Tickled Pink Brides - Orlando, Florida's Premier Wedding Planner

GingerStyle has arrived!

What are you wearing to your engagement party, rehearsal dinner, or bridal shower?  I'm willing to bet that  women buy at least 5 new outfits just to attend the mandatory functions and celebrations during their engagement.  Who wants to wear some old frock to a party celebrating a new beginning to life?

Enter GingerStyle.net, the place where you will find fresh new outfits for any occasion.  Ginger is a new boutique in Winter Park, FL where women can shop for work clothes, after-hours play clothes, and everything in between.  The store just opened and I've had the pleasure of getting to know the owner, Aimee, a newlywed, who I worked with as she planned her own wedding.  Aimee's eye for fashion and personal style really shows in her well-organized boutique.  Eco-conscious clothing like bamboo denim and organic cotton mix with the finest cashmere, adorable little black dresses, and tailored suits that will make your coworkers ask "Where did you get that?".

Ginger carries designers like Yoanna Baraschi, Walter, Whim, Beverly Feldman shoes, Linda Loudermilk jeans, and Nell Couture. Soon, customers will be able to shop online--for now, check out Aimee's blog for frequent updates on all that Ginger has to offer and keep your eyes peeled for Ginger's second location, opening this spring in Bethesda, Maryland!

Trouble in Paradise!

Of all the hurdles we've encountered so far in our engagement, the latest one certainly makes for the best story.  Last week, Sam and four friends set off to Costa Rica on a week-long adventure as Sam's last stand as a bachelor.  They arrived in San Jose and made the 6-hour drive to a small town called Tamarindo on the Pacific Coast.  Their plans included zip-lining, canopy tours, deep sea fishing and snorkeling. 

Not 48 hours into the trip, they boarded a catamaran cruise that anchored offshore a beautiful private beach.  The passengers jumped off the boat and swam to shore for a few hours of playing in the surf and relaxing in the sand.  Minutes after reaching the shore, as Sam was diving into a 5-6 foot wave breaking directly at the shoreline, his feet were swept out from under him and he was flipped upside down, landing on his head in only a few inches of water.  Sam's collarbone snapped immediately.

Needless to say, he needed medical attention right away, and the best place for that was back home in Florida.  Paramedics took over 2 hours to reach and treat him in Costa Rica, but he was assured that yes, it was broken, and yes, he needed a doctor.  Sam booked a flight and leaving his friends to finish off the bachelor week without him, he changed planes three times and finally made it back to Orlando.  Poor guy! 

Sam is now in a brace that keeps his collarbone in a position to heal, and will be that way for at least a month.  That means he'll wear his brace down the aisle in less than two weeks, and it'll travel with us to Rome.  But the show will go on!  Just one more test, I suppose, that brings us closer together and allows our relationship to grow.    

Trial Run: Wedding Hair and Makeup

With only 3 weeks left until MY big day, we are finally getting into the fun stuff!  Last week, I worked with a friend in the business, makeup artist/hair stylist Simone Rosas of Makeover Station.  Simone is our go-to girl for any brides asking about styling for their wedding day, so who better to turn to for my own wedding?  Not only did she make me look fabulous at my trial run, I didn't even want to change anything!  At the risk of my fiance checking this post, here are a couple photos of the trial.

For your own hair/makeup trial, here are a few pointers:

*  Don't do the trial too far ahead of time.  You'll waste time and money should your hair style change at all, or if you later consider another look you might like better.

*  Bring along lots of photos to give the stylist a good idea of your taste.  Remember, though, that your features are probably not the same as the models in a magazine and the look will have to be modified to fit you.

* Ask around for recommended stylists, and try out a couple if it makes you comfortable.  Ask not only friends, but call bridal salons or planners in your area and see who they suggest.

*  Remember that there is a difference between what people see in person, and what the camera will pick up.  Even though you may feel you're wearing tons more makeup than you are used to, too little makeup will make you look washed out in your photos.  Find a stylist that knows the proper balance so you'll still look great in pictures!

The Little Black Book

If you have found my blog about all things wedding-related, chances are you also read other bridal sites and hopefully are a frequent reader of Style Me Pretty.  Abby's site gives such great inspiration to brides and planners (and dreamers!) alike.  From fashion to color to flowers to food, her advice and ideas are instrumental in putting together the perfect event. 

In case you have not yet found it, check out the new Little Black Book of wedding vendors.  Abby and her team have been working hard to pull together a streamlined list of the best wedding professionals around the country.  The list is growing by region, and chances are you will be able to find a few vendors in your area that can greatly assist in your own wedding planning.  Check it out here:

Ocala Magazine Photo Shoot

After all the recent holiday engagements, the bridal industry is gearing up again for an exciting spring bridal season.  My work throughout Florida brings me in contact with a great deal of talented professionals, and yesterday I was pleased to work with Ocala Magazine on a gorgeous photo shoot at the Live Oaks Farm.  Models Nicole and Hannah showed off the latest in bridal trends for photographer Djamel Ramoul.  Djamel's eye for fashion and art brought to life some very unique bridal looks, mixing high fashion with antique charm.  Our stylist for the day was Jessica Mitchell, whose creative talents were put to good use as she matched today's fashion-forward gowns with pillbox hats, veils from the 50's, and exquisite vintage jewelry.

     Here is a quick behind-the-scenes photo of an Alvina Valenta gown:

Gowns used in the shoot were by designers Romona Keveza (who made my wedding gown), Anne Barge, Kenneth Pool, Alvina Valenta, and Amy Michelson.  Overall, the trend is toward sleek, fitted gowns  that are sophisticated and make a statement. 

Stay tuned for the actual published photos as they become
available!