Bridal Gown Glossary

I want my dress to have that thing where it is tight here and then goes out”

“How will I dance in this for the reception? Will I get one of those things?”

We hear about all the “things” in our appointments and we usually know exactly what you mean!! However, there are some common terms you might hear while shopping for your gown that would be helpful to know! Amour Bridal has got you, here is our Bridal Gown Glossary to help you out.

That super long thing behind you? That is the train. The train is such a beautiful statement on a gown that just says “bridal”.

Bustle – When the train is gathered and secured at the back of your gown so that it is out of the way for the reception or after party. You get this added in alterations and your seamstress will make sure that the style of bustle doesn’t take away from the beauty and design of the dress.

Hollow to Hem – This a measurement pertaining to the length of your gown. This means the hollow of your neck to the hem of the gown.

Special Order – Our store is a mostly special-order store which means that you will try on our sample gown during your appointment but we will special order you your actual gown. We take your measurements and match it up to the designer’s size chart and order the best size option!

Sample/Off the rack – the dress you try on is the dress you get! These are usually offered at a discounted price. Remember the Friends episode when Monica shops her dress? Kinda like that but less dramatic 😊

Petticoat – Want to make your dress appear fuller on the bottom? A petticoat is a slip you wear under your dress with tulle or crinoline to add volume. It usually comes separate from the dress itself and varies in fullness.

Blusher – The second layer on a veil meant to cover your face while walking down the aisle.

If there are any other terms you would love to know more about, drop them in the comments! Happy Shopping!

Calling all Honeymooners – A Review of Birdsong Cabins, Wimberley TX

This last July was my and my husband’s 8th anniversary. We always make sure to celebrate our day but the most important thing is that it has to be easy!! Over the summer we usually do several beach trips with our family so for our anniversary, we don’t want to drive too far or be gone too long and that is how we discovered Birdsong Cabins. Well, actually my husband found them online 😊 (shout out!)

They are located in Wimberley, just a 45-minute drive from our home in North Austin. The thing that sold us on the place was the PRIVACY and that was hands-down the BEST thing about them!! We stayed for 2 nights in the Blue Bird Cabin and it was everything that was promised. Each cabin has a private pool and hot tub. Once we checked in, we did not see a single other person but each other and that was exactly what we were looking for. We spent 2 full days swimming, eating, and drinking in total seclusion and it was exactly the disconnect-to-reconnect that we needed!

We brought all of our own food and drinks so we didn’t have to go “into town”. There are some restaurants in the area that previous guests had enjoyed but we were looking to be lazy. There is also an HEB super close for those last-minute items!

Keep in mind if you are planning to go in the dead of summer that the cabin has a window unit and takes a bit to cool off properly. We didn’t mind it too much because we were swimming so much!! Overall, this is a beautiful year-round option for couples looking to get away for a bit without breaking the bank or having to drive hours but you still get that peaceful feeling of being miles away.

Featured wedding venue: Kindred Oaks

ne of my favorite wedding venues is Kindred Oaks located in Georgetown, TX. We've had the pleasure of participating in many of their open houses and have met some amazing brides and wedding vendors through them!

This wedding venue has the perfect balance of romantic ambiance and Texas country charm! With the strung lights and candle lit accents, you can't go wrong saying "I DO" at Kindred Oaks.

I had the opportunity to speak with Elaine Lincoln, co-owner with her husband Steve, and asked her some questions to help brides in their search for the perfect venue.

(Learn more about Steve and Elaine here).

1) What is the most special thing about Kindred Oaks?

"We just celebrated 15 years creating all these wedding dreams and I must say the most special thing about Kindred Oaks are in fact, all those hundreds of couples who've celebrated here and that have gone on to build families and lives of their own. We had so many couples reach out and send us "before" and "now" pictures of their wedding day and then where they are now; with children, jobs, puppies, you name it. We published them on our website this past week and it's truly like I have a thousand grand kids out there, lol! So, so many of them are still friends, or Facebook friends and I get to catch up with them and it gives us great joy."

2) What is a piece of advice you would give brides searching for their perfect venue?

"Oh gosh, I suppose that I routinely tell them to think ahead 5 years and then try to look back and wonder what it was that made that day special. What is the feeling that you'd like to remember and then try to find the place that reflects that. And have fun while you're at it! If it stops being fun, step away!"

3) What is your most popular wedding package and why?

"We feature one basic package with lots of customization but it's hugely popular because we make it super simple, very affordable and we end up doing all the work, while they end up creating a lifetime of memories; all as it should be!"

4) Finally, what is something you wish brides knew ahead of booking a venue?

"I wish they knew that it really does take a level of experience to pull off a grand day like a wedding. You wouldn't trust your car to a DIY mechanic who just liked to look at cars but had never worked on them, and you should think of this the same way. There are a million things that can go wrong and you want someone who can preempt a lot of that pain or mitigate it with calm and reason. It's a big deal and we make it look super easy but it's because we're just really good at what we do and we're super blessed to have that honor."

Here are a couple of my favorite pictures of Kindred Oaks!

Kindred Oaks is located at 2100 COUNTY ROAD 176 · GEORGETOWN, TX 78628

Contact: 512.260.9690

Email: Elaine@kindredoaks.com

Kindred Oaks usually has monthly open houses so be sure to follow them on Facebook or give them a call to find out when the next one will take place!