Monday Meeting: Ava Clara Bridal

Happy Monday! Only one more day until spring, and you know what that means, time to pull out your sandals and sundresses (and "wedding season" is right around the corner!) This week in our Meeting Monday, we are featuring Ava Clara Couture Bridal, one of our favorite unique bridal shops in the Hampton Roads area! You can't officially kick off "the season" without your perfect dress! Ava Clara is owned by Karen Tilley and Alex Schneider...so today's post is a bit different! You get to hear two perspectives into the bridal wear business.

When and how was Ava Clara Couture Bridal established?

Ava Clara opened in June of 2010, after a whirlwind of brainstorming, big dreaming, and some late, late nights!

Karen: I started working in an Atlanta bridal shop after college, in 1996 (so…forever ago!), and the bug never left! Having managed other bridal shops, there was a lot of time to figure out what I would like to do differently, given the opportunity. Alex and I met while Alex was planning her own wedding.

Alex: Frustrated with the options and resources I found during my own wedding planning, I knew there had to be a better way! Why should brides have to be overcharged and pushed through like cattle? This is supposed to be fun! I left my job in the finance industry and started over.

How does a bride’s experience at Ava Clara Couture Bridal differ from other bridal shops in Hampton Roads or around the country?

Karen-First and foremost, we want everyone to have fun. There will be so many other stressors over the course of wedding planning; finding your bridal gown should never be one of them! We've heard so many stories about pushy salespeople, snobby environments…that is so not our speed. I'm proud to think that Alex and I have been able to provide a lighthearted, happy experience without sacrificing the style, quality, or integrity that matters.

Alex- I agree. I love knowing that so many of our clients are not just Ava Clara brides, but have become our friends. That speaks volumes to me about what we seem to be doing right. We also work very hard to offer different designers and styles from any other shop locally. Why should a bride have to leave Hampton Roads for a dress? Why can't we offer the same fashion that they'd find in D.C. or New York? Many of our designers are exclusive to Ava Clara, so brides really get to see some unique styles and fashion.

What are your favorite current wedding trends?

Karen-I love that there aren't as many trends anymore! There isn't one overwhelming style out there right now, so brides can really make it their own style! That being said, I love the whole retro, Audrey Hepburn-esque vibe, and I love subtle color and texture (pale pink Swiss dot makes me a happy girl!).

Alex-Lace! And deep, low backs-I love that classic look mixed with a dash of sex appeal! I also really love the sashes and belts we have. They are the perfect way for a bride to customize her look. The right belt takes a pretty dress and pushes it to perfect!

What tips would you give a bride looking for the perfect dress?

Karen-Don't shop with too many people-one or two at most. That flurry of opinions can be confusing. Be open minded. Bridal gowns fit differently than other clothes, and definitely look different than they do in those photo-shopped magazine ads!

Alex-I think it's important, too, to shop when you're ready to buy. If you're idea shopping or getting your feet wet, you don't approach the experience in the same way. If you find a gown you love but aren't ready to order it, it can be a letdown. Who wants to leave without their dress? Not to mention that prices can change, as can styles. You often end up having to start from scratch later down the line.

Here are a couple ACE clients in their Ava Clara Gowns!

Bridal Gown and Bridesmaid dresses from Ava Clara: Images from Dustin Lewis

Bridal Gown from Ava Clara: Images by David Schwartz

Images Courtesy Tracey Sanders

Image Courtesy David Abel

We love gowns so much we always have an Ava Clara gown in our studio. Image Courtesy Ashley Barnett

A Fascinating Accessory

If you are looking for a one-of-a kind accessory to complete your bridal ensemble, your search ends here! Fascinators originially debuted in the late 18th century and have made a comeback! A fascinator- also called a cocktail hat or Chapeau- is a delicate headpiece typically made of flowers and feathers. Many designers create custom pieces in vibrant colors and add rhinestones, tulle, etc. The dainty headpieces can be attached to hair using alligator clips, combs, or headbands. These head-turning accessories have been flying off the shelves thanks to the influence of Kate Middleton. The soon-to-be Princess of Wales has been seen wearing custom fascinators on multiple occasions, and sales of similar pieces have increased dramatically. Bridal fascinators are a trendy veil alternative- or you can transform your look by switching to a feathery fascinator for your reception. Most designers embrace custom orders, so you can have the fascinator of your dreams! Check out these designs that we know you will love!

Bette Bridal Fascinator from Lo Boheme

Fascinator with removable cage veil and fascinator with dangling crystals

Peacock feather fascinator

Marialexandria: Her Own Work

Earlier in the week we spoke to famed bridal designer Marialexandra about Hot Trends for the 2010 bridal season...now it's time to show you what she is known for...One of a kind dresses that are as unique and individual as she is...What do you think? Enjoy!

Photos taken by Zaire Aranguren from AZA Studio

Photo taken by Patty Nash

Bridal Industry Pro: Ashley Kimberl

All week I have introduced you to a bit of insight into the amazing world of bridal gowns through the eyes of Marialexandra. Today, I thought it would be a great turn of events if I introduced you to a well known Hampton Roads bridal professional, Ashley Kimberl. You can read her bio below, but she has been in the Hampton Roads Bridal Scene for a decade now and is a great wealth of knowledge. 

I asked her to give a few pointers of what brides need to know when shopping for their dream dress, what styles she sees jumping off the racks and a bit of knowledge on trends for 2010.

"Its all about making a statement!  Most of the 2010 trends that we are seeing brides interested in are over the top styles with the "WOW" factor.  One-shoulder gowns, Ruffle detailing throughout skirt, Floral Accents. Detachable Skirts and/or Trains, All over Lace and Simple Chiffon Destination styles are the most popular trends for this year." says Ashley. 

Here are a few of her key pointers for New Brides:

1.  Make sure you schedule and appointment when you are ready to start trying on gowns to ensure quality service.

2.  Searching for your wedding gown can be a very overwhelming experience.  To help you have the least amount of stress while finding the perfect gown, it is recommended that you shop with only 1-2 people for the first time out.  Too many opinions can cause most brides to get confused about what they are really looking for in their gown and forget that all that matters is what THEY LOVE! 

3.  Having a Price Point in mind before you start your search can help. 

4.  Most bridal shops special order wedding gowns which takes anywhere from 4-6 months to receive.  It is good to give yourself plenty of time before your wedding date to find your gown.  The average bride purchases her gown 1 year before her wedding.

For ten years, Ashley Kimberl has been working at All the Rage in Virginia Beach, where she began her career as a special occasion and prom specialist.  Ashley’s creativity and love for fashion helped her quickly learn the ins and outs of the special occasion industry and within two years became assistant buyer for the company. 

As All the Rage grew into one of Hampton Roads leading bridal and special occasion stores, Ashley became more involved in the bridal department working closely with many brides assisting them in finding the wedding gown of their dreams.

Today she serves as the Bridal Manager, where she strives to ensure that all brides experience the best quality and service a salon can offer.  Ashley finds her job extremely rewarding, as she loves helping a bride select what could be the most important dress she’ll ever wear.

Marialexandra: A designers thought on the bridal world.

As I said previously, I have wanted to introduce Marialexandra to you for quite some time...She is an amazing designer with great taste. She can recognize style anywhere and is not too shy to tell us what designers inspire her. I asked Marialexandra to let us in on what she sees as hot trends for 2010, I had noticed flowers everywhere, on trains, on headpieces, on bags, etc...but I was pleasantly surprised when she turned me on to another hot trend, RUFFLES! Here is what she had to say:

"Like any other part of the fashion industry, every designer has their own view, and their own vision for each collection, but there are always trends that show up here and there in almost everyone's collections. Ruffles have been dominating for about a year now, and they are still going strong. Ruffles in skirts, sleeves, trains, everywhere. Ruffles are part of the bigger trend we've been seeing coming back, romanticism. It's not about the huge puffy skirt and its not about the corset dress, its about the flowing gown that may hug a woman's natural curves and flow with her down the aisle. Soft, light, flowing fabrics dominate, with a lot of texture. Tulle details, cover ups in tulle and organza. Oscar de la Renta's gowns are full of texture, details, mostly all on beautifully flowing fabrics. Texture is huge, its not about a simple print, its texture, its the detailing, the exquisite detailing on the gowns that give them a special touch for that special day. Flowers, there are designers who are incorporating flowers as their detailing, as their texture, flowers embroidered on the gowns, in the veils, as part of the bustier or the skirt, its the feminine touch a flower can represent without being girly or childish. Carolina Herrera has a stunning long column dress that is pleated from top to bottom shaped like leaves, so feminine, so simple, yet so intricate. That's what it's about, making a gown extremely special, different, without going overboard, making a bride feel and look like no other day in her life. 

oscar de la renta 2010 collection: number 6 & 9

Strapless is still dominating the market, it has been for years, but we are starting to see cover ups, boleros, and even sleeves on gowns, bringing back a bit of the old romantic feel from the 50's. Another trend that is coming back better than ever is lace, lace is romantic and can be very glamorous with out overwhelming. Its feminine and can be made into a form fitting column dress as well as a beautifully flowing gown." 

Carolina Herrera: Henri Matisse Gown 

Check back tomorrow as I introduce you to a few of Marialexandra's amazing gowns! 

A Few days of introductions: First, Marialexandra

We took a few days off from the blog to travel to an amazing bridal shower in LA (don't worry we will share all of the juicy details soon) but we are now back in full swing! I have been wanting to introduce you all to an amazing designer from Miami, Marialexandra. I was introduced to Marialexandra through social networking and I became an instant fan. Today we will share a bit about her...tomorrow we will share her insights into the 2010 bridal season, both on her own designs and some of her favorites from a few other amazing designers.

Meet Marialexandra:

Born in Caracas, Venezuela Marialexandra's love for fashion and haute couture began at an early age. Growing up in a world of classic style, Marialexandra quickly developed a taste for beautiful clothing. Learning about fabrics, couture, and the fashion greats from her mother, she began designing at the age of twelve and by the age of fourteen had designed and created her first bridal gown. At the age of eighteen she was offered acceptance and a merit-based scholarship to the Savannah College of Art and Design. Upon graduating in 1997 with a BFA in Fashion Design she moved to Venezuela, where she quickly became a favorite among the women of Caracas society. Her designs soon began appearing regularly in society columns and magazines. After a few short years Marialexandra moved to Miami, Florida where in 2004 she set up her atelier with husband and business partner Christian Lisogorsky.

Her first full collection, Spring 2006, was presented under the tents of Miami Fashion Week 2005. Soon after, as an invitee of Harper’s Bazaar, she presented her collection at their re-launch event. Her next collection, Fall 2006, earned her the “Perrier Bubbling Under Best Emerging Designer” award when it was unveiled on the runways of Funkshion: Fashion Week Miami Beach. A few months later beauty bible Vanidades awarded her in the Arts for the Tributo a la Mujer Hispana. Increased press attention soon followed with articles in popular magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar, Ocean Drive, and Cosmopolitan, which selected her as the designer for their “Wedding of the Year” event. Her clothing has even been featured
in InStyle‘s the “Look of the Day”, worn by Ivanka Trump, as well as People’s Look of the Day, with Gabriella Spanic wearing Marialexandra. In 2008 SCAD added Marialexandra to their Wall of Fame and in 2009 recognized her achievements with the Distinguished Alumna Award.

Grateful for her success, Marialexandra continues to make charity a top priority, regularly participating in events to raise money for organizations such as Make-A-Wish Foundation, Humane Society of Greater Miami, American Nicaraguan Foundation, and La Ventanas de los Cielo Foundation. After many years Marialexandra continues to be inspired and driven by that woman that is both classic and modern, a strong and independent woman who knows who she is and what she wants. Through elegant design, attention to detail, and the highest standards of quality she continues to dress that woman.

www.marialexandra.com

Fashion Week: Alisa Benay!

The final day of Antonia Christianson Events Fashion Week features every bride's wish for the perfect wedding day: a perfect wedding dress!!

Introducing Alisa Benay! Alisa Benay has specialized in custom bridal wear and design for over 14 years. We love her because she specializes in historical fashions, especially the look created by the corset and the drama of the bustle. Her gowns are unique because her fit charts were established from digital body scans taken of 20,000 American women in 2005. This allows for many brides to find the perfect fit in her gowns which saves her brides money because they don't need alterations.

If your budget is suffering because of the current economic situations, Alisa Benay has designed dresses for 2010 that appeal to a wide-range of budgets, while still paying attention to all of the important details.

And we love a good cause, too!! Alisa Benay's signature 100 Brides for 100K philanthropic initiative to raise $100,000 for breast cancer causes is going on RIGHT NOW! It runs from October 2009- October 2010. She is donating $1,000 from the sale 100 dresses of this seasons limited edition gown, Mirabelle.

Fashion Week: Hair Accessories!

What is as important (if not more important) then your bridal shoes, jewelry and garter? Your hair!


You can laugh, but I’ve had clients crying that their entire day would be ruined if their hair didn't look just right. (i'm not kidding)...I've had clients refuse to walk down the aisle until her hair accessories are “just so." I've had clients pay hundreds (upon hundreds) of dollars for their wedding "do's"...and even more money for their bridal hair accessories. What kind of hair accessory are we talking about?? The traditional headband, with a TWIST!

This everyday old school accessory is definitely making its way back into the fashion world. Don't be confused that today's headbands are anything like those from the past. You know, the ones that were padded, big and bulky. Today's bridal headbands are scrumptious, sleek, sexy!

Are you sold? Do you want to know where to get a hip, stylish, headband for your wedding day? Or do you love the idea of a sassy headband but you'd like to have one that's less formal and more available to wear for everyday use...Well look no further, check out Ban.do! The fashion forward accessory site that is brought to you by L.A. Stylists Jen & Jamie!

Here's what they are all about:

No. 60 $95.00

No. 101 $165.00

We love this one! Taylor Swift just wore it in "In Touch"

This ban.do headband is called the "s" for $35.00

Not perfect for a wedding...but definitely perfect for a sweet Valentines Date

Fashion Week: Adorn Brides

If you liked my first two posts in Antonia Christianson Events Fashion Week you will definitely love today's. I think every wedding look is only completed with the perfect jewelry...and now finding that final accessory is even easier and less expensive!

Have you heard of Adorn Brides? Do you love beautiful jewelry? How much do you love diamonds?

Here's the easiest question of all to answer...

Would you rather buy this bracelet for $21,000.00 or rent it for $490.00?

Would you rather buy this neckalce for $4,200.00 or rent it for $140.00?

Would you rather buy these earrings for $7,400.00 or rent them for $190.00?

Adorn Brides is "the leading diamond jewelry rental company designed specifically to meet the needs of today's bride." They have partnered with the biggest names in the bridal world from TheKnot.com and Kleinfelds of Manhattan (yes, the same great store featured on "Say Yes to the Dress") to make sure that every bride can look and feel as beautiful as they deserve to on their wedding day. "Though bridal jewelry can sometimes feel like a last minute detail, the accessories you select to compliment your gown are a very important decision and should be considered well in advance of your wedding," Laura Carrington, Adorn Brides Co-Founder and Chief Stylist, cautioned. "From your engagement to your wedding day, it should all begin and end with diamonds. Remember your jewelry will be the very last thing you put on before you walk down the aisle to complete your transformation from fiancé to wife. It's an incredibly memorable, symbolic moment that should be treated as such."

To view the Adorn Brides collection of fine jewelry available for rent, visit www.adorn.com.

Fashion Week: Everything Garters!!

Welcome back to day 2 of Fashion Week at Antonia Christianson Events. As your go to girl for all things weddings I thought it was important to introduce you to wedding related fashion items that you might not know about. Yesterday was awesome shoes, and today are a sexy little unmentionable...called a GARTER!

I'd like to introduce you to Julianne Smith the "Garter Girl". Julianne is quickly becoming known as the "it girl" in garter creations. It sounds silly I know, but I do have a number of clients that want something completely out of the box when it comes to their bridal garter, and before I found Julianne I didn't know where to send them. Julianne and her garters have been featured everywhere from Martha Stewart Weddings to Southern Weddings Magazine, From the Lifetime Channel's "Get Married" to the "Today Show".

Whether you want a total custom creation or a simple garter with elegance Julianne can help.

Garter Images from Julianne Smith

Antonia Christianson Events Fashion Week!

Welcome to Fashion Week at Antonia Christianson Events! There are so many awesome vendors/products in the world of weddings and fashion that I love I decided to do a little "ode to the inner fashionista" right here on our blog! 

First up: Hey Lady Shoes!!! I have to thank my client Audrey for introducing me to this great product. As many of you know I am a lover of amazing shoes...well, amazing shoes that are fabulously comfortable. I know what you're thinking...That's a complete Oxymoron! But it's not. You can definitely have beautiful shoes, that make you feel sexy and are comfortable at the same time.

San Francisco based twins Emily and Jessica Leung longed for a comfortable shoe that they could dance the night away while still staying fashionable.  Their goal was to create an "anti-dyeable, actually danceable wedding shoe..." They dared to ask the question "why can't we have it all?" Feeling great and looking even better --what a truly fabulous, functional shoe should do. The twins believe in pro-choice, the choice to have a killer shoe that isn't a killer shoe. And thus the perfect pair was born. 

How cute are these?

\

"Princess Buttercup"

"At Tiffany's"

"Twinkletoes"

Check out http://www.shopheylady.com/ for more information and to purchase these super fun, super comfy, super sexy shoes!