In The Shop October 2022!

It’s been a while since we shared a blog post specifically to swoon over some of our favorite wedding gowns. The Bustle bridal shop is often a front door for our team to escape. With a step inside this enchanted closet, we let reality wait in the parking lot for a few hours. If you open a window, some blissful serotonin might find its way out. Each rack is a cadence of texture and softness - a complete dream. A reminder that celebrating love and art will always leave a gentle space for effortless wonder.

“We don’t create a fantasy world to escape reality. We create it to be able to stay.”

— Lynda Barry

We would love nothing more than to have you in our shop so you can experience this simple magic for yourself. If you are interested in booking a bridal appointment with one of our consultants, you can schedule that appointment here.

SEE YOU SOON <3

BEST FALL COFFEE IN BIRMINGHAM

Summer is subtly sliding out the back door and we are welcoming the first fallen leaves of October like a beloved house guest. As the morning air gets a little cooler and we find ourselves stepping into our fall folklore era, we thought taking an autumnal coffee tour around Birmingham would be the perfect way to say hello to our favorite season. 

The fall coffee menus around town have us craving puddles of cashmere sweaters and freshly lit candles. Whether you’re a PSL praiser or could go with a little less gourd, we found flavor profiles to comfort every tastebud.

The Sweet Potato Chai and Caramel Spice Latte at Domestique

We fell so hard for the Sweet Potato Chai. This masterpiece is a comforting blend of sweet potato puree and homemade chai that will have you craving a fire place and the smell of crisp book pages. While every drink on our list can be served iced, we think this beverage is absolutely best served hot. A cup of cozy for one, please!

The Caramel Spice Latte was everything we needed it to be sans pumpkin - perfectly sweet with depth. This latte is a delicious escape of housemade caramel with cinnamon, allspice, and cloves.

The Apple Crisp Latte at O’Henry’s

The Apple Crisp Latte is a rich, buttery latte with an aromatic blend of apples and cinnamon. Made with steamed oat milk for a cozy finish. We got this beverage iced because you can’t go to the O’Henry’s in Highland Park without taking a stroll through the park. The perfect comforting treat!

The Fall Menu at The Valley Hotel in SOHO

Deciding on one of these lattes was one of the hardest decisions we’ve had to make since trying to pick a favorite Taylor Swift album. We eventually narrowed it down to trying Scarecrow, Sweater Weather, and Bonfire!

Sweater Weather was the perfect latte for anyone who doesn’t want to be hit across the face with sugar. While Bonfire was RICH in the best way. The chocolate flavor was decadent and the marshmallow cuts into that richness and leaves you with the most nostalgic flavor combination.

Our favorite was absolutely the Scarecrow! Praline is a flavor you don’t often find in lattes and this drink left us feeling like we should be at home with a cozy cat, writing in our journal - GOOD VIBES.

Is there anything you think we should add to this fall coffee list? What should we try next?? Let us know in the comments or over on instagram!

Wedding Day Horror Stories - BOO!

The start of spooky season has us feeling inspired to sit around a non-existent campfire and tell some of our most horrific wedding day ghost stories. We asked our readers on instagram to submit some of their frightening faux pas and you all did not disappoint. We highly recommend enjoying this telling of little terrors with a some freshly popped popcorn and a bowl of halloween candy.

EEK! We are firm believers that no make up artist should risk their own safety ever, but we are curious to know how that hair and makeup turned out! From unannounced wedding “guests” to first dance slip-ups, these brides have seen it all.

We hope your halloween season is filled with way more treats than tricks! For our future brides, be safe out there - BOO!

Birmingham Highlight: Stash

Stash is a treasure trove of antiques sweetly nestled on the streets of Downtown Birmingham. We strolled through this gorgeous grotto this week and got enough design inspiration to decorate several houses - too bad we only have one. While we’re busy trying to convince our spouses that we should turn our garage into a glam room of antiques, please enjoy this interview with the wonder woman behind it all, Melinda.

Melinda lives in Birmingham with her husband who is her college sweetheart of 25 years. She has two boys - a freshman in Auburn (war eagle!) and the other starting his freshman year at Vestavia Hills. Working as an Occupational Therapist for over 20 years, Melinda always found herself coming to vintage gems as an escape.

“My boys are big outdoorsmen; hunting and fishing, etc. I have always said that when they went out on a hunting trip, it gave me an excuse to go exploring too. Nothing calms my soul like a good long drive down a two lane road exploring and looking for pretty things.
”

— Melinda

Stash began as a “small” corner of treasure in the basement for Melinda to play and display her favorite finds. This little wall of vintage glory quickly grew and eventually completely filled their three car garage - we love a queen with a collection!

“My poor boys have had their fill of moving furniture, rearranging, etc. and were very gracious almost the whole time as Stash came into being.”

— Melinda

Melinda couldn’t help but gush over the brilliant woman on her team at Stash. “Our team includes me, social media wizard, Lynlee Hudlow and the carrier of magic, Amy Hurst. Stash would never be what it is without them. This group came together in the most beautiful & organic way imaginable and I am so thankful they are in my corner!”

When asked what her favorite vintage pieces are in her personal collection, we were not disappointed with Melinda’s answer. 

“I have two favorite vintage pieces in my house. One is my Tobacco Leaf Footbath and the other is a very old crosstitch sampler that says “The Blessing of the House is Contentment.” Completely different design elements but both very meaningful in my life.”

— Melinda

When we visited Stash, we couldn’t help but swoon over the tablescapes and the way all the pieces are designed together. Each item in this collection is incredibly special - conversation starters galore. Melinda is a phenomenal creative with the most intriguing layers of her personality. She is the kind of person that you would want to share a bottle of wine with and DISH. We asked Melinda what celebrity home she would be most excited to decorate and once again, her answer has us all loving her even more.

“If I am telling the absolute truth it would be Snoop Dogg. Go ahead, I’ll wait a minute so you can stop giggling. I think he is hilarious and simply adore his marketing campaigns with Martha Stewart. My friends think it is hilarious that he is on my list of people I would like to meet before I die.
”

— Melinda

If you would like to get a peak into this gorgeous wonderland of vintage, you can check out our instagram reel here. You can also visit Stash in person on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9am-2pm!

BUSTLE'S 9TH BDAY GNO

Last week we celebrated Bustle’s 9th Birthday with our wonderful team and it was nothing short of a phenomenal GNO!

We kicked off our celebratory Girl’s Night with all of Birmingham’s best! Starting out the night with craft beer and cocktails from Bham’s Good People Brewing - cheers!

The handcrafted pizza from Trattoria Zaza was our main course for the evening (a proper ladies night always contains a surplus of cheese and bubbly). We devoured that pizza! Our personal favorite pie was the Spicy Swineapple - a savory and sweet marriage of bacon, ham, calabrian chilies, pineapple, charred onion, tomato, chili oil.

Natalie Zoghby, a local art angel, led our team in painting the town by hosting a class where we each painted our own disco ball whilst sipping on our cocktails. This was such a light-hearted break from a busy week. We all swooned over each other’s color combinations and laughed throughout all our mistakes.

We ended the evening in the best way one could - with CAKE. Daughter’s Baking provided the sweetest selection of flavors, leaving us on a sugar high. We’re so thankful for our enneagram 7 store owner for putting all of this together. Meredith’s kindness and energy brings such a warmth to our team. She truly cares about all of us and our wonderful Bustle Brides. The happiest birthday to our gem of a bridal shop. A big thank you goes to YOU for keeping up with us and always showing the most loyal support. Cheers to you!

10 First Dance Songs for Your Wedding

“In a society that worships love, freedom, and beauty, dance is sacred. It is a prayer for the future, a remembrance of the past and a joyful exclamation of thanks for the present.”

— Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

We think Jane Austen said it best when she wrote, “to be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love.” The first dance between you and your love on your wedding day is a moment most of us have dreamt about since we knew what a wedding was. Something so beautifully sacred and joyful needs just the right track to accompany it - We’ve had many lost hours of sleep trying to make these decisions so you don’t have to. Below you’ll find a list of some of our favorite songs for lovers. No matter the tune, we think the best song to dance to on your wedding day is the warmth of the love in the room.

Photo by David Bastianoni

1.) Lovers Do - Brummies

2.) You Make It Real - James Morrison

Photo by Jana Musselwhite

3.) Love Like This - Ben Rector

4.) Until I Found You - Stephen Sanchez

Photo by Eric and Jamie Photography

5.) Nothing - Bruno Major

6.) Sweetest Thing - Allman Brown

7.) You (Acoustic) - Dan + Shay

Photo by Jana Musselwhite

8.) Make You Feel My Love - Adele

9.) I’ll Be Seeing You - Billie Holiday

10.) Best Part - Daniel Caesar (Feat. H.E.R)

Photo by David Bastianoni

Bustle Bride: Hannah Davis

Hannah and Luke’s love story began straight out of a Grey’s Anatomy episode, in an operating room. Luke works in orthopedic medical sales and Hannah was working as a surgical assistant at the time. Luke often worked with the orthopedic surgeon that Hannah assisted, so you could say fate and a little magic made by her co-workers brought them together.

“After a few hallway conversations between cases, a job change, and the help of a few co-workers who were bound and determined to get us together, we ended up going on a few dates - the rest is history!”

— Hannah

For their first date, Luke invited Hannah to hangout with some of his friends downtown. The day of, Luke mentioned to Hannah that his friends were coming to his place beforehand and he would love to see Hannah there. After a sequence of rainstorms, when Hannah arrived to Luke’s home, she was greeted with a little surprise.

“I showed up to Luke’s house, only to find out that all of his friends had cancelled due to the rain. I walked into Luke’s place to find him and his SIBLINGS (who I had never met before) ready to party! We ended up playing games for the rest of the night, which turned out to be a super laid-back and fun evening – one that we still joke about today.”

— Hannah

Although their attraction to each other came effortlessly, the logistics of their relationship made things a little more complicated. Because the pair worked together, they knew in order to experience this love story in its fullness, some decisions would need to be made. Hannah knew Luke was the one when she was willing to change jobs for their love. The relationship was a slow burn. One that came with understanding and endless compassion. 

“I was guarded – I had previously experienced a lot of heartbreak and I was so scared of repeating the past. He makes me feel safe, seen and taken care of every single day.”

— Hannah

Luke and Hannah’s Italian nuptials will live on our Pinterest mood boards forever. Because the couple traveled abroad for their wedding, the guest list was more intimate than it would have been if they had tied the knot in their hometown. The more laid back nature of their wedding gave Hannah and Luke something they wouldn’t have gotten otherwise - precious free time. Because they had the time and ability to do so, their wedding photographer suggested the brilliant idea of heading back into Florence after their ceremony and take several sunset photos. These moments became Hannah’s favorite memory of their wedding day. Every time she looks at each photo, she is instantly brought back to the best moments of her life, laughing and feeling loved.

“The experience was so much fun. Getting to have our “first dance” to a live street performer in Florence, kissing on the oldest, most famous (and most beautiful) bridge in Florence, and experiencing the gorgeous view from San Miniato al Monte – one of the highest points in the city. It was truly an unforgettable experience, and one that we will cherish forever.”

— Hannah

Knowing they were getting married in Italy, Hannah wanted a gown that was romantic and fitting for the grand location. What Hannah loved most about her gown is how it truly became one-of-a-kind.

“After finding a gown at Bustle, with the help of the team and their creative vision, we turned my gown into one that was truly “my” gown. Initially, I was hesitant that the dress was “the one.” However, my consultant, Jessica, truly helped transform my dress, creating a vision that I didn’t even know existed. It was the BEST, most intimate experience, and far greater than any dress shopping I had experienced before.”

— Hannah

When we asked Hannah how she knew Luke was the one, her answer left us reaching for a Kleenex or two.

“He makes me a better person, less selfish, more compromising. Hopeful and trusting for the first time, and he loves me even though I sleep with my mouth wide open. Three years, a purchased home, some travels around the world and the full approval of everyone I know, this is my guy. For life.”

— Hannah

Menswear Suits: Brooks Brothers – Summit  

Wedding Planner: Elizabeth // Original Tuscan Weddings  

Wedding Dress Alterations: Something You Couture  

Photographer/Videographer: David Bastioni Studio // Aqua Wedding Photography 

Venue: Villa Le Fontanelle, Tuscany, Italy  

Flowers: Viola Malva Decor 

H&M: Pamela Leti 

Caterer: Villa Le Fontanelle 

Strings/Musicians: Music & Co Italy 

Lighting: Alma Project 247 

Spray Tan: Glow Tanning Salon, Mt. Olive AL 

10 Love Poems for Your Wedding Day!

Deciding on a poem that eloquently embodies your partner on your special day is not an easy task. Your spouse-to-be is every beautiful word all at once and you want to personify that feeling in your wedding ceremony. This is the moment you get to share that beauty with your loved ones. It’s special. We hope that these poems give you a glimpse into your own love story. If you are planning a wedding or know someone who is mapping out their day, we encourage you to share this list with them. In a world that sometimes gets overshadowed by negativity, let’s share the words that bring light and love. Cheers to you and your wonderful story of love!

1.) Lighthouse - Nayyirah Waheed

I am your friend

a soul for your soul

a place for your life. home

know this. sun or water. here or away.

we are a lighthouse. we leave. and we stay.

2.) Touched by an Angel - Maya Angelou

We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.

Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.

We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love's light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.

3.) Wedding Toast - James Bertolino

May your love be firm,

and may your dream of life together

be a river between two shores—

by day bathed in sunlight, and by night

illuminated from within. May the heron

carry news of you to the heavens, and the salmon bring

the sea’s blue grace. May your twin thoughts

spiral upward like leafy vines,

like fiddle strings in the wind,

and be as noble as the Douglas fir.

May you never find yourselves back to back

without love pulling you around

into each other's arms.

4.) In One Another’s Souls - Rumi

The moment I heard my first love story

I started looking for you, not knowing how useless that was.

Lovers don’t meet somewhere along the way.

They’re in one another’s souls all along.

5.) In Your Light I Learn How to Love - Rumi

In your light I learn how to love.

In your beauty, how to make poems.

You dance inside my chest, where no one sees you, but sometimes I do, and that sight becomes this art.

6.) Devoted - Lori Eberhai

My heart can be your home,
my soul can be your refuge.
You can turn to me when you are weak,
you can call to me when the way is not clear.
I will be your promise and your prayer,
I will always be there,
Constant and complete.
Run to me,
reach out for me,
and I will love you in a unique and tender way.
Bring your love to me,
share your love with me,
sing your love to me,
and I will offer you peace, ease and comfort.

7.) Our Souls Are Mirrors - Rupi Kaur

god must have kneaded you and i
from the same dough
rolled us out as one on the baking sheet
must have suddenly realized
how unfair it was
to put that much magic in one person
and sadly split that dough in two
how else is it that
when i look in the mirror
i am looking at you
when you breathe
my own lungs fill with air
that we just met but we
have known each other our whole lives
if we were not made as one to begin with

8.) Habitation - Margaret Atwood

Marriage is not
a house or even a tent
it is before that, and colder:
The edge of the forest, the edge
of the desert
the unpainted stairs
at the back where we squat
outside, eating popcorn
where painfully and with wonder
at having survived even
this far
we are learning to make fire

9.) You Came Too - Nikki Giovanni

I came to the crowd seeking friends
I came to the crowd seeking love
I came to the crowd for understanding

I found you

I came to the crowd to weep
I came to the crowd to laugh

You dried my tears
You shared my happiness

I went from the crowd seeking you
I went from the crowd seeking me
I went from the crowd forever

You came, too

10.) I Carry Your Heart With Me - E.E. Cummings

I carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

Beautiful photos of Bustle Brides Morgan and Anna. Photography by Jana Musselwhite

EXPERT TIPS: THREE REASONS WHY YOU NEED FILMOGRAPHY AT YOUR WEDDING

Kayla’s path to wedding filmmaking was an unexpected one. This Auburn grad had her sights set on medical school but quickly found herself in the middle of a bigger passion. After graduating college, she began filming weddings as a way to make a little extra income in preparation for medical school. She intended on beginning her premed engineering journey. 

“My husband bought a camera for me when we got home from our honeymoon and told me to ‘go for it!’ I started watching videos online and filming every chance I got.”

— Kayla

Kayla fell hard for the filmmaking process after her first wedding in 2020. This instant love brought the realization that she wanted to make filmography her full time gig. 

Don’t just take it from us that investing in wedding filmography is a beautiful decision. Here are three reasons from the Expert herself!

1.) Videography Tells the Full Story

Photos are always a wonderful way to remember a moment, but there is nothing like experiencing the full impact of your most sincere memories on video. Most of us came into adulthood watching and rewatching cassette tapes of our childhood memories on repeat. How thankful we are that our parents had a camcorder in our faces for most of the 90s. The feeling of playing a tape and watching those moments in real time is indescribable. Video has a way of making even the most mundane memories the soundtrack of our lives.

“Photos are great but they’re all about capturing a single moment in time. Films are all about the full story & the creative process that goes into filming, editing, & producing these films.”

— Kayla

2.) There’s Nothing Like Experiencing Details on Video

Filmography effortlessly preserves the details of each moment. There is true beauty in the full context. Sometimes those intricate blips in time get lost in photos. Video allows for us to take in the full moment with sound and movement.

“ No story is the same, so no film is the same and that is just beautiful to me. Films are the only way a laugh, a look, a walk, or the way a voice cracks can be kept alive forever.”

— Kayla

3.) The Intimate Moments you Experience with your Videographer are Long Lasting

There is no way to feel more connected with another human than through personal experience. Your videographer is walking with you through one of the most anticipated days of your entire life. Their sole purpose is to tuck into those intimate moments with you and help you convey that experience for years to come. It’s no surprise that sometimes the connection that develops with your filmmaker can be significant. We love how genuine Kayla is with her clients. She truly cares about you and your memories.

“My favorite project I’ve been able to work on so far was a wedding in Birmingham at the Barn at Shady Lane. The couple was from Auburn and I ended up having a few mutual friends with them. We got along so well & they gave me a ton of creative freedom. The bride and I actually found out the morning of the wedding that we were distant cousins! We had no idea, it was wild!”

— Kayla

Kayla is a sucker for atypical details. She loves getting to film weddings in new places with unique elements. Sometimes it’s fireworks or bounce houses. Anything off-the-wall has her name all over it!

We cannot recommend Kayla enough. She would love to capture your wedding day! If you are interested in a consultation with this wonderful human, you can visit her website or check out her instagram.

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.