Tuesday, May 23, 2017

The History of a Popular Wedding Favor - The Jordan Almond

Recently here at Brides of America, a discussion began about popular wedding favors. The choices are endless, and the type of favor that a couple decides to give away depends greatly on their personal style, wedding theme, and favorite things. Traditionally, one of the most famous wedding favors is the Jordan Almond. We were curious why, and this is what we found out.


Wedding Favor History
Giving away favors to wedding guests is an extremely old tradition. As the story goes, many believe that the first wedding favors were seen at the weddings of European aristocrats. They would give a small trinket box made of crystal, porcelain, or precious stones, called a bonbonniere, that was filled with sugar cubes or other delicate confections. This was a symbol of wealth because, at that time, sugar was very expensive. 

As sugar became more affordable and less of a status symbol, the treat was replaced with almonds. For centuries, the plain almonds signified well wishes meant for the bridegroom's new married life. During the 13th century, the almonds were coated with sugar and called "confetti." These were soon transformed to sugared almonds, and eventually became the candy-coated Jordan almonds we know today. 

The Symbolism of the Almond
The bitterness of the almond combined with the sweetness of the coating is a metaphor for the bitter sweetness of marriage. While fairly popular here in the United States, this tradition is a staple in Italian, Greek, and Middle Eastern weddings.

Five is the common number of almonds to place inside a favor box to give to wedding guests at an Italian wedding. Using 5 is not random, but rather a significant number. Each almond represents a wish for the bride and groom: fertility, longevity, wealth, health, and happiness. In Middle Eastern wedding tradition, the Jordan almond is said to be an aphrodisiac.  

At Greek weddings, sugar coated almonds are called "koufetta." They are put into little bags in odd numbers or served on a silver tray. The reasoning is that odd numbers are indivisible, just as the newlyweds should share everything and remain undivided. It is also a tradition/superstition that if an unmarried woman places one of these almonds under her pillow, she will dream of her future husband. 

Other Popular Wedding Favors
If the Jordan almond isn't your idea of a fun wedding favor, there are lots of different things that you can use instead. The most important thing to remember is that it needs to be something useful, sentimental, or edible if you want your guests to take them home rather than leave them on the reception table. 

One of our favorite places to find the most wonderful and unique wedding favors online is at WhereBridesGo.com. No matter what type of wedding you are planning, they have a wide variety of favors available, as well as many of the other items you will need for a beautiful ceremony and reception. They even carry the favor boxes and bags necessary if you decide to give away Jordan almonds.   

wedding favors from www.WhereBridesGo.com 
A clever wedding favor will get attention, but not nearly as much as the bride wearing one of our beautiful Morilee bridal gowns. When you are ready to find the wedding dress of your dreams, let Brides of America handle that part of the wedding planning for you. While you are shopping, you can tell us about all of those other wedding plans you have in mind! 


The gown of your dreams awaits you.
Brides of America is an authorized retailer of all Mori Lee Bridal Lines.



Blog author:  Deanna Powell - WhereBridesGo.com


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Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Charcoal Grey is the New Black! Gorgeous Bridesmaid Dresses

After you've chosen your own fabulous wedding dress, it's time to start thinking about what your bridal party will wear. We carry the most beautiful bridesmaid dress in Miami in a rainbow of colors. Lately, here at Brides of America, we've noticed a lot of women falling in love with our charcoal grey gowns for their bridesmaids. 






"Charcoal grey is the new black for bridesmaid dresses this coming wedding season!" said Brides of America owner, David Abadi. "It looks amazing on all skin tones, and it blends in wonderfully with every possible wedding color."



This dress shade is a bit softer than classic black, and works especially well for spring and summer weddings. It has a similar slimming effect, which every woman loves. Charcoal grey is also a wonderful color to set bridesmaids apart and really make the brides white (or ivory, or champagne...) gown stand out.




Shopping for bridesmaid dresses in South Florida can be a fun and memorable time for you and your girls. There are a few things that you may want to keep in mind during your shopping appointment to make the entire process go smoothly and keep everyone involved happy. 



  • Do a little research.
    Start the bridesmaid dress shopping fun early by getting together for a day of flipping through magazines and searching the newest styles online. This will give you a good idea of the types of dresses your bridesmaids are most interested in wearing. 
  • Keep budgets in mind.
    While you may not be worried about spending money on the perfect wedding dress, your bridesmaids may be a little more frugal. You don't want anyone to have to say no to being a bridesmaid because they can't afford the gown. Unless you are picking up the tab for your girls, be aware of the price points of the dresses you are looking at. Brides of America has large variety of exquisite and affordable gowns available to choose from.
  • Start early.
    Once you find the perfect dress (or dresses, if each bridesmaid will be wearing a different style,) it will need to be ordered. Shop early enough that there is plenty of time for the gowns to arrive and any necessary alterations can be done without rushing before the wedding day. You should place your order no later than 6 months before the wedding.  
  • Listen to the bridesmaids opinions.
    It's your wedding, so you get final say on what everyone wears, but keep in mind, they have to wear those gowns, you don't. Listen to their opinions so that they end up wearing something they are comfortable in. You want your friends to feel good about the way they look. A great question to ask yourself is "Would you wear that dress?" 


If you love the charcoal grey bridesmaid dresses in today's blog as much as we do, you can come in and try them on in our Miami bridal boutique. On the other hand, if you have a different color scheme in mind for your bridal party, Brides of America has lots of colors and a variety of different styles for you to choose from. Make an appointment to bring all of your girls in to try a few on. We can't wait to help you find something that everyone loves! 


The gown of your dreams awaits you.
Brides of America is an authorized retailer of all Mori Lee Bridal Lines.



Blog author:  Deanna Powell - WhereBridesGo.com



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Wednesday, May 10, 2017

The Beautiful Mother of the Bride Dresses From Morilee

Mother's Day is this Sunday, May 14, 2017, so it's the perfect time to feature the most beautiful mother of the bride dresses in Miami. Making sure that the wonderful women that raised the bride and groom look their finest on your wedding day is an excellent way to honor them. Brides of America does our part in that by offering the stunningly gorgeous fashions for your moms from Morilee! 



The amazing dresses that we have for both the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom come from the design studio of the fabulous Madeline Gardner. She has been the guiding force behind Morilee for over 25 years, creating exquisite wedding dresses and evening gowns that any woman would be thrilled to wear. Her passion for beautiful fashion is evident, and her design knowledge and attention to every detail put her gowns at the top of the wedding fashion game. 



These mother of the bride dresses put an emphasis on glamorous details, intricate beading, and the use of luxurious fabrics. The looks exude a timeless beauty while still staying at the forefront of today's fashions. Comfort, elegance, and style are key features of Morilee's fantastic gowns.  



Each of us thinks our own mothers are special for very specific reasons, but those reasons are fairly universal and generally very similar in the big scheme of things. David Abadi, owner of Brides of America, shared some photos with us in honor of 2 wonderful women in his life. 

First we have David's mom, Yehudith Abadi, plus a photo of both of his parents, Yehudith and Moises, on their wedding day and more recently. David is joined by his siblings, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Aharon, and Jacky in wishing Mom a very Happy Mother's Day! 


David, along with his wonderful children, Moshe and Judy, also want to extend wishes for an incredible Mother's Day to his beautiful wife, Sharona Abadi. 


Brides of America would like to send out a great big Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there. Our Miami bridal boutique will be closed on Sunday in honor of this incredible holiday. 

When you are ready to help the moms in your wedding find the perfect gowns to wear on your big day, give us a call at 305-620-6606. During her appointment, we will help Mom to find the perfect dress to wear at the wedding of her child. A very special dress, for a very special woman, for a very special moment in time. 



The gown of your dreams awaits you.
Brides of America is an authorized retailer of all Mori Lee Bridal Lines.



Blog author:  Deanna Powell - WhereBridesGo.com


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Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Wedding Reception Fun - Signature Cocktails!

There are many different details that you can customize to make your wedding stand out from all the others. You can add fabulous accessories to one of the wedding dresses from our Miami bridal boutique, a reading with special meaning during your ceremony, or a choreographed dance at the reception. Another place where you can show off your personality as a couple is at the bar with signature wedding cocktails.


The Ingredients
There are a few different factors that can help you pick the drinks you will feature at your cocktail hour or reception. You can have a bartender help you come up with something out-of-this-world, or just keep the ingredients simple but dress it up with a clever name. The answers to the following questions can help you narrow the choices down.

  • What is your favorite liquor/cocktail?
  • Does the venue have a specialty drink or flavor?
  • Is the town where you'll be married famous for a certain flavor?
  • Did you share a special drink when you met or on your first date?


The Name
The ingredients are a great source of inspiration when it comes to naming your drink. Another idea is to use any nicknames that you have for each other or somehow incorporate your own names. You can make a play on words about something you both love, like a sports team or movie. The wedding theme may even inspire you. If you don't want to put too much thought into it, you can simply call your drink "The Mrs." and his drink "The Mister." Make sure to put adorable signs at the bar explaining to your guests what each drink is.  

Delicious Possibilities 
We started the search for you by surfing the internet and finding a few different blogs that had some great recipe ideas. The links will take you to the full blogs and additional recipes. 

Something Blue (shared from Engaged & Inspired)

Gin
Blue Curacao
Lemonade
Ginger Ale 

Mix well (shaken or stirred!) and garnish the glass with a colored sugar rim. 



The Blushing Bride Champagne Cocktail (shared from The Knot)

2 oz passion-fruit nectar
3 oz Champagne
1/2 teaspoon grenadine
Handful of huckleberries

Pour chilled passion-fruit nectar into a flute. Carefully add chilled Champagne and grenadine; don't stir, but allow to blend. Top with huckleberry garnish.

photo by Cocoa Blue
Appley Ever After Sangria (shared from Perfect Wedding Guide)

Pinot Grigio
Caramel Flavored Vodka
Apple Cider
Sliced or Diced Apples

Mix all ingredients together and chill overnight. Garnish with an apple slice. 


While we can't provide you with the signature cocktails for your wedding, we can show you the best wedding dresses in South Florida as well as all the extras to go along with them and the gowns for your bridesmaids and mothers of the bride & groom. When you're ready to plan the fashion portion of your special day, call Brides of America! Happy planning! 


The gown of your dreams awaits you.
Brides of America is an authorized retailer of all Mori Lee Bridal Lines.



Blog author:  Deanna Powell - WhereBridesGo.com


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