Karen and Bill

We were kicking off our spring weddings at the lurvly Glencliff Manor this past Saturday.  Karen and Bill tied the knot- ...er "sawed the log" on a cool, drizzly April day. (We'll get to the log sawing later ;)  Drizzly days are wonderful.  No no, definitely not in terms of dry cleaning.  I know they can be a mess!  But, the pictures turn out so beautiful.  The colors are vibrant, and best of all, you get married surrounded by blooming flowers and warm glowing lights.  You would never see the sparkle of the string lights during the day on a sunny day.  In my opinion, the highlight of day weddings at Glencliff is the flowering beauty.  The highlight of the evening events is the fanciful lighting.  A drizzly day gives you both!

Contact info for Glencliff, Wisteria in bloom, umbrellas awaiting, and a single orange left on the tree

Another special treat for Karen is the blooming wisteria.  As us southern belles know, wisteria bloom is a short lived show.  Only one bride a year is graced with walking through the tunnel dripping with purple wisteria.  Karen was that girl!! There was also a single orange left on the charming orange tree.  

I didn't grab a picture of Jack at work, But Karen and Bill  chose Jack Radgowski of JR Photography as their photographer.  He was very kind and would work until he got the shot the way he was envisioning it.  He's definitely not a "spray and pray" kind of shooter.  Very thoughtful.

Look at Karen's beautiful dress!!  We got her laced up and enjoyed her custom, "Gilded" fit.  Her gown was a Maggie Sottero from Celebration. They have beautiful inventory and a very attentive sales team.  

As  you may already know, I'm hired for wedding day services as a form of insurance against wardrobe malfunctions.  I also spoil the efforts of the evil trolls who sneak into closets to take up the waistlines on clothes that make them ill-fitting the night before a wedding.   I'm usually very busy because of those terrible tricks those trolls play! This wedding was no exception.  The groom's coat was too small.  Military uniforms, as you know, are worn very fitted.  You have no wiggle-room to change a size or two.  Out comes my sewing machine, 20 mins before time to walk the aisle...  

Now back to the girls.  It was time to don the rhinestone-trimmed veil.  The brides and maids wore blue and gold Pashmina wraps.  ~sigh~   I love the colors!!!  Military weddings are so pretty and classy.  

See what I mean by, the best of both worlds?  The lights are mesmerizing.  Check out the pavilion.  I love the clear sides.  They keep the warmth in, but allow you to see the verdant display around you.  Both of these pictures are shot through the clear plastic.  It was so chilly outside, we could see their breath! 

Cake by Angela Hudson through Glencliff Manor

This couple made very tasteful, aesthetically pleasing choices, but their personalities were also very silly and fun-loving.  The cake table represents their dual natures perfectly.  

 

Karen and Bill pause in the glittering arbor.  What a striking couple they are!  Many blessings to you both! 

What were your favorite memories of this day?  Share your comments, thoughts, and well wishes below for Karen and Bill to treasure.  

The Columns Open House

We are at The Columns tonight for their open house. You can find my assistant in the bridal suite with lots of info about us.  Pick up a copy of our new wedding day services handout & see if you are a cash prize winner! See you there!! It's going on from now til 6:30. 

 

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We were a Clutchie Award winner!

Today is a super exciting day for us! This marks the first day of distribution for the latest Clutch Guide, wedding issue.  Inside it, you will find featured weddings, vendor advice, fresh ideas from other brides, and lots of informative well designed ads from local venues and vendors.  You will also find the results from the first ever Clutchie Awards.  They took a poll from local brides to establish who is Diamond, Platinum, and Gold in our area.  Ours truly took home a Diamond award for Alterations services!

I want to thank all of my fabulous customers for 3 things...  1)  That you trust me enough to allow me the freedom to work on the most important garment that you will ever wear! 2) That you guys have amazing vision.  My redesigns gallery would be very boring without my outta-the-box brides who want to see big changes happen! 3) That you guys voted for me!  This was an open ballot contest.  You could have filled in any name, or left it blank, but instead you thought of me.

Most of all, I want to thank God and my family.  5 years ago, there were days when I couldn't get out of bed or even walk.  I had R.A. I took a lot of medicine for it, Plaquenil, Prednisone, and a mild chemo drug named Methotrexate.  But they only allowed so much freedom.  I was bound up with Arthritis, and it was all I could do to take care of my family.  Truth be known, they took care of me.  Some people ask me, "Where did you come from?"  It's like I just burst on the wedding industry scene. Well, I came from a dark, painful, chronic disease that didn't allow me to work to the capacity that I do today. R.A. is debilitating and has no cure.  God healed me one day.  Yes.  I said, God healed me.  I'm free of that terrible auto-immune disease now and can work many hours a week, making your (and my) dreams come true.  

My family deserves lots of "hugs and kisses, loves and wishes", (as we say at the Suter house) Because they put up with my hours and do all the usual sacrificing that small business owner families have to do.  It's a big deal.  

 

 Follow this link here to read the .pdf of the new guide.  Be on the look out for your very own guide, (to have and to hold ;) at one of the many drop-off locations.  I'll have some complimentary copies in my studio some time in the next couple of weeks.   

Below is a screenshot of The Clutch Guide's new cover for their wedding issue.  Pri-tay!  

Below you will find a copy of the beautiful new ad that we ran in the Guide.  Special thanks to models Emma and Noa for lending their time and beauty to this shoot.  

Mentioned in Charlottesville Borrowed and Blue

Click here to see Ashley's beautiful wedding! 

Borrowed and Blue posted this for their Charlottesville blog.  The post below was featured in Their Asheville blog.  But guess what?  Roanoke is about to get their own Borrowed and Blue category.  That's exciting because the information you will find there will be more specific for our area.  You will see more vendors and venues featured that we all know and love. 

Melissa and Joseph

We kicked off 2015 with a wedding that included some amazing locations and vendors.  I can't wait to share with you guys the visual beauty that the Bowling and Schwarzenboeck guests were treated to!  But first thing is first, lets establish the location before we get to meeting this fabulous family. 

I arrived plenty early, as I always try to do.  I drove from one site to the other, making sure I knew all the correct ways to navigate the streets of downtown Roanoke.  Roanoke was my home about 20 years ago.  I lived in Roanoke for hmm.. maybe 11 years? I snapped a few pictures from the parking lot below the Cathedral.  When we have two sites, I like to drive between the two, just in case I get separated from the wedding party or put in a car with an out-of-towner.  Getting lost could be devastating to the timing of the day!  I usually ride up with the bride to assist her with the gown while she gets in and out of the vehicle, but you never know.     

Next stop, The Patrick Henry Hotel...

Yes you read that correctly, The newly restored, Patrick Henry Hotel.  Do they have a one-two punch of locations, or what? There must be someone involved who has really good taste... ;) 

When I entered the hotel, I greeted the bride and set up my steamer to heat up.  That takes about 20 mins, so I try to get there early, plug in, unpack, and get a few photos before my time officially starts.  As I wandered the halls, a kind man with an interesting accent greeted me.  He said, "Let me show you something.  In the ballroom, there are chandeliers that cost $350,000.00 a piece when they were restored and installed 3 years ago."  There were two of them!  While I studied the chandeliers, I noticed a cake lady doing acrobatics on a chair.  I came closer and introduced myself, taking pictures of her finishing touches.  

 

 

The ladies seemed unsettled with the length of the pins that anchored the letters into the cake.  They wished aloud that they had wire snips.  I pulled mine from my sewing bag that I was wearing and offered them to them.  I always keep a pair of pliers and snips in my bag.  The monogram was shortened and the letters were placed perfectly.   

The "cake lady" was Linda Price, from Priceless Cups and Cakes. She did a beautiful job. 

Lets go meet the bride and her gown...

The gown was a Bliss from Klienfeld's in Manhattan.  It was purchased from Church Street Bridal.  We redesigned the gown at Melissa's direction.  There were so many things we changed about the gown!  Melissa and I would joke that no one is allowed to peek at the inside of the dress because it was a patchwork menagerie of changes.  I actually noticed an unfinished edge in her under layer while I was dressing her and had to heat seal it, for fear that it would fray a little inside.  We try not to allow things like that to slip by us, but it was a lot to keep up with!  

Melissa specifically wanted me to mention Thuy of Brambleton Studio for hair and MG Skincare for makeup.

In the second photo, meet the bride, Melissa!  She is the queen of detail and knows exactly how she wants things to be.  I don't know how she kept up with it all. She had a great team that reflected her fine taste, but she was also very present in the management of the day.  It helps things run so much smoother! 

One of my first jobs to tackle was a design upgrade for the flower girl.  They gave me trim and flowers to sew to the dress and I set to work.  

 

Flowers were broad, waxed leaves and hydrangeas with fern.  Flowers by Eddie.  

Melissa's planner was a close friend of hers, Tammy Hale. 

There's a fabulous story behind these Manolos.  Melissa had a budget for her gown and alterations.  She saved so much by buying her gown from Church Street and using The Gilded Thimble for alterations and wedding day services that she had splurge money left over! How many brides get to trek to Nordies and buy a pair of Manolos with leftover budget money?  Not many.  This girl is good!! 

You may want to click the above pictures to enlarge them.  This Cathedral is crazy beautiful!!!!

Here Melissa enters with her Dad. Check out that "Gilded" fit!

They held Mass during their ceremony.  The photographers, Kevin Hurley and his assistant made their way around, covering all of the beauty.  Kevin was great to work with.  He and his second shooter were geared out! Kevin shows great discretion.  He is kind to both the guests and fellow vendors.  He kept things moving on time, but was never pushy.  He was sensitive in his selection of lighting and the timing of when it was appropriate to use it.  They were a great team and I can't wait to see his photographs of this day. 

Wow!!!

After the ceremony, we returned to the Hotel.  I helped Melissa out of her gown for a break and tied her bustles up for her.  Check out those bustles below.  She chose a triple french demi-bustle.  As she spoke with the caterer, I was left standing with her new husband.  We admired her together.  I mentioned how detailed she was and told him, "You know, throughout life- some days her detailed nature may drive you crazy, but if you give her her lead, your life will be amazing."  He said assuredly, "Oh, I know!!  

I love it when I see marriages that are started out with mutual respect and a bend for the other's strengths.  Those are the greatest partnerships! 

Ywca prom dress super sale today!

They are not just selling formals. Check out their short dress prices and there's 10% off all bridal as well. As usual, a bag sale is going on in the gym as well. See ya there! I'll be volunteering in the bridal shop today. It's your chance to shop with an alterationist. ;)

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check out the price!!! They have racks and racks of gowns for sale. Designer samples "for a song". 

check out the price!!! They have racks and racks of gowns for sale. Designer samples "for a song". 

This is AWESOME!!!

This is AWESOME!!

After Being Left at the Altar, Bride Turns Heartbreak Into an Epic ‘Trash the Dress’ Photo Shoot

http://petapixel.com/2015/01/01/left-altar-bride-turns-heartbreak-epic-trash-dress-photo-shoot/

Get your heart back, girl!! 

This is a great idea.  I see sniffing, sad brides very often at my shop.  They make a quiet phone call to arrange the pickup of their dress.  They keep their head down as they walk past the other brides in my shop.  As I hand them their dress, I let them know that I canceled a wedding once, and it's the BEST thing that can happen.  It doesn't matter who makes the call.  No one deserves a lifelong commitment that doesn't include huge amounts of love. 

That being said,  I don't think a bride who is sad and hurting should have to pick up her gown by herself.  Bridesmaids!??  Where are you?  This is something that should be your job or the job of mom, if she's available.  If the bride can't pick up her gown with a feeling of triumph and relief, then someone else needs to.  

Need a little more therapy?   This trash the dress shoot sounds very cathartic for everyone that is hurt and frustrated in this situation.  

 

(via Offbeat Bride via HuffPo)

Image credits: Photographs by Elizabeth Hoard

 


Katie and Russ at The Greenbrier

My husband and kids traveled with me to West Virginia Monday for a beautiful winter wedding.  The site is tucked away in a sleepy modest town.  White Sulfur Springs appears to have no distinguishing features from the interstate. But, when you finally round the curve and pull up the drive to The Greenbrier, you know that you have arrived.  The building is massive!  

The Greenbrier was decked in her Holiday finery. 

The evergreens were strung with lights and the reflections of muted colors sparkling on the rainy asphalt were very inviting.   I couldn't wait to see my bride, Katie again.  I was also looking forward to meeting the lucky groom.  Katie is not an ordinary bride.  She planned a large, formal wedding from a distance, (in a relatively short amount of time).  She is very intelligent and strong, but she doesn't make you feel intimidated or uncomfortable.  She speaks her mind but is very thoughtful towards others and the same time.  A complex little package, this Katie! ;)  I wonder who her match could be?  

I passed many colorful sitting areas on my way to the bridal suite.  You could see the ice skating rink from the window of Katie's room.  

I delivered her dress and hung it high from a door frame.  It took several steamings to get it right.  Days with high humidity cause the gowns to wrinkle faster and the trip to the resort had done a number on the gown.  

Katie is a practical soul.  She said several times that day, "Look!  I'm a girl!!" as she laughed aloud.  She's not usually one to waltz around in large ball gowns! She knew how she wanted it customized, though.  (We had altered the gown a few weeks before her wedding date.  She also had us put pockets in her gown.)  

The pockets were not visible because of the lay of her pleats.  You could only see them when she used them.  

Soon it was time for her wedding!

She gave her mom a kiss, clutched her bouquet, and we walked down a corridor that was lined with plaster busts and Christmas trees. We waited in a room that had a large painting of Princess Grace, (My FAVE!!)  I wish I could have snagged a pic for you guys, but I was "playing Pippa" at the moment with Katie's train.   

Katie is modeling her custom made birdcage veil that we designed for her.  

Katie looked stunning! 

Katie and Russ took their vows in The Cameo Ballroom.  It was nice to spend the afternoon with them both.  They are a fabulous match for each other.  They are both very strong people but with a softness toward the other because of the love that is between them.  The connection was very apparent and warm. May they always keep that.  It will help them weather many of life's storms together.  

I should also take a moment to mention Katie's great vendors!  Emily French was the Coordinator from The Greenbrier she was a hard worker.  Very kind and proficient.  The Barksdales had chosen Laura's Focus for their photography.  It was so good to work Laura again!  Mark Frye, Creative Occasions did the flowers.  The gown was purchased at Newfangled Bride in Salem, VA.

 

Oh... and I should also say, Happy New Year, everyone! 

Molli and Kyle...

When you dreamed of something ever since you were a little girl, how hard do you hold onto that dream?  Do you chose to believe in it or do you cave? 

 

Molli believed...

 

Molli believed that she would have an outdoor wedding. Even though she selected a venue that has a beautiful interior, she chose a garden appropriate dress and a venue with a gorgeous vista.  Her every image that she painted in her mind during all of these months of planning had her located outside, surrounded by nature.

December held other plans.  I checked the forecast the night before. 90% chance of rain... all day...

  I arrived early as I usually do.  I set up the steamer. I snapped a few pics of the venue before my time officially began.  We dressed the maids.  I stitched the backs of each of their gowns so that their undergarments wouldn't show. 

 

Look below at how beautiful her dress is!  It's from the Blue line.  She purchased it from Celebration Bridal in Lynchburg, VA. We fully altered the gown to Molli's form and delivered it, freshly steamed. We custom made Molli's veil as well. 

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Have you ever been to the Bedford Columns before?  This was our first holiday wedding there.  It's was decorated so beautifully! The mansion in general is very stunning, but the lights and glitter really took it to an even higher level.  

We helped Molli into her gown, and prepared her shoes for their walk down an aisle. But what aisle would they walk down?  2 o' clock was fast approaching.  The ballroom was filling with guests.  There were seats arranged in both the ballroom and outside in the Bridal Courtyard. 

Above, the applique that Molli chose and had us attach to her gown.  Her Betsy Johnson shoes. Flowers were arranged by the bride's grandmother, Loretta Flowers.  

The snazzy little tutu wearing poodle, and a sleeping beauty, flower girl.  

Molli postponed the wedding for a very brief time before making her final call.  We checked and rechecked the Doppler. See that little break in the clouds? It was Molli's answer to prayer heading our way.  In a matter of minutes, the sky should clear right?  

"Let's do it!"  Molli decided to take the "plunge"- lol, hopefully not in literal water.  We want it to dry up!

She made the right call!  Even though some chose to keep their umbrellas up, they really weren't badly needed.  The rain let up in perfect time with Molli's ceremony!

I need to take a pause here to mention Molli's photographer, PG Photography.   Paula, the photographer was super nice, but wait there's so much more!  Check out the shots she worked that day and how quickly she posted a huge sneak peek!  Wowzzaas!!

Molli's cake glittered with "snow".  I wish I could truly capture how it looked!  It's was crafted by Geri's Confections.  

 

Look below at some of their personal details from their reception. Some other vendors I should mention are, Barry Tosh, DJ. And the Amazing Katie Lester as coordinator, A Little Party, Events.  

You know how you feel a little itchy and grumpy when you're all dressed up?  You know how you feel a little bit happier when you're in your comfy clothes and have your favorite blanket to hug? ... This is too cute!  The ring-bearer had a total change, here folks! lol 

Check that "Gilded" waist!  

I helped the bride out of her heels and into her glittery Toms. I hooked up the 5 bustles that my assistant, Yael had put into Molli's gown, and even tacked the front of her dress, so she wouldn't tear it since her shoes were lower now. I watched the first dance to make sure her bustles would hold. After their dance, Kyle and Molli sat down at the sweetheart table.  I made eye contact with her from across the ballroom and offered a little wave goodbye.  She formed a heart with her hands, and we shared a knowing smile.  I could leave knowing that all her dreams came true, December 6th, 2014.  

Many happy years, Kyle and Molli! <3 

Awww...

I just received the sweetest little thank you email from a mother of the bride. They hired us a couple of months ago for our Wedding Day Services, and look at what she had to say...

 

We can’t thank you enough for all you did to help us out so much- you have a very special touch and quiet way of doing so many things without drawing attention to yourself.  I’ve seen a few minutes of the video we picked up today and I kept saying- I didn’t know Carissa did this or that!  

Between your saving stitches, incredible photos and quiet fixes, you really brought out the best in so many areas!

Thank you, thank you , thank you!

 

That was full of so many high compliments.  It's exactly what we strive for at every wedding we work.  

I read the letter aloud to my husband, and he said, "That makes it all worth it, doesn't it?"  

~sigh~ Why, yes it does.