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

The Bustle team shares their favorite christmas memories and traditions.

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

The Bustle team shares their favorite christmas memories and traditions.

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

The Bustle team shares their favorite christmas memories and traditions.

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

The Bustle team shares their favorite christmas memories and traditions.

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

The Bustle team shares their favorite christmas memories and traditions.

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

The Bustle team shares their favorite christmas memories and traditions.

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

The Bustle team shares their favorite christmas memories and traditions.

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

The Bustle team shares their favorite christmas memories and traditions.

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

The Bustle team shares their favorite christmas memories and traditions.

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 

Bustle's Christmas Gathering at Juniper Bham

The joy of brightening other lives becomes for us the magic of the holidays.
— W. C. Jones
The Bustle girls have a Christmas party at Juniper Birmingham.

After another year of swooning over our bride’s in their perfect dresses, we love getting together as a team to reflect on all the joy that the past year has brought us. This Christmas season, we decided to gather around Juniper’s glorious table. This eclectic wonderland is the kind of back drop that makes any party feel special. Between the flittering candles and lush botanicals, it’s easy to sink into this space and share a toast with loved ones.

We dawned the night by ordering several rounds of Duck Fat Fries and Edamame Hummus for the table. No evening at Juniper should ever be complete without trying their signature “Buzzword” cocktail. This infectious beverage was the talk of the table and for good reason. Earlier in the year, we spent Galentines Day at Juniper and wrote about the whole experience. You can get all the details on that cocktail from our previous blog post here.

The culinary highlights of the night were the crab cakes and mushroom sandwich. Truly not one small plate left us hoping for something more. Juniper has this way of surprising you in all the right ways. We ended our evening craving something sweet and we were not disappointed. The desserts were indulgent, mirroring the same comfort that can only be found in the holidays. We tried the Blueberry Creme Brulee and the Chocolate Bread Pudding - stunning!

Bustle celebrates christmas at Juniper Birmingham.

We found ourselves passing around the bread pudding and taking a moment to appreciate the past as we gushed about growing up in the early 2000s. Laughing over who had which flip phone and the perils that were AOL Instant Messenger (AIM). Fast forward nearly 20 years and the same girls that shared bedazzled razor phones are now bonding over espresso martinis. Same laughter. Different moments. Time is wonderful thing. So simple in theory, yet beautiful.

The Bustle girls have a Christmas party at Juniper Birmingham.

It’s our hope that this season treats you well. We are sending you our love and best wishes. Take some time this holiday to reflect on good memories and also understand that memories are being made now. Sometimes the memories that didn’t seem momentous at the time, end up meaning the most. Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Crafting with Claire: Holiday Mantle

“May your walls know joy, may every room hold laughter, and every window open to great possibility.”
— Mary Anne Radmacher

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.

We all know someone who makes decorating look effortless. Claire is THAT person. Everything she touches turns into a Pinterest ad and we love her for it. While we can’t all be a “Claire", at Bustle we want to make the art of creativity attainable for everyone. That’s why Claire has made it her personal goal to curate crafts that we can all partake in. Every season, she will lead us in a step-by-step guide through the latest diy trends. Whether you’re crafting with kiddos or by yourself with a glass of wine, we hope you enjoy this pretty piece of mindfulness

This season’s Crafts with Claire is a beautiful homage to the warmth of home for the holidays. There is something so heartfelt about a festive mantle with twinkling lights and nostalgic decor. This setting will be the backdrop to your most treasured memories for years to come.

In this blog, Claire will guide us through her process of designing the coziest Holiday Mantle, shopping at one of our favorite places on earth, TARGET.


It seems like the big box stores ordain their shelfs with holiday merriment earlier and earlier each year. Sometimes the array of stockings and Christmas garland can be quite overwhelming. We’ve all had that moment of standing in the middle of the holiday lights display, trying to figure out what size bulbs would be just perfect for our tree. Claire is helping us get our holly jolly together this season!

She took on the task of using a $50 design budget to create a mantle worthy of all our White Christmas dreams. She frolicked through the aisles of Target to pull this project together and we are NOT disappointed. We hope you can get some inspiration from Claire’s lush display. Keep an eye out for links to shop some of these items for your own decor!

“Christmas is a piece of one’s home that one carries in one’s heart.”
— Freya Stark

Claire’s Tips to Build an Aesthetic Holiday Mantle

1.) When you start designing a new display, it helps to make the key elements of your design symmetrical and then add other things to make it interesting and give balance.

2.) Add lights for that Christmas glow!

3.) Working vintage items into your scheme will add sentimentality and warmth to your design.

BUSTLE IS DRESSED FOR CHRISTMAS

It’s no secret that we love the holidays. ESPECIALLY, decorating for the holidays. Let’s be real, some of the most fun we have over the Christmas season is scouring for the perfect scented pinecone. And while we’re busy trying to decide which poinsettia pillow best fits our aesthetic, we are finding simple joy. The feeling of accomplishment as each little corner comes together is a familiar form of serotonin. Decorating Bustle for Christmas was every bit of therapy that we needed it to be. While fun, we’d be lying if we said it didn’t come with a few…. hiccups. If you’d like to see our decorating feats AND blunders, you can watch our recent reel here <3

Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.
— Washington Irving

We hope you all have a beautifully decorated holiday season. Sending all our love!

Decorating the Bustle store for Christmas in Birmingham, Alabama.

Holiday BYOB "Bring Your Own Board" Party!

“I try to greet my friends with a drink in my hand, a warm smile on my face, and great music in the background, because that’s what gets a dinner party off to a fun start.”
— Ina Garten

The days of stressing over an overwhelming holiday food spread are OVER. There is a festive trend taking over tiktok called a BYOB “Bring Your Own Board” party and we are obsessed!

We hosted a BYOB, bring your own board, party in Birmingham, AL.

We love how this fresh take on holiday hosting takes the pressure off of the hostess to prepare a full feast solo. You invite your loved ones to get a little creative and bring something special to the table. The only rule - the dish must fit on a board. Any board of your choice!

For our holiday party, we hosted a Friendsgiving gathering and used Canva to quickly whip together these precious invites!

We hosted a BYOB, bring your own board, party in Birmingham, AL.

With ENDLESS culinary opportunities, you could go “classic” with a inviting charcuterie board, or get a little spicy with something more unconventional.

Our guests WOWED us with what they came up with. Among this little feast, we had timeless options like homemade focaccia pretzels paired with beer cheese and cranberry and brie puff pastries. We also devoured a few wildcard delicacies like a taco (carnitas) board and chicken and waffles board - delish!

We think this idea would be perfect for ANY party you have this holiday season! We love the idea of celebrating Christmas with a beautiful array of charcuterie boards - you could get really festive with a christmas cookie table where you invite guests to each bring a platter of their favorite cookies! Or host a New Years Eve bash with a spread of boards that guests could graze on as they countdown to the new year. However you choose to celebrate, this BYOB will be the perfect backdrop for every occasion.

You can check out ALL the details of these gorgeous boards by watching our instagram reel here!

The Perfect Thanksgiving Day Outfit from a Birmingham Stylist

HOW is it Thanksgiving season already? It feels like we should still be picking out swimsuits and sundresses, but ALAS, fall is upon us - FINALLY. While we’re busy ordering our iced mocha with extra peppermint and greeting chunky knit sweaters like a long-lost friend, it’s time to game-plan what we’ll be wearing around the Thanksgiving table this year. Giving thanks and serving looks, honey!

Thanksgiving outfit ideas on the Bustle Blog by Birmingham stylist, Emma Freeze.

We asked the help of Birmingham stylist, Emma Freeze, to guide us into the glory of a great outfit. She has styled looks that have us seeing autumnal beauty, while leveling up the intrigue. No boring outfits allowed. Whether you like things clean and classic or high fem chic, Emily has got you covered.

To shop all of these swoon-worthy looks, visit Emma’s link here.

Thanksgiving outfit ideas on the Bustle Blog by Birmingham stylist, Emma Freeze.

Style 1 - European Street Style

By mixing texture with print, this outfit is sure to make a statement. Add sneakers and remove the coat for warmer gatherings during the day and slip on the loafers and coat to take into the cooler weather evening events.

Style 2 - NYC High Fem

Jackets are the best way to mix and match staple pieces like this knit little black dress. Wear during the day with sneakers and a casual shacket for lunch with the girls or into date night by swapping them with a blazer and chic boots.

Style 3 - Clean Girl Aesthetic

With family gatherings and drinks with friends in mind, this outfit was created to be versatile for it all. This classic jean and tee combo can be taken from day to night by adding an elevated jacket like this leather moto and mixing in some sparkle with a simple yet fun earring.

Thanksgiving outfit ideas on the Bustle Blog by Birmingham stylist, Emma Freeze.

Emma, also known as The Chic Next Door, graduated with a Fashion Merchandising degree from the University of Alabama and has years of experience in different retail positions. A self-certified shopaholic, Emma’s goal is to create a meaningful relationship with you while helping you create your own style identity. She wants everyone to experience the joy that comes through the expression of your truest self through fashion. If you would like to inquire about all her styling services, visit her website here.

Birmingham Venue Spotlight: The Historic Federal Reserve

It comes to no one’s surprise that Downtown Birmingham is a beautiful backdrop for your dream wedding. Nothing sparkles quite like the twilight of Magic City. As the community of downtown wedding venues grow, we want to keep you in the loop with the spaces that catch our eyes (and our hearts). The Historic Federal Reserve is a building that captivates us with its undeniable character, complete elegance, and it is exclusively catered by our hometown favorite, Urban Cookhouse. 

This venue stands out to us in so many ways. The Federal Reserve Bank Building offers a refined space for truly any occasion. The Historic Federal Reserve is on the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places and is surrounded by downtown Birmingham's finest architecture. The building and the Grand Lobby were designed by A.J. Krebs of Warren, Knight, & Davis, a prominent early 20th-century architectural firm that helped Birmingham earn its nickname, The Magic City. Since opening its doors in 1924, this iconic space has preserved the Gatsby spirit of the 1920s.

The Historic Federal Reserve has been hosting lavish events since 2018. Before that time, the building got a “facelift” in 2016 and those renovations led to the start of a second life for this historic space. A complete renovation added immaculate modern facilities while meticulously preserving the historical details that mark this world-renowned structure. 

Some of our favorite details of this space are the high columns and marble floors - so much glamour! 

Whether you are planning a seated wedding, a dinner party gathering for a notable birthday, or the ultimate Roaring 20's party, hosting your event at the Federal Reserve Grand Lobby assures that your evening will be the talk of the town for years to come. If you are looking for a spacious rehearsal dinner venue or an unforgettable space to host a wedding in downtown Birmingham, this space can be tailored for your event. 

“Our team is prepared to exceed your expectations from start to finish. We will provide everything you need, including setup, catering, and clean-up.”
— Bella Garzon; Historic Federal Reserve

Urban Cookhouse is exclusively the caterer for the Historic Federal Reserve. The pairing of this stunning venue with a Birmingham favorite like Urban Cookhouse is the marriage we all need. We added a few photos of their delectable dining options - if only we could grab a little through the screen.

For more information about this dream space and how to get started planning your special day, you can visit their website here.

A Few of Our Favorite Things: The Dreamiest Anthropologie Giveaway!

The holidays are the perfect time to find the beauty in the little things around us. Being properly cozy is a lifestyle that we believe everyone should take part in. Tis the season of “adding to your cart” - And in the spirit of that sentiment, here is what we’ve got on our Anthropologie Christmas list!

If you would like a little extra credit to spread the love this holiday season, check out our dreamy Anthropologie Giveaway over on our instagram. That’s what we call Merry and Bright!

First thing's first: ornaments. Wow, do I love Christmas ornaments and decor. I won't tag all my favorites because we'd be here all day, but here are some of the most irresistible: Traveling Bunny, Primrose Mirror, Grecian Bust, Just Married!, Glass Honeycomb.

These adorable animal print slippers are the perfect gift for so many gals on my list.

I adore this chic, black, bishop sleeve top for hosting or attending a holiday gathering!

Clue is such a fun and classic board game, perfect to bring out with post-dinner coffee; and this made-for-Anthro version is just so beautiful! Now, hear me out... how fun would it be to serve coffee in these monogram mugs that your guests could take home?!

I'd love to sit down to a holiday meal where my table was covered in a mix of these slender, brass candlesticks amid these more rustic, wooden ones.

I REALLY love a blazer, and this oversized, double breasted one is so versatile. Plus, it comes in loads of colors.

I love Anthropologie's creative collaborations with artists, and this Nutcracker meets Night Before Christmas puzzle is really special - a sweet Christmas Eve activity before bed.

I have absolutely no occasion for this right now, but I love this pink dress so much. It reminds me of a bridesmaid dress my mom once wore.

Splurge: I'd love to have this oversized chair in the corner of our bedroom to snuggle up in! I'd style it with some extra pillows and this little throw blanket for some texture (I like layering neutrals.) Next to this awesome rattan floor lamp, I'd have the coziest little nook!

Crafting with Claire: Fall Tablescape

“Design is coming to grips with one’s real lifestyle, one’s real place in the world. Rooms should not be put together for show but to nourish one’s well-being.”
— Albert Hadley
A gorgeous fall tablescape with Crafts with Claire on the Bustle Gowns Blog, Birmingham AL.

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.

We all know someone who makes decorating look effortless. Claire is THAT person. Everything she touches turns into a Pinterest ad and we love her for it. While we can’t all be a “Claire", at Bustle we want to make the art of creativity attainable for everyone. That’s why Claire has made it her personal goal to curate crafts that we can all partake in. Every season, she will lead us in a step-by-step guide through the latest diy trends. Whether you’re crafting with kiddos or by yourself with a glass of wine, we hope you enjoy this pretty piece of mindfulness

A gorgeous fall tablescape with Crafts with Claire on the Bustle Gowns Blog, Birmingham AL.

This season’s Crafts with Claire is a beautiful greeting to the start of the holidays. What better way to nourish our loved ones over the holiday season than with an engaging tablescape. With so many of us gathered around the table to fill our stomachs with good food this Thanksgiving, we love the notion that we can fill our hearts with good too.

In this blog, Claire will guide us through her process in the art of the perfect autumnal tablescape.  


tablescape: noun [C] US / ‘tei.bel.skeip /

- an activity involving the setting of themed dining tables in artful, decorative ways for social events

A gorgeous fall tablescape with Crafts with Claire on the Bustle Gowns Blog, Birmingham AL.

Step 1: Use a simple table runner or fold a larger one as the base for your table 

Step 2: Find a large vase or flower pot (with no hole in the bottom) and fill it with greenery

Step 3: Add small pumpkins, gourds, or even fruit like pears and pomegranates along the length of your table for color and texture

Step 4: Add some greenery along the length of your table as well to fill in the gaps. I recommend eucalyptus (it looks pretty even when dried) 

Step 5: Add taper candles to give your table a festive feel!

Step 6: Add plates and napkins - I love using napkin rings to make my table nice and neat (and to really highlight those pretty napkins)

We would love to see your autumnal tablescapes and how you make this your own! Be sure to tag us on instagram (@bustlegowns) when you post.

Wishing you and your loved ones the sweetest fall season! Happy Tablescaping!

Birmingham Highlight: Caitlyn Paige Creative

The only thing better than a stunning jacket, is a stunning jacket with a story. Caitlyn Paige reincarnates beautiful memories by giving beloved quilts a second life as wearable art.

Originally from Georgia, Caitlyn moved to Tuscaloosa 4 years ago and married her sweetheart, Russell. Together they spoil their precious pup, Molly (you can swoon over Molly’s IG here: @mollytheshopdog) and own a barbershop in downtown Tuscaloosa. 

When she isn’t being the fairy godmother to our Cinderella, Caitlyn is also a full time photographer who finds the most joy in capturing real life moments and memories. Forever on a search for the best street tacos and margaritas, Caitlyn loves to travel and spend time with her friends and family.

Caitlyn Ferson of Caitlyn Paige Creative on the Bustle blog.
“My mom taught me how to sew when I was like 5 years old. I was constantly creating little outfits or bags and just begging her to sew any chance I got.”
— Caitlyn

From the time Caitlyn was sewing beautiful little dresses, she always dreamt of one day starting a clothing line of her own. Her sweet sketches filled her notebooks all through middle and high school.

“I can remember sitting in class doodling on paper different dresses, outfit ideas, and of course the logo for my brand.”
— Caitlyn

Shortly after Caitlyn married Russell, she said goodbye to her full time job in order to start photography full-time.

“During the early months of starting my photography business, I found myself to be really stressed and felt like I was lacking something. I was lacking a creative outlet that was just for me. So, I started sewing again.”
— Caitlyn

For anyone who enjoys thrifting, you know that sometimes the most extraordinary discoveries happen in your local thrift store. When Caitlyn locked eyes with her first quilt, she knew it needed some major TLC, but also felt a creative vision coming to life. Caitlyn began creating upcycled clothing, exclusively using previously loved vintage quilts. She makes a very intentional decision to never cut any quilt that is in perfect condition. Almost every quilt she uses takes a minimum of 24 hours to get cleaned or repaired. 

“I know that the quilts I use were made by someone before me and at some point the quilts were passed down from generations. I want to do my best to honor the people who originally made the quilts by turning them into something new so that they can be loved for even longer.”
— Caitlyn

Right now, what inspires Caitlyn the most is the idea that things have the ability to gain value over time. Whether that be physical things or moments that are only tangible by the heart. Caitlyn is captured by memories. The ability to remember good moments is a kind of magic that is indescribable to her.

Caitlyn’s favorite piece that she’s created is this pink heavy-weight kimono jacket. The quilt itself is the oldest quilt she has worked with thus far. Which made this project one that was full of challenges.

“Honestly it was so fun to work through those challenges, learn from a few mistakes, and create something that looks worn but also new at the same time. It’s a really cool piece with fun colors, some holes and tears that were naturally created from being loved and worn in its previous life. It’s actually the jacket that made me believe that other people would want one.”
— Caitlyn

If Caitlyn had the glorious opportunity to style any celebrity in one of her designs, she would choose Mr. and Mrs. Bieber. Caitlyn loves the idea of a couple that could share a jacket and wear it different ways!

You can fawn over Caitlyn’s pieces on her instagram and shop them on Etsy! Every one of her phenomenal creations will have you adding to your cart like it’s your day job.

“My hope is that people will wake up and put on their jacket with slippers while they drink coffee, then wear it while out and about with sneakers. Wear it while traveling out west with their cowboy boots and hat. I want it to be something so versatile that it’s the only thing you really want or need in your closet for those colder seasons. Then eventually, I hope these pieces are so loved that they only look better with time and one day will be passed down to the next generation.”  
— Caitlyn