Jean-Pierre at the Ritz Carlton Grande Lakes in Orlando, Florida. Ana-Carolina was a stunning bride in “Romantic” by Kenneth Pool. Thanks to Damon Tucci Photography for the beautiful pictures!

Having a Southern, summer wedding in Florida can be rough… especially if your big day is a black tie affair.  Why not turn it down a notch and embrace Florida’s original coastal gathering, the Lowcountry Boil.

This traditional feast is a great idea for the reception at a beach wedding.  With tasty ingredients such as shrimp, corn and potatoes it’s the Southern twist to the popular New England Clam Bake.

Can’t live without your one big formal night?  Host a lowcountry boil as your rehearsal dinner!  It’s fun, informal and a true Southern treat for your out of town guests.

Bride to be? For more creative insight and professional planning assistance, please contact Heather M. Stewart with Stylish Traditions Wedding & Event Design at Heather@stylishtraditions.com.

Exciting news! We will be getting in Watters Fall 2010 collection exclusively this weekend, July 31-August 1, at Solutions Orlando. This fun, fashion forward collection is edgy and different but still has a bridal softness and classic elegance all blended into beautiful pieces. With tiered trumpet a-lines, patterned fabrics, pockets, modern v-necklines and romantic sweethearts, beading and lace (!); this collection has the perfect compliment for every bride. I love the fusion of silk taffeta and lace and the added dimension of patterned fabric, interesting but subtle like that of hand-beaded embellishments.

We just wrapped up a fabulous weekend at the Orlando Salon. We had over 20 gowns from Rivini’s new line in the store! Along with these gorgeous gowns we also had wonderful treats and music. Gina Ward, our Bridal Specialist was in the salon to give advice and help our brides find that special gown. While all of our brides enjoyed the delicious fruit brought in by Edible Arrangements they could sit back and relax to the playing of Mike Hinkle’s acoustic guitar. Thank you to everyone for a fabulous weekend!

Ahhh, the internet.  It makes life so much easier– until you try to dress your bridal party using a third party website. Many brides/bridesmaids will try to save a few bucks by doing this; but it’s the serious consequences that come along with online ordering that will cost you way more than you “bargained” for!

One of our favorite lines of bridesmaid dresses, Watters & Watters, has a great explanation of some of the problems that can arise from using an unauthorized dealer or website posing as legitimate dealers:

What they will tell you: They can save you money because they do not have overhead expenses by operating a store-front.

Beware: Watters (and other designers) only sell garments to full service bridal salons, like Solutions Bridal, that can provide you the utmost in service and personal care you need. Authorized retailers are known and loved for offering honest advice and delivering on their promises. We’ll help you find a dress that fits your budget and makes your day.

You may also come across a “buying service” that is ordering directly from the designers when they are really buying your gown through a third party.

What they will tell you: They can offer big discounts because they do not have to stock sample dresses.

Beware: An authorized retailer will carry samples of the collections in their store for you to see, touch and try on so you know what looks good and feels good on your body (and your bridesmaids’).

What they will tell you: They have been working with bridal gown manufacturers for years and can get you a designer gown for less than the retail price.

Beware: They can promise you all sorts of savings. But what you don’t get is a promise that when something is wrong with the fabric, color, size, or when they miss your delivery date all together, you could be left with the stress and expense of a last minute catastrophe. There are also charges and services to be aware of with internet purchases, such as shipping, pressing, and unprofessional alterations. This can often cost you more than you would have paid if you bought at full price through a full service bridal salon.

Solutions Bridal is an official retailer for nearly a dozen different bridesmaid dress designers. That means we are authorized to deal directly with the designers– which means we can get confirmation on the important details like ship dates, fabric and color changes, style numbers and much more. So save yourself the headache of the “bargain hunt.” Come on in to one of our locations– bring your girls, and enjoy a fun filled day of bridesmaid dress shopping!

Hello brides! We started something new and exciting on our facebook recently. Speaking from experience, when planning your wedding, sometimes you just need to see things put together in order to know it works! We decided that creating our own inspiration boards based on different color schemes would be a fun and helpful tool for our brides. So far we have inspiration boards in charcoal, lavender, and green! We will be updating our boards often so please check out our facebook for inspiration! If you need to see some colors put together to find out if it will work for you, let us know and we’ll be happy to create a look for you! Enjoy and get inspired! www.facebook.com/solutionsbridaldesignerhouse

One of our blushing brides has sealed the deal! Bridget and Chris said their “I Do’s” at the beautiful Shingle Creek Resort. She looked stunning in one of Solutions Bridal’s fabulous gowns, Almata, designed by the Canadian Designer Rivini. Here are a few pictures courtesy of Karla Fountain Photography!