Top 20 Wedding Movies to Watch While You Are Engaged

by admin // August 14, 2019 // No Comments

We’ve compiled a list of the top 20 best wedding films for your viewing pleasure. After all, no one enjoys immersing themselves in all things wedding more than brides! So put on your softest sweatpants, grab your fave movie-watching snacks {Popcorn & Junior Mints for us) and settle in for some great flicks! You’ll also need some Kleenex for the heart-warming parts and the laugh till you cry moments.

Bridesmaids is a laugh out loud movie that tells the story of Annie (Kristen Wiig) a single woman whose life is a hot mess and her newly engaged and successful bestie Lillian (Maya Rudolph). Annie assumes the role of maid of honor even though she’s broke and depressed. She careens through her bridesmaid’s duties like a bull in a china shop. The other bridesmaids are played to comedic perfection by all-star cast Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Ellie Kemper, and Wendi McLendon-Covey.

You’ll want to sing along to the joyous Mama Mia. Free-spirited Donna (Meryl Streep ) is the mother of bride-to-be Sophie (Amanda Seyfried). She lives on a gorgeous Greek Island where Sophie is having her wedding. Unbeknownst to her mother, Sophie has secretly invited three men to the island, any of whom might possibly be her father. The film features an ensemble cast, including Christine Baranski, Pierce Brosnan, Dominic Cooper, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, and Julie Walters.

Steel Magnolias is a love story honoring the strength, humor, and beauty of southern women. Based on true events, this film is about M’Lynn (Sally Field) and her daughter, bride-to-be Shelby Eatenton (Julia Roberts) as they prepare for her wedding. Truvy Jones (Dolly Parton) fixes the women’s hair for the ceremony, along with aspiring beautician Annelle Dupuy Desoto (Daryl Hannah). Diabetic Shelby has a health scare, which doesn’t bode well for her hopes of having children. Time passes, and the women and their friends like Ouiser (Shirley MacLaine) and Clairee (Olympia Dukakis) encounter tragedy and good fortune, growing stronger and closer in the process.

Set during the Christmas holidays, Love Actually examines nine complex and intertwined stories of love. Among the characters explored are David (Hugh Grant)), the handsome newly elected British prime minister who falls for a young junior staffer (Martine McCutcheon ), and Daniel (Liam Neeson), who is mourning the recent death of his wife, Joanna, as he tries to raise his stepson Sam (Thomas Sangster) alone. Sarah (Laura Linney ), is a graphic designer whose devotion to her mentally ill brother complicates her love life, and Harry (Alan Rickman), is a man married to Daniel’s friend Karen (Emma Thompson), who is seriously considering an affair with his attractive new secretary.

The Hangover is a hilarious comedy featuring three buddies (Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis,) who drive to Las Vegas with their friend (Justin Bartha) for an epic bachelor party weekend in Las Vegas. The only problem is they wake up from a wild and crazy bachelor party night unable to remember anything that happened AND the groom is MIA. Nursing the mother of all hangovers they desperately try to re-trace their steps in order to find their friend and get him back to LA in time for his wedding.

The Princess Bride is a cult-classic fairy tale adventure about a beautiful young woman, Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright) and her one true love Westley (Cary Elwes). He must find her after a long separation and save her from a very bad prince. Together they battle the evils of the mythical kingdom of Florin to be reunited with each other. Based on the William Goldman novel “The Princess Bride.”

Bride Wars, tells the story of two lifelong best friends Liv (Kate Hudson) and Emma (Anne Hathaway) who accidentally end up with the same wedding date at the same location. The pair have been planning every aspect of their future weddings for years, ever since they both attended a wedding at New York’s famed Plaza Hotel and both decided they would also marry there one day. All bets are off as they each attempt to claim the day as their own and their precious friendship is at stake.

The Proposal is a lovely romantic comedy about a high-powered book editor Margaret (Sandra Bullock ) who is facing deportation to her native Canada. Undaunted she convinces her hapless assistant Andrew (Ryan Reynolds) to pretend to be her fiancee. Andrew agrees to the charade but insists that they first travel to Alaska to meet his eccentric family. With a suspicious immigration official always lurking nearby, Margaret and Andrew must stick to their wedding plan despite numerous problems.

Our Family Wedding follows along with Lucia (America Ferrera) and Marcus (Lance Gross) as they return from college and announce their engagement to their parents. Marcus and Lucia realize too late that, although it’s their marriage, the wedding is going to be the sole domain of their families. Insults fly and tensions run high when their highly competitive fathers ( Forest Whitaker, Carlos Mencia) get involved, threatening to wreak havoc with the couple’s special day.

A romantic comedy with a sweet ending, 27 Dresses stars Katherine Heigl as Jane a perpetual bridesmaid who is forever putting the needs of others before her own, making her the go-to girl for whoever needs help planning a wedding. But when Jane’s younger sister Tess (Malin Åkerman) snags the man (Edward Burns) Jane secretly loves, she finds herself questioning putting other people first. Meanwhile, a handsome reporter (James Marsden) sees Jane’s unusual story as his ticket off the bridal beat.

Father of the Bride is a 90s update of a classic Spencer Tracy comedy. Overprotective dad George (Steve Martin,) and his wife, Nina (Diane Keaton), are the proud parents of Annie (Kimberly Williams ). Their whole world turns upside down when she returns from studying abroad with a fiancee. From meeting the in-laws to wedding plans with a very “extra” consultant (Martin Short) and his flamboyant assistant (B. D. Wong ), it seems as if the troubles never end.

Anyone who loves the 80s will enjoy The Wedding Singer. (Adam Sandler) plays wedding singer Robbie, a nice guy with a broken heart who was abandoned at the altar by his fiancé. He meets a charming waitress named Julia (Drew Barrymore), who enlists his help to plan her wedding. The movie follows along as these two develop feelings for one another.

My Best Friends Wedding Childhood friends Julianne (Julia Roberts) and Michael (Dermot Mulroney) made a pact to marry each other if they were still single by age 28. Now, days before her 28th birthday, Michael tells Julianne that he’s going to be marrying beautiful Kimberly (Cameron Diaz). Julianne realizes she is in love with him and vows to stop the wedding at all costs including enlisting the help of her friend (Rupert Everett).

Yet another Julia Roberts RomCom, Runaway Bride tells the tale of Maggie, a girl who consistently gets cold feet at the altar. She does it so many times that she is dubbed “the Runaway Bride”. An investigative reporter, Homer (Richard Gere) hears about her and decides to write an article on her. They end up falling in love, but can she keep from running away?

My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a celebration of love, Greek family dynamics, and traditions. Still single at 30, frumpy Toula (Nia Vardalos) works for a restaurant owned by her parents, Gus (Michael Constantine) and Maria (Lainie Kazan ) and is pitied by most of her large Greek family. Toula starts to make changes by attending classes, improving her appearance and taking a job at her aunt’s travel agency. Newly confident she begins a relationship with non-Greek Ian (John Corbett ), a teacher who is tall, handsome and a vegetarian. When Ian proposes Toula worries about her over-protective father and family will think.

The Wedding Date follows along as Kat (Debra Messing) older and still single prepares to travel to London for her younger sister’s wedding (Amy Adams). While this is bad enough, the best man is her ex Jeffrey (Jeremy Sheffield), a man who dumped her right before they were to be married. Kat takes matters into her own hands and hires a dashing escort (Dermot Mulroney) to travel with her an act as her date.

Fun-loving Jeremy (Vince Vaughn) and John ( Owen Wilson) are divorce mediators who make a habit of crashing receptions in Wedding Crashers. For the irrepressible duo, there is no easier way to drink for free and find women to hook up with. So when Secretary of the Treasury William Cleary (Christopher Walken) announces the wedding of his daughter, the pair make it their mission to crash the upscale event. But their game changes when John locks eyes with bridesmaid Claire (Rachel McAdams).

In Sweet Home Alabama fabulous fashion designer Melanie (Reese Witherspoon) is thrilled when she gets engaged to NYC’s most eligible bachelor. The only trouble is Melanie is still married to the redneck she married in high school, Jake (Josh Lucas,). Ole’ Jake refuses to divorce her so Melanie sneaks back home to Alabama to try to fix things.

In I Love You Man successful real-estate broker Peter (Paul Rudd) has so much going for him: a great job, a beautiful home, and a lovely fiancee. One thing he doesn’t have though is friends. Due to his dedication to both his work and fiancée Zooey (Rashida Jones), Peter has failed to make any friends at all. But with his wedding fast approaching, the pressure is on to find at least a best man and so Peter embarks on several desperate and hilarious attempts to find a best buddy.

Four Weddings and a Funeral is a beloved British comedy about likable Charles (Hugh Grant) and his tight-knit group of friends who seem to all be unlucky in love. But one day Charles meets a beautiful American named Carrie (Andie MacDowell ) at a wedding, and he hopes his luck may have finally changed. They share one magical night, but then Carrie returns to the States the very next day, dashing Charles’ hopes. As fate would have it, Charles and Carrie’s paths continue to cross — over several weddings and a funeral — and he decides that they are meant to be together, even if their timing always seems to be off.

Marvelously Magnificent French Macarons are Made for Weddings

by admin // August 8, 2019 // No Comments

You’ve probably heard of Macaroons (MACK-A-RUNES) and you’ve most likely seen stacks of beautiful Macarons (MACK-AH-ROHNS) in your Insta Feed, but did know these popular cookies are nothing alike? Besides being spelled pretty much the same and both tasting scrumptious, macarons and macaroons are actually very different cookies. First off, macaroons are coconut-based, whereas macarons are meringue-based. Macaroons are extremely sweet while macarons have a just a tiny hint of sweetness. So although we have nothing but love for the lumpy, dense and yummy macaroons, today we are going to delve into the delicate loveliness of french macarons.

Marvelously magnificent French Macarons are the perfect cookies for weddings. They are light sandwich cookies consisting of two rounded disks made from a batter of egg whites, sugar and almond flour surrounding a sweet filling of either jam, ganache or buttercream. They are dainty, not overly sweet and can be made in an endless variety of colors and flavors.

Macarons can be any shade of the rainbow AND they can be further decorated with artistic designs and toppings.

Macarons are beautiful to look at, they photograph well plus they are tidy to eat as they are not too crumbly. Macarons make nice wedding cake alternatives. A couple of options below feature tiers of the cookies on their sides as well as a wedding cake topiary with macarons:

We adore this whimsical tower of pale pink cookies decorated with lush florals and greenery:

And this luscious version with extravagant blooms and a sophisticated color palette is just gorgeous:

Macarons make delightful favors for your wedding guests. There are many specialty bakers like La Reine des Macarons who specialize in creating unique favors like these:

The Vintage Kitchen creates amazing gourmet French macarons. All of their cookies are made fresh in Arkansas and they are happy to personalize them just for you by incorporating your wedding colors, the flavor of your wedding cake, or even by hand-painting your initials onto each macaron!

Another adorable favor option (which will last much longer than a cookie) are these precious Macaron Limoge Trinket Boxes by Two’s Company:

Or if you want to serve Macarons as a dessert option for your guests you could do something along the lines of this lavish selection of flavors and colors. A large selection is key since everyone will be unable to resist tasting multiple flavors:

Food Network has an intricate macaron recipe with lots of different flavor profiles for all you DIYers with mad cooking skills:

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar

1 cup almond flour

3 large egg whites, at room temperature

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

Pinch of salt

1/4 cup superfine sugar

2 to 3 drops gel food coloring (see below)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla, almond or mint extract

Assorted fillings (see below)

Directions

Special equipment you may need:

Oven with convection setting, 4 baking sheets, 3 silicone baking mats, Fine-mesh sieve, Pastry bag with a 1/4-inch round tip

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F using the convection setting. Line 3 baking sheets with silicone mats. Measure the confectioners’ sugar and almond flour by spooning them into measuring cups and leveling with a knife. Transfer to a bowl; whisk to combine.
Sift the sugar-almond flour mixture, a little at a time, through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl, pressing with a rubber spatula to pass through as much as possible. It will take a while, and up to 2 tablespoons of coarse almond flour may be left; just toss it.
Beat the egg whites, cream of tartar and salt with a mixer on medium speed until frothy. Increase the speed to medium-high; gradually add the superfine sugar and beat until stiff and shiny, about 5 more minutes.
Transfer the beaten egg whites to the bowl with the almond flour mixture. Draw a rubber spatula halfway through the mixture and fold until incorporated, giving the bowl a quarter turn with each fold.
Add the food coloring and extract (see below). Continue folding and turning, scraping down the bowl, until the batter is smooth and falls off the spatula in a thin flat ribbon, 2 to 3 minutes.
Transfer the batter to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch round tip. Holding the bag vertically and close to the baking sheet, pipe 1 1/4-inch circles (24 per sheet). Firmly tap the baking sheets twice against the counter to release any air bubbles.
Let the cookies sit at room temperature until the tops are no longer sticky to the touch, 15 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the humidity. Slip another baking sheet under the first batch (a double baking sheet protects the cookies from the heat).
Bake the first batch until the cookies are shiny and rise 1/8 inch to form a “foot,” about 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely. Repeat, using a double sheet for each batch. Peel the cookies off the mats and sandwich with a thin layer of filling (see below).

FLAVOR VARIATIONS

Almond-Raspberry:

Tint the batter with 2 drops neon pink gel food coloring; flavor with almond extract. Fill with seedless raspberry jam (you’ll need about 3/4 cup).

Mint-White Chocolate:

Tint the batter with 2 drops mint green gel food coloring; flavor with mint extract. For the filling, microwave 3 ounces chopped white chocolate, 2 tablespoons heavy cream and 1 tablespoon butter in 30-second intervals, stirring, until smooth. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon mint extract and 1 drop mint green gel food coloring.

Blueberry Cheesecake:

Tint the batter with 3 drops royal blue gel food coloring; flavor with vanilla extract. For the filling, mix 4 ounces softened cream cheese and 3 tablespoons blueberry jam.

Lavender-Honey:

Tint the batter with 2 drops violet gel food coloring; flavor with almond or vanilla extract. For the filling, mix 3/4 cup mascarpone cheese, 2 tablespoons honey and 1 teaspoon ground dried lavender.

Pineapple:

Tint the batter with 2 drops lemon yellow gel food coloring; flavor with vanilla extract. For the filling, press 3/4 cup pineapple jam through a sieve, discarding any large pieces.

Berry Beautiful Burgundy Wedding Ideas

by admin // August 1, 2019 // No Comments

Rich and romantic burgundy is one of the most popular colors for wedding palettes. Brides gravitate to the intense jewel tone for its beauty, intensity, and versatility. It can work for any season; Spring through Winter. And, this color selection lends itself to any style wedding from edgy, industrial-chic wedding styles to earthy outdoor ceremonies. Since this hue provides a dramatic focal point for any and all of the details from florals to decor, we’ve rounded up some burgundy inspired options. You can set the tone for your wedding before it even happens by the style and color of your invitations. Give your guests a taste of wine (lol) with these amazing invites by Funky Olive.

One of the easiest ways to incorporate a signature color is, of course, with your bouquet. This one is a decadent composition of exotic florals and dried pods:

This bouquet is a lighter, sweeter side of burgundy since it is paired with paler shades of pink and soft roses:

And we love the drama of a wide bouquet balanced with light and dark colors and loads of greenery:

We think the shade pairs so beautifully with shades of green, pink, peach, and gold like this lavish, luscious tablescape.

The hint of burgundy on this three-tiered naked cake, paired with gold flakes and some pretty leaves sends a major style message:

A giant gilded frame embellished with swags of burgundy-forward florals makes a picture-perfect backdrop.

How lovely is an antique whitewashed mantel staged with an abundance of candles, baskets, and greenery? The few touches of burgundy deliver a punch of color and really pop against the other elements. Such a captivating moment at any outdoor wedding!

We’ve sourced the absolute most perfect burgundy shade of polish for you, Berry Naughty, from Essie. This luscious, deep berry lacquer provides the perfect pop of burgundy for your wedding day mani/pedi. Who wants this color at their next appointment? (We do!)

The best shade for lips, by Charlotte Tilbury, is Legendary Queen, a globally-gorgeous soft neutral wine shade in matte. You’ll be a beauty queen with this dazzling wedding day lip color:

The #KylieCosmetics Kyshadow pressed powder eye shadow in burgundy (extended palette) is your secret weapon to create the perfect wedding eye.

Another way to incorporate this signature shade is with your wedding shoes! How amazing are these berry-hued heels from Nordstrom? Extravagant laser-cut curlicues add a delicate, feminine look to these scene-stealing sandals.

A bountiful burgundy headpiece is another sure-fire way to bring your color story front and center:

Having your guy in a burgundy tux is also a super awesome idea. Combining your favorite person with your fave color makes all kinds of sense! “Hello world, I love this man. And I love burgundy!”

Adding in some burgundy artwork and furnishings to your reception space can up your wow factor style-wise, plus you can use it to furnish your new house together after the wedding day:

Having a signature cocktail in your vibrant, saturated hue is an entertaining way to reiterate your color palette. This one is the right shade, but you might want to rename it something other than Fearless Redneck:

However you choose to use your color, we know your wedding day is going to be amazing.

Emma and Andrew’s Very Special Vintage Inspired Wedding

by admin // July 24, 2019 // No Comments

Emma and Andrew vowed to love each other forever on an early spring day in a billowy, romantic white tent on her family’s property surrounded by 220 guests. Their warm reception was held in their lovely, rustic barn. Their day was incredible due to the efforts of her team of wedding pros, and also her wonderful friends & family. And, of course, because of the beautiful love that she and Andrew share. But one reason the event was so special was that it was filled with so many personal touches from Emma’s heart. Luckily Erin Morrison Photography was on hand to artfully capture all the details.

You see, beautiful bride Emma spent a long time, years in fact, planning and preparing for her amazing and colorful vintage-inspired wedding. Long before she met Andrew, back in her high school days, she dreamed of what her wedding would be like so often Emma got herself a notebook to keep track of all of her favorite ideas. The book was stuffed with flowers, cakes, decor dresses and anything else that captured her fancy. Emma, who has a love of all things vintage, also spent lots of her free time scouring auctions, flea markets and estate sales with her mother to find things that caught her eye. In her college years, she became an avid collector, amassing vases, tissue paper bells, bridal baskets, handkerchiefs and linens in earnest. The best part? Emma ended up having the wedding of her dreams and using those ideas and items she collected through the years. Her joyous wedding turned out perfectly, as she put it, “colorful, mismatched and a little kitsch.” But decor and details were just part of the equation, as Emma says, “In the end, the day is about marrying the love you’ve waited for and sharing the day with all of your favorite people.”

Some of Emma’s favorite folks are a group of her mom’s friends, known as the Ya-Ya’s. These fun-loving, party-planning, stand-in moms all played a part in the festivities. They were all over the wedding helping with cleaning, organizing, bringing over more “junk” to decorate with, setting up, and even catering. She recalls their reception happily, “It was beautiful and exactly what I had imagined. All of my favorite things—mismatched china and milk glass, vintage head vases, old linen tablecloths, a ceiling filled with tissue paper bells, Victorian screen doors re-purposed into chalkboards, old quilts on the ladders that belonged to Andrew’s granddad, and breakfast for dinner prepared and served by the Ya-Ya’s.” And all those bridal baskets she so lovingly collected ended up providing a major style statement hung in a happy profusion on the barn wall, filled with baby’s breath from LB Floral.

Lesley at LB Floral played a key role in setting the stage for the wedding. Prior to the wedding, she met with Emma and her mother to plan the floral elements. She even took a look through Emma’s wedding notebook for inspiration. She was able to incorporate so many of Emma’s ideas and her favorite flowers (daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths) beautifully. Lesley made an astonishingly amazing arch that included some of the collected tissue paper bells. Isn’t it fabulous?

Our favorite floral element though has to be the bountiful bouquet bursting with color that LB Floral made for the bride.

Emma’s habit of accumulating antique hankies paid off too. She used them as creative gift wrapping for the wedding favors. Emma put out local honey as well as apple butter, jam, and peanut butter spread that were all homemade by her friends. And, Emma used a wrought iron tea cart she found at an antique show in Ohio to display those yummy gifts.

Emma always felt she should wear something 50’s inspired on her wedding day. She actually purchased a tea-length dress with vintage vibes in Europe but decided it wasn’t quite what she wanted a few months before her special day. She and her mother visited The Gilded Gown where they found her dream dress; a gorgeous full-length gown composed of all-over lace with three quarter length sleeves and a beautiful train. (The bridesmaids found similar style dresses in all different colors from various sources.)

She added in her retro flair by wearing a bouffant veil and kitten heels, both found on Amazon.

Ramble Creek Cakes made the adorable white wedding cake which was artistically decorated to look like hobnail milk glass. Emma used a whimsical vintage vase that belonged to Andrew’s grandmom as the topper.

We are blown away by the amazing paper backdrop that graced one corner of the barn.

Every nook and cranny of their wedding was graced with happy vignettes, like this antique bike with its’ basket full of flowers and a sweet sign propped beside it proclaiming, “Just Married.”

Emma and Andrew created a wedding filled with love, laughter, family, and friends. The fact that Emma incorporated her passion for vintage treasures just made the whole event even more enjoyable for all who were in attendance. And now they can live happily ever after.

WEDDING PROS

Dress | The Gilded Gown

Photography | Erin Morrison Photography

Floral | LB Floral

Invites | Minted

DJ | Music in Motion Mobile Entertainment

Hair | Alchemy Salon

Makeup | Alchemy Salon

Cake | Ramble Creek Cakes

Desserts | Lambert’s Southern Pies and Bake Shop

Rentals | Anderson Party Rentals

Groom’s Attire | Joseph A. Bank

Our Amazing National Bridal Sale Event Is Happening July 20-August 20!

by admin // July 17, 2019 // No Comments

It’s the very, very best time of year for brides! Why? Because our third annual National Bridal Sale Event is going on NOW through August 20th at The Gilded Gown. We have huge markdowns on so many dresses! In fact: Every 👏 single 👏 dress👏 is 👏on 👏 sale!!!!!!!!! Even better? All accessories are Half-Off too!!!!!

Our Kickoff Celebration will be held on Saturday, July 20th and it is going to be EPIC!!! We will have a rose 🌹 for every bride, super swag bags, lots of other awesome wedding vendors on hand (see list & links below), tasty treats, a photo booth, fun giveaways, an in-store fashion show, door prizes, a DJ, tuxedoed guys to carry your purchases to your car and much, much more. We are accepting walk-ins all day, no appointments necessary 💗 The event starts at 11 am and goes until 7 pm! First come, first served. (Can’t make it Saturday? Don’t worry, the sale prices will continue through August 20th!)

We’ve slashed prices on so many gorgeous gowns! This beautiful option is reduced by 50% for the sale! Wow, right? You don’t have to sacrifice style and quality for the deal of a lifetime. Lace? Yes! Illusion back? Check. Beautiful dress? Of course! Price? HECK YEAH!

We love to celebrate with our brides on their journey to find their dream dresses. Come do your happy dance when you say “YES” to your dress at The GIlded Gown.

We are so pumped to meet all the brides who visit during NBSE 2019!

All size dresses are on sale from 000-36! Every dress, every style, every size will be discounted! Yay!!!!!

We are so excited to offer these unbelievable deals on our stunning gowns.

All our jewelry, veils, and accessories are offered at a fifty percent discount during the National Bridal Sale Event. So if you’ve already found your dress, come find the perfect finishing touches for your special day at The Gilded Gown for less!!!!

It is kinda crazy how many of our beautiful bridal gowns have been reduced 50 percent off, like this stunning fit-n-flare wedding dress that is quite lavishly embellished with exquisite beading and features unique cap sleeves:

Another stellar sale priced wedding dress with intricate detailing and an awesome illusion back:

Every style of dress is specially priced, including this luxurious ballgown with a sweetheart beaded bodice:

So many reasons to come join us at The Gilded Gown!!!!

We are also hosting a Justin Alexander trunk show in store! Come see the lovely latest styles from Lillian West,

Sincerity

and Sweetheart.

Best of all?

Save $100 off all current styles, in-store

and ordered for these brands!!!!!!!

The event runs through August 20th.

Our easy and affordable layaway options will be available on all sale dresses and accessories.

WE CAN’T WAIT TO SHARE THIS AMAZING SALE WITh YOU!!!!

If you have any questions, please give us a call at 865-329-4905.

Please check out our social media for the latest updates,

like our facebook pages as well as our Instagram.

We are SUPER excited to have several awesome local wedding pros participating in our kickoff celebration on Saturday, July 20th. Please visit their sites to learn more about their premiere products and services:

Volunteer Balloons

865-567-4086

Instagram:

@volballoons

The Knoxville Photo Booth CC

865-603-4900

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Knoxville-Photo-Booth-Company-278668817052/?fref=ts

Melissa Timm Florist

865-399-4916

Instagram:

@melissatimmdesigns

Good Sounds Entertainment

865-323-5412

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/goodsoundsentertainmentdj/

Regal Tuxedo

865-544-1515

Instagram:

@regaltuxedoknox

Alterations Express

865-693-7999

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/alterationsexpressfan/

Makeup by Autumn Harrison

Certified MUA
Licensed Esthetician
Certified Lash Technician

Instagram:

@makeupbyautumn18

TREND ALERT: Living Walls & Living Bars for Your Wedding

by admin // July 11, 2019 // No Comments

Love all things green? Are plants your fave? Then we think you’ll love the wedding trend of using the beauty of nature to elevate your special day to the next level. Incorporating lots of lush greenery, beautiful plants, gorgeous blooms and all things living into your wedding decor is probably the way you want to go. After all, Aristotle wasn’t wrong when he said, “In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.” And using these live elements in go-big-or-go-home ways will make a huge impact on your guests. Everyone is used to experiencing the beauty of bouquets, bouts, and table arrangements at events, but they will be blown away if you face an entire bar or wall (or BOTH!) with greenery.

Embrace this trend by making your wedding reception cocktail bar look like it is an organic living work of art. Your guests will be transported to the wilds of nature as they step up for their refreshing drink. They’ll also want to take lots of photos in front of your showpiece, especially if you make one that combines both a living bar AND a lavish, gorgeous live wall:

Or, you can stage a live bar in an outdoor setting for a double-dose of natural beauty. We adore the matching pair of shelves that flank this spectacular three-dimensional greenery-fronted bar.

Even a small touch of living vines provides a beautifully understated buffet front.

Another way to use greenery to transform your wedding bar is to cover the front in boxwood and suspend lots of adorable, affordable carnations overhead. And, a pair of matching floral swags add an extravagant feel to the bar top.

You can even make your bar an organic statement piece with formerly live elements such as dried florals and greenery, like this incredible one that we are in love with:

Photo by Heather Waraksa; Florals by Saipua; Venue by 99 Scott

You can use the beauty of living things to create an amazing backdrop to get married in front of, to use for a photo backdrop, to decorate your reception space, or all three! For a rustic, forest wedding we are feeling this pallet wood wall stuffed with plants of all varieties.

For a romantic feel, you might consider an ombre mass of roses in shades of pink fading into a show of cheerful yellow and white daisies offset by a rich moss underlay.

This extra tall wall of grass is dotted with pretty flowers and provides the perfect backdrop for a ceremony. The majestic scale and natural elements play well against the urban feel of the distressed brick. And, hello two little chandeliers!

There is something just so glamorous about an artistic mass of plants, isn’t there? There is plenty of style going on without a single bloom in sight.

A collection of tropical leaves brings an exotic jungle feel to an indoor space. The use of concrete blocks and metallic candleholders adds a modern flair to the display. Amazing how natural elements can transform a room, you feel a sense of the outdoors even with the absence windows.

Whatever kind of wedding you’re envisioning, we hope you will incorporate a huge dose of something living and green. You will be giving yourself and your loved ones the gift of a beautiful, natural, inspiring and memorable wedding.

It’s not easy being green. Kermit the Frog

Easy-Going and Affordable Backyard Weddings

by admin // June 21, 2019 // No Comments

There is something so intimate, loveable and laidback about backyard wedding ceremonies. Hosting a wedding in your very own backyard exudes such a personalized, cozy, homey spirit. After all, having your loved ones over to share in your wedding at your own space, as opposed to any other venue, is incredibly personal and meaningful. Your home is where your heart is, so it makes sense to marry there.

Backyard weddings are low-key, low-stress and easy on the wallet. And we think folks who go this route are pretty cool. It is an unexpected choice and one with endless options. You can go fairly glam and rent everything you need from an event rental source from chairs, lighting, decor, dishes, and glasses to an entire dance floor. OR you can take the easy-going approach and borrow a bunch of mismatched chairs and china and DIY the heck out of your event. It’s YOUR house, so everything can be just the way you want it.

Hosting your own wedding gives you the chance do things your way, without having to follow a venue’s specific rules and regulations. Want a candlelit ceremony? No problem! Look how amazingly romantic tea light candles in recycled glass jars look strung from tree branches.

Want your pet(s) included in your wedding? In your own back yard, they are most certainly allowed! Ruffled Blog featured Julia and Brian’s adorable at-home wedding photoed below. “Bride Julia knew she wanted the focal design point of her wedding day to be an oversized banner backdrop, so she set to work making it herself — and we love what she had to say about the end result: “It’s perfectly imperfect — just like our wedding.” Scarlet O’Neill, Laura Olsen Events, and Leaf and Bloom brought everything together so beautifully!

Any yard can work with just a little bit of prep. A few rows of wooden chairs and some paper lanterns are all you need to transform even the most basic backyard into a wedding wonderland. Two dramatic urns with lush florals are an easy way to provide the perfect focal point to exchange your vows at.

You can create such special moments in your yard, like this amazing swing embellished with string lights, throw pillows and an artful swag of fabric.

Lawn games lend themselves to this type of wedding. They provide entertainment for your guests and encourage them to interact with each other instead of their phones. Plus you can keep all the fun games for future parties.

Personalized corn hole sets are awesome! We sourced a set (similar to the ones below) on Amazon for less than $140 here.

And who doesn’t enjoy a game of Jenga? Especially GIANT Jenga.

An extra large four in a row is super fun.

There are so many ways to handle food and drinks at your event. You can make your own, have everyone bring a covered dish, hire a caterer or even bring in a food truck or two.

Self-service buffet tables are a nice option:

Mason jars with fun striped straws are a cute addition to this drink station.

Things to consider if you are planning a backyard wedding:

Local Ordinances

First, check with your local authorities about noise, curfew, parking, lighting or permit regulations that may be applicable. If regulations are in place, be sure to abide by those rules. Also, check to see if your neighborhood maintains any of its own regulations about parties. If so, be sure to contact the HOA president for approval beforehand.

Parking

If you don’t have enough room, arrange to have your guests park somewhere close by. Have a friend drive guests to your house from there.

Bathrooms

Not enough plumbing for your number of guests? Consider renting some porta potties. They have some fairly nice options these days.

Neighbors

The best way to avoid irritating your neighbors is to invite them.

Clean-Up

Definitely hire help to clean up afterward. It’s your wedding day and you’ve done enough. If you need to save cash, ask friends and family to help out. Many hands make light work.

How fun is it to style your own wedding, your way, at your own home? TheZebra.com provided some awesome inspiration boards with loads of great ideas for different backyard wedding styles:

One of the best parts of getting hitched at home? The happy memories of your wedding day will fill your home for as long as you live there.

Brittney & Dusty’s LoveFest! A Romantic Spring Wedding in TN

by admin // June 10, 2019 // No Comments

We are suckers for a love story here at The Gilded Gown. And our beautiful bride Brittney’s Romantic Spring wedding to dashing groom Dusty was a reflection of her abundant and heartwarming love story at every turn. Luckily Amanda May Photography was on hand to perfectly capture all the special moments, like this ONE:

You can actually FEEL the joyful spirit of all who were there to witness Brittney and Dusty say, “I do.” It radiates from every face and photograph.

These two!!!!!! #COUPLEGOALS

Brittney’s love story is actually full of all types of love. First of all there is the abundant, romantic love she shares with Dusty, shown below in the cutest engagement photo ever by Amanda May Photography:

Image result for dusty and brittney wedding stables at strawberry creek

But there is also the bursting full heart she has for her adorable son Mason. Take a peak at Mason sharing the sweetest kiss and hug with Mom before the wedding:

We have a funny feeling Brittney might just be a Daddy’s girl from the photos we’ve seen. (Ya’ll be the judge of Dad’s first look at Brittney below!)

dad first look at this Strawberry Creek Wedding by Knoxville Wedding Photographer, Amanda May Photos.

The moment Dad embraces his beautiful daughter is beyond precious. How heartwarming is this!!! (Pass the Kleenex please!)

Then there is the love she has for all of the close knit friends and family in her orbit.

Strawberry Creek Wedding by Amanda May Photos

But most of all this was a day to celebrate Brittney and Dusty’s storybook love.

Their romantic wedding was held on a bright, fresh spring day in May at the lovely Stables at Strawberry Creek, a picturesque property is located right outside Knoxville, Tennessee. The Stables at Strawberry Creek features 55 acres of rolling hills, a historic log home and the prettiest grounds you’ve ever seen. The couple selected a stately tree and decorated arbor to say their vows under. The rows upon rows of white wooden chairs stand ready to seat the guests.

Stables at Strawberry Creek provided just the right backdrop of natural beauty to highlight the bountiful love present that day.

Gorgeous Brittney looked picture perfect in her beautiful, strapless, lace-appliqued wedding dress and accessories from The Gilded Gown.

And her bridesmaids were stunning in a pretty array of springtime colors from coral to pale blue:

Handsome Dusty and his groomsmen looked amazing in their suits and bouts. And, we commend the stylish brown shoes!

Plus the most adorable little girl in the world showed up to celebrate the day too:

And every detail of this wedding was addressed with loving care from the invites to the decor. We love the “We do” invites. And the soft color palette.

The decor matched the charm of the venue with mason jars, barn wood and pearl accents.

The stately navy stable provided a crisp pop of color behind the antique card and gift stand.

And the gorgeous barn interior was a nice touch for the reception. Those brick floors!

The sweetest day ever ended with a lovely dessert table piled with cute confections.

And we love the fact that the barn wood backdrop, is literally wood in an actual barn!!!

Seeing the love on this couple’s faces makes us so happy! And seeing how stunning Brittney looked on her wedding day fills us with joy!

We know the future is bright for Brittney, Dusty and Mason. We wish them all the best and more of that amazing love in their future together.

Be sure to check out Amanda May’s wonderful blog post about this lovefest wedding day here.

| V E N D O R S |

Dress: @thegildedgown

Photographer: @amandamayphotos

Venue: @strawberrycreekknoxville

Wedding Coordinator: @margaretclaireweddings

Cake: @nothingbundtcakes

HMUA: @bombshellssalonknox

Bridesmaids’ Dresses: @davidsbridal

Men’s Suits: @prestigecleanersknoxville

Second Photographer: @bsidwellphoto

CAKE BREAK: Inspiring Summer Wedding Cakes

by admin // May 30, 2019 // No Comments

Choosing your wedding cake flavor and design has to be one of the MOST fun parts of wedding planning. When else do you have the opportunity to taste endless flavor combinations of cake (guilt-free)? And no matter what your style is whether romantic, hip, classic, mod, rustic or glam, the type of cake you decide to serve can communicate your style your guests. Whether you want something simple and classic or unexpected and bold, your wedding cake can be the perfect finishing touch to your wedding theme. For your summertime event, we suggest incorporating the signature flavors of the season to tie everything together. Citrus, berry and other fruit options are a perfect bite of summer and deliver major sunshine vibes. As far as stylish warm-weather hues go, white, sun-washed pastels and neutral confections work well. As do bright pops of color and fresh floral elements, like this cheerful, bursting with brightness cake from Martha Stewart Weddings:

Photo by Pinkerton Photography

Looking for something a little more understated? This white-on-white Lemon Elderflower flavored cake is absolutely stunning and well-suited to an elegant summertime affair.

You can’t go wrong with any type of tropical themed cake for a summer wedding, especially if you are having an oceanfront or poolside soiree. This pretty yet whimsical cake has loads of island personality with a Monsterra leaf, tropical floral elements, a watery blue layer, and adorable starfish toppers on a bed of “sand.”

We love the delicate, soft pastel pinks and florals in this three-layer cake. Just the right finishing touch for a romantic warm-weather garden wedding.

Nothing says summer like fresh, bright citrus fruit. We love the cascading slices of lemon, lime, grapefruit, and oranges on this simple four-tiered white cake. Oh, and that pineapple top is the cutest “floral” embelishment.

For a beachside ceremony we love the idea of this watercolor, ombre, ruffled cake topped appropriately with whitewashed coral:

If you are having a difficult time narrowing down flavors, check out these summer wedding cake ideas from Zola for some inspiration. From fresh and bright to rich and dramatic, these beautiful wedding cakes have a flavor and style for every couple. Add in seasonal fruits or nuts and delight guests with a sweet treat at the end of the night. Play with different toppings and garnishes to create a true work of art.

It’s hard to go wrong with any kind of cake, so enjoy taste testing with your fiance and create the perfect wedding cake flavor and style wise for your big day!

And, if you are not into serving a traditional cake at your wedding…

…here are some awesome summery cake alternatives you might like:

A POPSICLE cart!!!! How perfect on a hot summery day is a refreshing and fun popsicle? We suggest Artistic Pops for their yummy

all-natural, creatively flavored, handcrafted pops made in the smoky mountains:

Mississippi mud pie! Best served with ice cream, this chocolate dessert pie is perfect for a hot summer day.

Rainbow sherbet dessert! Macarons, pecans, and layers of rainbow sherbert make this cake alternative colorful and refreshing.

Amazing Girls in Gilded Gown Dresses. Prom Season 2019, Part Three

by admin // May 22, 2019 // No Comments

We are sort of sad to see our crazy, wonderful Prom Season 2019 come to a close. It was a wild ride with so many shoppers and stylists and dresses all converging in our brand new Prom Store. All-in-all this season was super spectacular. And even though the last proms have come and gone… at least we are now getting to enjoy the flood of photos coming in. We love to see all our gorgeous Gilded Gown girls in their looks from Prom Night. Please enjoy Part 3 in our series featuring girls from all over the Southeast who found their dresses at The Gilded Gown! (And, if you haven’t sent in your pics, please email them to thegildedgown@gmail.com. There is still time to be included in Part Four. Plus, we wanna see YOUR pics too!)

P R O M

Raven-haired beauty Breanna Shults stole the show at Hancock County High‘s Prom in her two-piece dress with a satin strapless top and full lace skirt.

Breathtaking beauty TaRessa McKinney showed up for Prom at Gibbs High School in a glamorous. spaghetti-strap Plunging-V gown.

Lovely Elena Gideon absolutely wowed in pale pink sequins at Halls High School‘s Prom.

Gorgeous Jasmine Marcum attended Prom at Sullivan North High School in Kingsport, TN in a flowy illusion top gown.

Kaitlyn Cutshaw was absolutely ravishing in her v neck, trumpet gown with intricate appliques.

Isn’t she pretty in pink? Lovely Kayla Hilemon attended Prom at Greeneville High School.

We are obsessed with how amazing Jill Bui looked in her navy v-neck gown!!!

Stunning Karenna Davis was a delight in her neutral ballgown with lace details at Anderson County High School‘s Prom.

Adorable Katie Clipse was radiant in her pink and black dress.

Captivating Casty Eller chose to sparkle and shine in a two-piece beaded gown.

Knockout Kyndall White attended Prom at Gilbbs High School this year. She went for an all-out glam look in her strapless gown with a cascading trumpet skirt.

Magnificent Mackenzie Timson looked amazing in her spaghetti strap lace gown at Stone Memorial High School‘s prom.

The prettiest flower in the garden, Lacie Gross wore a fun floral dress to Prom at Campbell County High School.

Lovely Malorie Bennett showed how off-shoulder is done at Karns High School‘s Prom. She looked amazing in her sleek black satin gown!

Fun-loving beauty McKenna West attended Prom at Gibbs High in a figure-flattering blue gown.

Stunning Shellie Fellers showed up for Prom at Oak Ridge High in a gorgeous, fit-n-fare flouncy gown.

Sullivan Central High School‘s Prom was graced with the spectacular presence of Alexa Chandler who was alluring in her two-piece, sequined top ballgown.