Monday, April 30, 2018

How a Miss Ruby Stylist Plans a Wedding...

We're lucky enough to have two bride-to-be's currently working at Miss Ruby Boutique! We wanted them to share their wedding planning experiences and inspiration with our followers so other Milwaukee bride's can learn just how Bridal Stylists plan their own weddings!

Meet Hillary




Hillary has been a Miss Ruby Stylist for 6 years and currently works as our Marketing Manager. She is in charge of not only managing our staff, but also coordinating photo shoots, wedding shows, social media, and collaborating with other wedding vendors.
Her and her fiancé John recently got engaged over 4th of July weekend 2017!
(engagement photo taken by Nikki Kate Photography of Milwaukee, WI)

1. What is the overall theme of your wedding and how did you choose it?




My fiance and I considered doing a traditional wedding with a sit-down dinner and dancing, but it just didn't feel like “us” - I love traditional weddings but when it came to our wedding day, we wanted something beautiful, laid back, and a little unexpected. We decided on doing a morning wedding followed immediately by a brunch reception. This allows us to be surrounded by family and friends but in a more casual way. 

Plus, who isn’t their happiest at brunch? No one. 

2. What are your wedding colors & where did you get inspired to use these colors?



Even though I’m surrounded by wedding ideas, I found my color scheme from Pinterest just like everyone else. I was torn between doing a trendy, muted color palette and incorporating bright, colorful florals. Luckily, my vendors have been amazing and have been able to help me incorporate both on my day!

3. Where is your venue & how did you choose it?




John and I met, fell in love, and currently live on the East Side of Milwaukee, so we knew we wanted a downtown location in the city we love best. Because of my job, I know the in’s and out’s of a lot of beautiful Milwaukee wedding venues. Villa Terrace has always been my dream venue and I knew that it had the overall look and feel I wanted. My fiance is very picky, and all it took was a short tour (in the rain!) for him to agree it was perfect, too!

4. Are there any vendors you are excited about using?


 


I learned about Belle Fiori just from living on the East Side for so long. They are a great Milwaukee vendor that really listened to my ideas and I know they are going to create something great! 

I was instantly impressed when I visited From Scratch Catering for my initial consultation. I considered other caterers but they all fell short compared to Addie’s friendliness, communication skills, and overall help throughout the process. 

I was recommended to Avenue M Salon & Spa from friends who have used them at their wedding. I recently had my hair and makeup trial and am SO excited for my look - these ladies are total pros who know exactly what they are doing!

5. What has been the hardest part of wedding planning?


There is a lot of pressure when it comes to weddings. I thought I would bypass all of it by having a non-traditional wedding day, but I was very wrong. I think women in general are raised to be highly empathetic and shoulder a lot of emotional labor, and I’ve had a hard time making decisions without second guessing how it will come across to other people.

6. What are you most looking forward to about your wedding day?



My fiancé and I are foregoing a first look, because we both agreed we wanted the first time we see each other on the wedding day to be when I’m walking down the aisle. I’m looking so forward to that moment that I’m afraid I’m going to faint! With that said, unlimited bacon and mimosas at our reception is a close second.

7. What look are you putting together for bridesmaids?




I’m doing my bridesmaids in mismatched florals, which I think will fit the casual, elegant feel of my wedding. I can't wait to see it all together!

8. What accessories are you adding to your dress?




A super long veil was a must-have for me. I also wanted to incorporate a little color into my wedding day look. Without giving too much away, if my dress was an emoji it would definitely be the pink bow! 

9. What is getting you through the wedding planning process?


Bubble baths, online shopping, and a glass of red wine - all at once preferably. 

10. As a bride-to-be, what advice do you have for other Milwaukee brides?


Find vendors who actually listen to you and have your best interests in mind. Working at Miss Ruby Boutique has always made me very aware that wedding planning is only as easy and your vendors are easy to work with. Put together a team that totally “gets” you and you’ll have nothing to worry about. 

Check Back to See How It All Comes Together!

Monday, April 23, 2018

How a Miss Ruby Stylist Plans a Wedding...


We're lucky enough to have two bride-to-be's currently working at Miss Ruby Boutique! We wanted them to share their wedding planning experiences and inspiration with our followers so other Milwaukee bride's can learn just how Bridal Stylists plan their own weddings!

Meet Adrianna





Adrianna has been a part-time Miss Ruby Stylist for nearly 2 years! She is currently a full time student at Whitewater where she is studying Communications. Her fiancé Justen and her got engaged last year and are planning a wedding for June 2019.

1. What is your overall style or theme for the wedding & how did you choose it?




 My overall theme for my wedding is classic and timeless along with a hint of glam! I chose it based off of my personality along with what I would want to see when looking back 30 years on memories of the big day. And of course, Pinterest also helped!

2. What are your wedding colors & where did you get inspired to use these colors?





The wedding colors will be a dusty blue with silver accents. I plan to be doing a lot of greenery with white floral and pops of pale pink! I got inspired to use these colors by my everyday wardrobe. I love the color blue along with my ring being silver, I felt that it would be a great fit!

3. Where is your venue & how did you choose it?



Our ceremony venue is at the Basilica of St. Josaphat while our reception venue is at the Italian Community Center. Justen and I are both religious - Therefore, the ceremony location was an easy choice. For our reception venue, we chose the Italian Community Center due to it being recently remodeled and Bartlotta's caters the venue which has amazing food! Not to mention, I am Italian so I grew up attending events there often with family!

4. Are there any vendors you are super excited about using?



 A vendor I am super excited to be using is Maison Meredith Photography! Her work is amazing and our personalities click so well. It is definitely one of the wedding day aspects, I am most looking forward to.

5. What has been the hardest part of wedding planning?


Hardest part of wedding planning for me has been budgeting. It is so difficult to develop a realistic budget and to stick with it! My fiance and I had to communicate with one another thoroughly to decide which areas we thought were worth splurging.

6. What are you most looking forward to about your wedding day?


Justen and I have been together for 5 years and have dated throughout high school, and now college. Marrying him is the most thing I am excited about along with reuniting with friends and family who plan on coming to the wedding.

7. What look are you putting together for bridesmaids?




For bridesmaids, I plan to have my girls in shades of dusty blue dresses along with silver jewelry.

8. What accessories are you adding to your dress?




For accessorizing my bridal gown, I will be doing minimum jewelry, such as drop earrings and perhaps a bracelet. The accessory I am letting be the main focus is my veil. I plan on ordering a long, dramatic custom veil from Jennifer Leigh which will feature some lace on the edge.

9. What is getting you through the wedding planning process?


Something that has been getting me through the wedding planning process is my mom and best friend, Morgan! They have been helping out tremendously and are always there to give me an honest opinion.

10. As a bride-to-be, what one piece of advice do you have for other Milwaukee brides?


My advice is to do what makes you and your fiance happy! You will never please everyone and not everyone is going to have the same taste as you, which is fine! I learned through the wedding planning process, everyone has different opinions but at the end of the day, the ones that really only matter is yours and your fiance's. 

Check Back to See the End Result!


Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Accessory Mistakes Every Bride Makes!

When it comes to brides putting their wedding day looks together, its safe to say that we've seen it ALL! Often, brides put all of their focus into their wedding dress, without even realizing that her accessories are truly what take a look from "seen it before" to "worth a second look!"

Bridal gowns are so beautiful, but accessories are what that truly set their look apart. Here are common mistakes brides make when it comes to finding the perfect accessories to compliment her gown. 

1. Leaving Accessories Until the Last Minute


We completely understand that the last few months before the wedding are full of things that need to be completed. Sometimes, something as little a a pair of earrings can seem insignificant compared to scheduling, family issues, and other last minute surprises. These brides are then left scrambling for accessories just days before the wedding. 

You accessories are meant to compliment your bridal gown, so don't leave them until the last minute! With all the planning that goes into your bridal gown, why pair it with jewelry or accessories that cheapen the look? Setting aside specific time to find your accessories will ensure you aren't left empty handed.

OUR TIP: 
Make it a goal to find all of your accessories 3-4 months before the wedding. 




2. Buying Accessories Blindly 


The internet has a ton of great places to buy accessories. There are also a ton of websites that sell jewelry, sashes, and other accessories for an incredibly low cost, which makes them ultra appealing to brides on a budget. 

However, we know that it is often hard to know how well accessories pair with your gown without actually trying them on with your gown! Ensure that you only spend money on quality items that compliment (not clash with) your bridal gown by trying all of your accessories on together.

OUR TIP: 
Find accessories at your bridal pickup appointment or at a Bridal Styling Night so you can try the whole look on for size. 



3. Depending on Family Heirlooms


Every family has a veil or strand of pearls that is up for grabs on your wedding day. We totally understand the appeal of this! It's a great way to tie the past and present together and show your closest family members how much they mean to you. 

With that said, we always recommend adding your own unique accessory so that you have your own heirloom to pass down as well! Just like wearing your mom's veil and your grandma's pearls means the world to you, be sure you have a special piece so that you can extend the same favor to the next generation. 

OUR TIP: 
The key to an instant heirloom is ensuring it is a high quality item. Swarovski crystals, precious metals, and exquisite laces will stay beautiful for years and never go out of style. 

4. Skimping on the Sparkles


When brides create a bridal gown budget, they often only plan on paying for the dress. Lots of times, brides spend all of their money on a gown and then are left with pennies to pay for the finishing touches. 

Not accurately budgeting for your bridal accessories is a surefire way to end up with a lackluster bridal look. One reason is because the discounted items you see on the internet are often of inferior quality. Paring low quality accessories with your bridal gown is the easiest way to cheapen the look of your amazing designer dress. 

OUR TIP: 
Create a realistic bridal gown budget ahead of time that includes the cost of your gown, alterations, shoes, and all of your accessories. 



5. Being Afraid to Make a Statement

It is easy to go overboard on accessories. With that said, your wedding is the one day you truly get to shine and can take a few risks with your look. While you don't want accessories that overwhelm you, scaling back on sparkle doesn't allow it to complete your look. 

Veils are also a place where brides often hesitate. While they may not be for everyone, sometimes brides say "no" to veils not because they don't like them, but because they are unfamiliar. 

OUR TIP: 
A Bridal Stylist will make sure your accessories enhance your bridal look. They'll also be honest with you and never let you go overboard. 



How Do I Put It All Together?


Visit us during our 

These special, hour-long appointments are the perfect time for brides to put on their dress and create a head to toe look worthy of your wedding day.