TOP 10 MOTHER OF THE BRIDE GIFT IDEAS

““The first time you see your grown-up little miss looking back at you from a sea of white chiffon or beaded satin glory, indeed your heart will skip a beat. You’ll find yourself blinking back tears. ””

— Cheryl Barker

In honor of your favorite lady. The one to know you before any other, and arguably so, will know you better than anyone ever could—your Mama. While it is impossible to fit a lifetime of love into a gift for one day, we thought we would help you narrow down a sentimental start.

Here is our Top 10 Mother of the Bride Gift List! We hope you see something that sparks a memory for your special Mom. We have linked every item, so it’ll be easy for you to shop! Just click the name of the item you love, and it will take you to the Etsy link—easy peasy!  

1.) WEDDING PURSE WITH PERSONALIZED PHOTO

2.) PERSONALIZED WEDDING CUFF

3.) PERSONALIZED POCKET MIRROR

4.) PERSONALIZED GLASS MUG WITH BIRTH FLOWERS

5.) PERSONALIZED WIND CHIME

6.) WEDDING CANDLE

7.) PERSONALIZED BRACELET WITH BIRTHSTONES

8.) COZY SWEATSHIRT

9.) PERSONALIZED WEDDING NOTEBOOK

10.) WEDDING PHOTO FRAME

THE BEST PLACE TO FIND AN EASTER DRESS IN BIRMINGHAM: CLOVER AND BEE

If you’re like us, you probably also just remembered that Easter is around the corner and you STILL have NOTHING to wear—oopsie daisy! Do not fret, dear reader, you don’t have to go on any easter egg hunts for this info.

At Bustle, we help guide you into the wedding dress of your dreams. We know how valuable it is to create meaningful connections with you. It’s our biggest desire to introduce you to our remarkable gowns while making you feel at home—comfortable and treasured. Needless to say, our expectations are high when it comes to local boutiques. Clover + Bee checks every box effortlessly!

““Whether it’s the perfect fit, a unique accessory, the ideal gift, or a memorable connection, we hope you feel like one lucky girl when you visit us at our boutique in Birmingham, AL.””

— CLOVER + BEE

Formally known as Cradle + Bee, this local treasure trove sits pretty in the heart of Cahaba Heights in Birmingham, AL. Clover + Bee is a burst of color, waiting to give you your daily dose of serotonin. This boutique is INSPIRED floor to ceiling. Every little corner filled with something that will make you smile—so whole-heartedly happy.

““We consider ourselves truly lucky to have you as our customer, and our personal service is designed to let you know how special you are to us. You can expect a welcoming environment, attentive service, and a genuine smile from everyone on our team.””

— CLOVER + BEE

Our Bustle girls took a stroll around the shop and fawned over all their new inventory. If you are still in need of an Easter dress, they truly have something for EVERY style. From clean lines and classic silhouettes, to whimsical color palettes and trendsetting styles, they have it all.

Their staff is so incredibly kind and welcoming. We felt so taken care of from the time we walked in.

You really need to visit Clover + Bee to experience it yourself! You can visit their website here, or check out their instagram for all the latest updates.

Crafting with Claire: Valentines Day Gift Basket

Tis the season for heart-shaped everything—from candy boxes to cereal bowls, pink and red have officially covered the grocery stores shelves like a blanket of “he loves me..he loves me not.” Personally, I thrive for the vday aesthetic. It’s playful and often the kind of romance I once wrote about in a 9th grade journal. It’s pink fuzzy hearts and swirly cursive handwriting personified. Valentines Day isn’t meant to be fussy. The best part about the whole holiday is getting a green light from society to be inexplicably cheesy. 

Our resident Pinterest golden girl, Claire Jackson, has successfully put us in a lovestruck daze by pulling together a beautiful (and majorly affordable) Valentines Gift Basket. She took to the shelves of Dollar Tree to build a basket worthy of all the vday praise—complete with a softball-sized HERSHEY’S KISS. Let this be your sign to get creative and genuinely have fun putting together something for your special someone. The gifts that mean the most are often the ones without the big price tag.

Claire Jackson is such a refreshing part of our Bustle family. When she isn’t wowing us with her endearing creativity, she is spending time with her sweet husband, Dan, and their two precious children, Eleanor and Henry.

And not that you really need a reason to watch a sappy movie that will make you feel things, but we think Valentines Day is the perfect excuse to cry or laugh at your TV with the ones you love. We’ve put together a little list of our favorite flicks of the season. Whether you’re cuddling on the couch with your sweetheart or sharing a big bowl of popcorn with your best girls, we hope your Valentines Day is filled with sincere love. Soulmates come in all shapes and sizes <3

1.) You People

2.) Valentines Day

3.) Crazy Rich Asians

4.) The Notebook

5.) 50 First Dates

6.) Sleepless in Seattle

7.) 10 Things I Hate About You

8.) First Wives Club

9.) Portrait of a Lady on Fire

10.) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

To Veil or Not to Veil? | Why We Love Them!

Did you know that wedding veils go back to ancient Greek and Roman times? While the symbolism of this timeless accessory has absolutely evolved over the last couple-thousand years, we are still swooning over the beauty of this tradition. But, let’s get real—WHY should you consider wearing one? Are they worth the extra money and effort? We happen to think so for several reasons, and here’s why!

But FIRST, did you know that veils come in just about any length AND that every length has a special name? We love how no matter the details of your day, there is a veil for every bride.

Birdcage 12-18″

This veil is a vintage calling card—STUNNING yet understated. You can wear it by covering the face down to the chin or swept to the side for a more striking look.

Blusher 30″

This veil is probably what most would picture when you talk about a “traditional” wedding veil. Dawning a short, single layer worn over a bride’s face as she walks down the aisle, later pulled back by her betrothed—simple and romantic.

Shoulder-Length 20″

Maybe your gown has a PHENOMENAL back that you don’t want to cover up, but you also don’t want to sacrifice the drama of a veil—then a shoulder-length veil is for YOU. This length is perfect for laying gently over your shoulders without covering one of your favorite parts of your gown.

Elbow-Length 32″

Since this veil falls at your elbows, it is the perfect style to complement a ball gown (or any gown with a voluminous skirt) because of where the veil ends and the skirt begins. We love the silhouette of this look.

Fingertip 38-40″

This veil is ideal for those who really want to dip their toes (or fingers, lol) into dramatic territory without the fuss. While this veil is a bit longer, it doesn’t hide your dress—universally being one of the most beloved styles.

Knee-Length 48″

Knee-length veils are your “it girl” if you want to wear a long veil, but also keep it on throughout your reception. The length screams “I AM THE MOMENT” while still being short enough that you aren’t tripping over it through your reception—no dancing will be harmed at the hands of this veil.

Floor-Length 72″

Our stylists love floor-length veils! They really love the idea of this veil for brides that maybe don’t have a long train on their gown. That way, the veil can gently graze the floor in place of a train—giving you the wow-factor in the back.

Chapel 90″

This veil is DRAMA in all the best ways. While this length is not for those who want a no-fuss situation, it is absolutely perfect for brides who want to feel like the main character in a fairytale (major royal wedding vibes).

Cathedral 108-120″

The Cathedral veil is the veil of ALL veils. This theatrical wonder is both traditional and awe-inspiring. Perfect for those with grand venues or long wedding aisles—be prepared for audible gasps from your guests in this type of veil!

Veils are GORGEOUS in photos!

It’s pretty hard to deny that veils are a sure-fire way to look editorial in your wedding photos. You cannot replace the drama of a beautiful veil gently blowing in the wind while you are kissing the love of your life.

Veils are a beautiful way to incorporate an Heirloom

This sentimental accessory can easily be passed down through generations. We love the idea that you could wear a piece of your history in such an effortless way—No need for costly alterations and reconstructions!

A veil can TRANSFORM your look—giving you two look options for your big day!

The best part about fashion is there are NO rules. Just because you want a veil for dramatic gasps at the ceremony and cinematic pictures, doesn’t mean you have to be tied down to it all night. Make your fashion choices work for you! So many brides dawn a veil during their ceremony and then switch up their look by removing it for their reception.

This may be the only time in your life when you get the opportunity to wear a veil!

We think it’s important to consider that for a lot of people, this may be the only instance in your life where you can wear a veil. For so many of our brides, the veil is the crowning jewel of a perfect gown. This moment is one you have romanticized for most of your life—why not do it big and live out your dreams?

Did you know we specifically offer veil appointments at Bustle? We can help guide you into the perfect veil whether you’ve sad “YES!” to your dress or not—You can visit this link here to schedule an appointment!

What NOT To Do Before Your Bridal Appointment

We recently watched one of our FAVORITE romcoms of all time, How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days, and if there is ANYTHING to be learned from that emotional circus, it’s the fact that knowing what NOT to do in any given situation speaks volumes. There are few things that sting worse than reflecting back on a moment where you went into something blind and wish that you could go back and try again—WHY can’t we all just have a pretty little do-over button?

This blog is here for you so you don’t have to mentally rewind your bridal appointment, wishing you could do things different.

Your wedding season is TOO SHORT to be stressed over every tiny detail!

TIP #1 - Don’t schedule too many appointments in one day

You shouldn’t feel pressured to attend more than one bridal appointment in one day. Over the years, scheduling 2-3 appointments in a single day became standard practice and we have seen the stressful effects that has had on our brides—talk about DECISION FATIGUE. Scheduling multiple bridal appointments in one day is a lot like trying to navigate that mile-long menu at Cheesecake Factory. TOO MANY CHOICES is a real thing. When you are able to give yourself more breathing room, this allows you to make clear decisions that aren’t filled with overwhelmed confusion. By limiting the amount of appointments you attend in one day, we promise you will feel empowered to make the decision that is right for you in an unclouded state of mind.

Tip #2 - Don’t come to your appointment in the wrong undergarments

What you’re wearing underneath the gown in your appointment matters. We recommend wearing skin colored undergarments with a smooth texture. That way, the gowns you try-on will look seamless and will give you the best foundation to make a decision that you are confident with. Avoid undergarments that are not your skin tone with a lot of lace.

Tip #3 - Don’t let ANYONE pressure you into a gown that isn’t you

While it should be a given that what you choose to wear on your wedding day should be YOUR CHOICE, for many brides it doesn’t always feel that way. It’s not a foreign feeling to have pressure from your family or friends to pick a dress that just isn’t you. We ESPECIALLY don’t want that pressure to ever come from your bridal consultant. At Bustle, we solidify a commitment to always being there to guide you into a gown that brings every bit of the magic that you deserve. As hard as it can be to fight the feeling to please everyone else on such a big day, please remember all these people are here to celebrate YOU finding one of the most beautiful opportunities life has to offer—love.

For more in-depth tips on managing good mental health during the wedding planning process, you can visit our blog here—we sat down with local therapists, McKinley and Melanie, and they gave us some much needed tips on keeping up the mindfulness.

To book your bridal appointment with us, you can visit this link here. We can’t wait to meet you!

Bustle's Top 10 Wellness Splurges for 2023!

What we aren’t going to do in this blog is reiterate an outdated idea that everyone has to adopt a strict set of goals to adhere to in the coming year. Most of the New Year’s resolutions of days old are often left in the unpopulated corners of our minds, living with forgotten phone numbers and high school history lessons. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the unnecessary guilt of everything we didn’t do last year, instead of reminding ourselves of all the little victories. Your value isn’t determined by how long you stuck to your exercise routine or your daily journaling practice.

This year, let’s prioritize the celebration of self! Everyday you woke up and chose to greet the day is a beautiful accomplishment, worthy of indulgence. YOU are worth it! I recently read a poem by Hollis Johnson that resonated with me and I’d like to share it with you,

The number of hours we have together is actually not so large.
Please linger near the door uncomfortably instead of just leaving.
Please forget your scarf in my life and come back later for it. 

In this blog we are gushing over our favorite wellness items. Life is too short not to romanticize every inch of it. Let these things be a reminder that the time we have together is not so large, drink out of the pretty glass, ordain your planner with all your favorite stickers instead of saving them for “the perfect moment.” Happy New Year to all our beautiful friends! Let’s celebrate living while also being kind to the bodies that are carrying us on the expedition.

Our Top 10 Wellness Favorites for 2023!

1.) Headspace

Headspace was started with one mission: to improve the health and happiness of the world. Through science-backed meditation and mindfulness tools, the Headspace app helps you create life-changing habits to support your mental health and find a healthier, happier you. Headspace is proven to reduce stress by 14% in just 10 days. It can also help you relax your mind in minutes, improve focus, and get the best sleep ever. Personally, we SWEAR BY their “sleep casts” and “sleep sounds.” For anyone who has trouble dozing off, this is for YOU. They have a mindful meditation for truly EVERYTHING. From general anxiety, to anxiousness over starting a new job, travel, or dealing with different types of grief, they have something for everyone. 10/10 recommend!

2.) Bando Planner

Joy comes in many forms—color, music, confetti, great conversation—and Bando believes it sparks creativity, connects people, and makes us more resilient. Bando creates and curates products to inspire it. Gone are the days of cool meaning exclusive and elusive. We think it’s defined by championing others and supporting individuality. We love that this brand is consistently teaming up with independent artists and companies to celebrate you and your unique brand of cool. There are very few things that give us the same kind of serotonin as a fresh planner. ESPECIALLY when they look like this!

3. Stanley Tumbler

As if tiktok hasn’t already added gasoline to the flame of our obsession with these, we’re here to remind you once again. Our entire team has matching Stanleys—comfort water bottle club right here! From commuting, studio workouts, day trips or your front porch—you’ll want this tumbler to tag along. Thanks to Stanley’s vacuum insulation, your water will stay ice-cold, hour after hour. We LOVE how the advanced FlowState™ lid features a rotating cover with THREE positions: a straw opening designed to resist splashes while holding the reusable straw in place, a drink opening, and a full-cover top. The ergonomic handle includes comfort-grip inserts for easy carrying, and the narrow base fits just about any car cup holder. One thing we’re NOT gonna do in 2023 is be dehydrated!

4.) Ilia Skin Tint with SPF

I’m convinced that I could dominate pretty much any part of my day when my skin looks like I just came out of the womb— supple and dewy please! ILIA skin tint is THE perfect light, dewy coverage, mineral SPF for 2023. Your tinted SPF will never be the same. This first-of-its-kind formula fuses skincare, makeup, and sun protection into one easy step: a lightweight skin tint that leaves your skin looking like skin. ILIA Skin Tint features SPF 40 coverage with Non-Nano Zinc Oxide to help shield skin from UVA, UVB, UVC, blue light, and pollution. Cute skin AND protection? Put me down for two!

5.) Waterpik

If you’re like me, entering your thirties means you are probably realizing how much you want to prioritize oral health. Hot girls care about their gum health, you know? Waterpik® is the #1 recommended water flosser brand, clinically proven and accepted by the American Dental Association (ADA). This little hero removes up to 99.9% of plaque from treated areas and is up to 50% more effective for improving gum health vs. string floss. This is the kind of luxury we want in the new year!

6.) Lululemon Align Sets!

You’ve probably caught on by now that a good set of spandex is for way more than your workout. To be honest, we want to LIVE in the Lulu align leggings— comfort and cute? Yes please! Whether you’re a neutrals girl or you die for color, the align collection has something for everyone. While these are an absolute splurge, our pros are that they ward off odor better than any other and look seamless, with the upmost quality! If you needed a nudge to invest in an athleisure set this year, this is it!

7.) Square Wine Glasses

Okay, okay, here me out… WHY do we exclusively use these type of glasses for special occasions and wine only? Let’s normalize drinking from elegant glasses just because. The way I feel like the main character when I pour my favorite bev into these glasses and binge my favorite show. These beauties have a cylindrical bowl with a flat base—the dramatic, contemporary look that lends an elegant edge to the enjoyment of red wine..or Dr. Pepper (I’ll let you decide).

8.) Oura Ring

Listen, we know this one is a pretty significant splurge, but when it comes down to the benefits of this little wonder, we HAD to include them in this favorites list. When you go to sleep, the Oura ring goes to work. Sleep is foundational to improving your mental and physical health. That's why Oura started sleep tracking in 2013 and has been the category leader ever since. Oura learns about your individual sleep patterns and shares personalized guidance on when to start winding down to improve your sleep quality. Oura also tracks your overall health with the finest detail, including: Activity, Readiness, and even Menstrual Tracking. I’m sorry, MENSTRUAL TRACKING? This tiny beauty will help you stay regulated with it’s easy-to-maneuver app— all while looking elegant and sleek. That’s what I call wellness in 2023!

9.) Better Kombucha

Kombucha is a fermented, lightly effervescent, sweetened black tea drink commonly consumed for its purported health benefits. Advocates say it helps your digestion, rids your body of toxins, and boosts your energy— all that on top of the fact that it’s absolutely delicious. Every IBS girly can say “yes please!” to prioritizing gut health in 2023. As Birmingham’s first commercial kombucha brewery, Better Kombucha believes that an integral part of being better physically, mentally, and spiritually is related to what we put into our bodies, and that taking better care of ourselves makes us better people and better people make better community. We couldn’t talk about our favorite square wine glasses without giving you a beverage suggestion that IMPROVES your gut health.

10.) Local Library Card

In this economy, it’s sometimes hard to stay up-to-speed on buying all the books on your wishlist. Your local library is for way more than childhood story-times and middle school book clubs. Libraries are for us, too! I’m a firm believer that local libraries are one of the most beautiful hidden gems in society. Not only are these places an avenue of mindful escape, they keep our communities strong. Investing in ourselves means investing in our minds, our imagination, our wonder—the parts of us that we often leave behind deserve to be embraced sensationally, That is self-care in 2023, friends!

Our Favorite Christmas Memories!

““Christmas is the day that holds all time together.””

— Alexander Smith

Christmas is a kind of magic that is almost impossible to replicate in any other way. You find yourself looking forward to the season of candy canes and carols way past childhood. In fact, sometimes the genuine appreciation of love means more as the years move forward.

This year we had local photography angel, Jana Musselwhite, over at the shop during our Christmas Sweater party! Our team had the best time fawning over each-other’s sweaters as we arrived. From 90’s kid snowmen to hand-beaded poinsettias, each sweater was absolute serotonin. What a fun surprise to watch your best girls walk through the door in their jolliest attire. 10/10 recommend!

In this blog, our team spent some time reflecting on our favorite Christmas traditions and memories. We hope you enjoy reading through each person’s holiday highlight reel. Maybe some of our traditions are your traditions too. However you are spending the Christmas season, we hope you find warmth through sincere love. Whatever that looks like. There is no wrong way to be with the people you love most. Merry Christmas and a very happy new year <3

Meredith - Shop Owner

My favorite Christmas memories were waking up at my grandparents' house and walking with my grandmother to the living room where a fire would be roaring in the fireplace and stockings would be stuffed with goodies. We would spend the day with the whole family playing with new toys, talking and listening to Christmas music by the fire. My Christmas memories are probably my favorite memories of all.

Cherry - Bridal Consultant

I’m so thankful the celebration of Christ is seen and heard everywhere this time of year. A tradition in our family is going to my brother’s hunting camp before Christmas. My brother loves to decorate for Christmas so the camp is very festive! We really enjoy the hay rides, skeet shooting, looking for arrow heads, and the Saturday night gingerbread house competition. 

On Christmas Day our family gets together for dinner and our kids and grandkids enjoy getting a stocking filled with goodies. We cherish our time together and for that I’m grateful!

Jessica - Bridal Consultant

My family and I have a tradition of picking out a real Christmas tree the day after thanksgiving every year. The tradition began when I was a little girl. We went shopping for our tree together and my Dad would go to the front door with the tree and ring the doorbell as if he were delivering it to us. My husband and I have continued this tradition, and our boys love going and picking out our tree. They get so excited when Daddy rings the doorbell and asks, "Did someone order a Christmas tree?"

Laine - Creative Director

Every year, my Grandmother makes a BIG production out of Christmas. There’s a theme, a story to tell, puppets for the little ones, and my favorite part: costumes! My eccentric Grama and my usually very serious grandfather (we call him Podges) don the most ridiculous costumes they can find that fits the theme of the year, and show up with a car full of presents to put on the Christmas show. She has dressed up as a giant Apple, The Eqyptian Queen Cleopatra, a Wild West Saloon Girl (yep, you heard me) and this year, a big brown bear. It’s always something, and we never leave Christmas without a few good belly laughs! 

Lily - Bridal Consultant

One of my favorite Christmas memories was watching my mom make homemade Christmas wreaths. It was a small touch, but it elevated our home and looked better than anything you would find in the store! Although I didn’t always partake in putting together the wreaths growing up, it’s something I want to start incorporating into my own Christmas traditions.

Jillian - Blog Strategist

What I love most about the holiday season is how traditions that mean so much as a child grow with you and become part of your life as an adult. Growing up, my grandmother always gave each grandchild a special ornament to open on Christmas Eve. I love remembering how excited me and my siblings would get over what our ornament would be. My grandmother always made sure the ornaments reflected our lives that year and represented things that were significant to us. I carried this tradition into my marriage. Now every year, my wife and I pick out an ornament that represents a memory of the year before and it makes decorating our tree each Christmas season sweet and a little teary.

Mckinley - Bridal Consultant

Every Christmas my husband’s grandma makes homemade gingerbread houses from scratch. Every year during the Christmas season all the grandkids get-together to decorate and it’s so much fun! She makes all the gingerbread, icing, and extras all herself!

Elizabeth - Bridal Consultant

My favorite Christmas tradition is making and decorating homemade sugar cookies with my two sisters and grandmother. I now have three nephews who are a part of the tradition and we look forward to it every Christmas Eve! 

Kathryn - Bridal Consultant

My favorite holiday tradition has always been breakfast on Christmas morning. My family does a big get-together on Christmas Eve, so by Christmas morning after all the presents are unwrapped we are ready to settle in for some calm. My mom cooks a big breakfast and we sit around the table and take time to reflect on the past year and share stories from Christmas’ past. This time of reflection and being together has always been special to me. It’s a time I cherish each and every year 

Join Us for a Dress Appointment at Bustle

At Bustle, we want your dress shopping experience to feel special and catered to you. We know how easy it is to get overwhelmed at the thought of dress shopping for the first time. Sometimes the anxious feelings of what to expect in your appointment can be a voice that is hard to silence. We want to take you along with us on a bridal appointment so you can get a peek into what this experience is like at Bustle - no worries, no pressure, just magic. As always, if you have any questions or concerns that are not covered in this blog, please don’t hesitate to send us a message. We want your experience with us to be as effortless as falling in love with your special someone.

1.) Schedule an Appointment

We want to make scheduling your bridal appointment as stress free as possible. You can easily book your appointment by visiting our website here and following the prompts. Our bridal suites are intimate and allow enough room for the bride to bring up to 4 guests. 

2.) Share your vision with your consultant for your special day

Your Bustle stylist is here to make your dress dreams a reality. Our consultants have hours of training on the art of all things wedding gowns. They will listen to your vision so they can pull dresses that you would expect and some that you might not have seen coming. Often times, our brides say “YES” to a gown that is totally different from their original ideas. Our consultants’ job is to make sure YOU are the best thing about your wedding dress.

3.) Relax as your consultant thoughtfully pulls dresses for you to try on

Our collection of gowns is a bridal wonderland! Each consultant has spent intentional time getting acquainted with every gown. We love to take in all of the beautiful details and are trained to give you the best fit possible. Each dress is a unique work of art ready for its muse (i.e. YOU). While you sit comfortably in our relaxing bridal suite, your stylist will pull gowns for you to try. Everything about this process is purposely crafted for you.

If you are curious on what you can do to best prepare for your dress appointment, visit our in-depth blog post here! 

4.) Take your beautiful gown home the SAME DAY you purchase it

One of the BEST parts of our shop is that every dress in our collection is a sample gown. When you say “YES” to your dream dress, you get to take that beauty home with you that same day! No anxious waiting, no hiccups, just you and the dress that you can’t get enough of.

If you want a closer look into what it means to buy a sample gown, visit our blog post on Sample Gowns here!

To book your appointment, visit our website here! We can’t wait to see you.

Floral Preservation Art with Once Upon a Bloom

“I am following nature without being able to grasp her, I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers.”

— Claude Monet

We’ve all had this feeling once in our lives. You see a painting that is so beautiful, you wish you could reach in and tangibly hold it. In a world where we cannot physically jump into a canvas, we have flowers. These little breaths of art can bring happiness to you in the simplest way. Flowers have the ability to hold sweet memories on their shoulders and remind us of some of the best and hardest days of our lives. That’s why bouquet preservation is so incredible. You can hold the beauty of your most sentimental flowers as artwork in your home forever.

Heather Jones has made a career out of her craft and appreciation for floral preservation with Once Upon a Bloom. When Heather isn’t busy making the botanical art of our dreams, she is spending time with her sweet yorkie, Louie. Heather comes from a big family and is an aunt to some precious kiddos. And in her words, “Yes…I’m their favorite aunt.”

 This 31-year-old powerhouse has been working in the wedding industry for her entire life. Heather’s mom has been a caterer since she was born. When most kids were learning how to walk, Heather was learning how to set a table. After college, Heather went into full time catering with her Mom. 

“I quickly fell in love with florals and started offering florals in addition to the catering. One of my floral brides had her wedding bouquet preserved, and that really caught my interest.”

— Heather

 She thought adding a preservation service to her floral business would be something that could set her apart from other florists. After a couple months of extensive research, Heather started taking flowers home from weddings to practice her newfound skill. 

“I surprised several brides with pieces that turned out well. In the beginning of 2021, I decided to officially separate my florals and planning from my Mom’s catering business, then Once Upon A Bloom was created.”

— Heather

 After a few months of perfecting the temperamental art of resin work, Heather felt comfortable enough to take on her first commissioned order. Heather’s ultimate goal is to create for the special moments in life. She hopes her resin pieces bring joy. Whether it’s the happiness you feel on your wedding day or a memorial piece, she wants her artistry to be a reminder of love. 

“For some, the pieces represent a love and commitment between two people. For others, a piece represents an entire life and legacy of a loved one they’ve lost. I am honored to be able to create such meaningful art for people, and it’s a privilege I don’t take lightly.
”

— Heather

Heather’s favorite preservation art she’s ever created is one that will have you reaching for a tissue or two. Last fall, she created a beautiful memorial piece for a sweet three-year-old girl whose father tragically passed away in a car accident.

“To me, this piece represented so much. And the little “Daddy” charm in there just breaks my heart every time I see it.”

— Heather

When it comes to bridal preservation pieces, Heather is a wonder at what she does. She loves when her clients give her creative freedom to create botanical magic. We love how she added the couple’s cake topper in this piece. It gives the best personal touch!

We couldn’t recommend Heather and her beautiful business more. Sometimes it’s easy for personability to get lost in business. With a lot of businesses the clients become another invoice in a long line-up of orders. Heather is a significant reminder that there are people out there that make it their purpose to make sure others feel seen. Seeing the smiles on her clients faces gives her the reassurance that she’s exactly where she’s supposed to be.

When we asked Heather who her DREAM client would be, her answer did not disappoint.

“Oh! I’d be lying if I said my first thought when Britney Spears posted pictures from her wedding wasn’t ‘Man... I wish I could get my hands on those flowers!’ I am currently trying to stalk my way into Mallory Pugh’s DMs in an effort to try to preserve her bouquet. I am a huge Braves fan, so Mallory and Dansby’s wedding is like my version of the Royal Wedding. I cannot explain how badly I want to preserve her bouquet!”

— Heather

If you would like to talk with Heather about a floral piece of your own or take a look at her gorgeous portfolio of floral preservation pieces, you can visit her website here. She would love to give your florals a life that lasts as long as the love you have for them.

Top 5 Wedding Preservation Tips

After years of planning and endless anticipation, your wedding day came and vanished in what seems like minutes. We all know that bittersweet feeling. Still mesmerized, you are so thankful the day happened, but how is it over so fast? You want to live in that first dance moment forever. You wish you could see all your friends light up one more time. Your bouquet, your gown, you wish they could stay like this for as long as you live. What if we told you they could? In this blog we are gushing over our Top 5 Wedding Day Preservation Tips. Brides, you don’t want to miss this one!

Before we get into the fun stuff, we want to answer a question that our Bustle team gets asked often, “HOW do I preserve my wedding gown??”

We recommend using weddinggownpreservationkit.com for all your gown preservation needs! Just visit their website and follow the easy step-by-step prompts.

Bustle’s Top 5 Ways to Preserve Your Wedding Day

1.) Bouquet Preservation

The only thing that could possibly make flowers more magical is if they lasted forever. Where is Belle’s enchanted rose when you need it? With Bouquet Preservation that sweet dream is a reality. Our friends at Once Upon a Bloom specialize in making those unforgettable wedding florals last for a lifetime. With so many resin settings to choose from, they have a style that suits every bride - that calls for a garden party!

2.) Disposable Cameras for Wedding Guest Table(s)

We LOVE this idea! As a bride, you can only be in so many places at one time. With all the chaos, it’s impossible to see all the special moments your guests are experiencing. And thus, DISPOSABLE CAMERAS. Instead of dishing out money on wedding favors that your guests will most likely never use, we recommend a more interactive option by placing a disposable camera at every guest table. Let your guests snap away for the evening then ask that the disposable cameras be returned to the newlyweds by the end of the night. Once you and your love come back from your honeymoon, send in your film to be developed. In a couple weeks, you’ll have the best time looking and laughing at the best day of your life through the eyes of the people that love you most. 

Disposable Camera Signs from Zazzle

3.) Song Lyric Art from First Dance

After months (sometimes years) of endless song scrolling in search of the PERFECT music that would tell the story of your love, you want that first dance moment to last way longer than 3 minutes. The idea of having your first dance lyrics tastefully displayed in your home makes us shed a sentimental tear. With so many different styles of lyric art on Etsy, you’re sure to find a look that pairs beautifully with your beloved tune - that’s something to dance about!

4.) New Perfume for Your Wedding Day

This tip might sound simple, but it’s truly one that will have you feeling butterflies. Did you know the brain tracts smells with memory? If you think hard enough about some of your favorite memories throughout your lifetime, you can almost always find a scent associated with that memory. We recommend choosing a new signature perfume SPECIFICALLY for your wedding day. Select a fragrance you’ve never worn before, but smells like how you want to feel on your special day. Then, long after your “I Do’s” you can think about how you felt on your wedding day every time you wear that fragrance. It’s such a beautifully effortless way to keep that incredible day fresh on your heart (and your nose).

5.) Wedding Day Memory Box

This tip is pretty self-explanatory but TOTALLY worth it! There’s something about those wedding invitations that you worked so hard on. Every detail, down to the napkins, was a choice that you pondered over with the upmost intention. Throwing away the extras just feels criminal. With a Wedding Memory Box, you can keep one of every detail that you love about your wedding and relive those moments over and over again. Maybe you want to hold on to a boutonnière, a place card, a copy of your vows, YOU NAME IT. Select a memory box that feels like your style as a couple and then have fun filling it up with all the little details that made your day feel like…you. 

Wedding Memory Boxes from Etsy. Blue - Wood

 We hope you enjoyed these tips and can find something to help you hold on to the best moments from your wedding day. Never lose sight of the true meaning behind all of the details, you and the person you love forever navigating through life together. You found a person who wants to grow with you, hurt with you, live every moment that comes next with you. That is truly something that can never be forgotten.