You may have heard a rumor that popular wedding retailer David’s Bridal is considering filing for bankruptcy. According to The New York Times, it would be the retailer’s second bankruptcy in five years. But what does this mean for brides?

Well, even if its does file for bankruptcy, David’s Bridal has said it plans to continue to meet the demands of its customer base, a claim it also made when it filed for its first bankruptcy in 2018, The Times reports. The company reportedly sells one of every three wedding dresses in the United States. 

While The Times says there is no official filing yet, it claims sources close to the matter say David’s is working with Investment Bank Houlihan Lokey on a possible sale, which could be part of a bankruptcy filing.

If David’s Bridal does file for bankruptcy, it could close some of its approximately 300 locations, a move it didn’t make back in 2018, the Times reports. 

Pandemic weddings changed the bridal landscape. with many brides and grooms choosing smaller, less formal events and purchasing their outfits at off-the-rack and even secondhand stores. 

David’s Bridal moved its production around as strict COVID lockdowns hurt production, The Times says. It also says the retailer relied to airfreight, which is a more expensive shipping option, to deliver dresses on time.

It also pivoted outside the bridal space to sell formal attire for events like quinceañeras and proms and used employees to market the merchandise instead of professional models. 

But will this be enough to save it for bankruptcy? The jury is still out.

In the meantime, brides working with David’s Bridal or considering it for their Big Day should keep an eye on the news, and our blog, to see whether this will affect their upcoming nuptials. 

Tenk West Bank is a converted warehouse on the West Bank of the Flats with a fun, industrial vibe. Originally built in the 1880s as a machine and tool factory, the exposed brick, wood and metal beams and high ceilings create a historic manufacturing atmosphere that is both unique and striking. 

With more than 11,000 square feet of total event space and two distinct rooms, Tenk can easily host both large and small gatherings. The venue also includes plenty of natural lighting, as well as abundant overhead lights. 

The main event space, North Bay, accommodates up to 350 guests for a seated dinner with a stage and dance floor, up to 400 with straight table seating and up to 800 for standing-style receptions or gatherings, according to the website.

The building is ADA-accessible with heating and air conditioning throughout. There is a coat check room and private bridal suite. 

Tenk West Bank is Marigold Catering’s flagship venue, and it  provides catering, bar, rental, staff and event planning services. Marigold’s other venues include the Cleveland Botanical Garden, the Glidden House, the Ballroom at Park Lane, the Agora Theatre and Ballroom, the Ariel Pearl, Lake Affect Studios, the Cleveland History Center, Market Square at Crocker Park, the Madison and Ariel International. 

Tenk West Bank offers an up to six-hour event rental and space for onsite ceremonies.

For more information on Tenk West Bank, 2111 Center St., The Flats, Cleveland, OH 44113, call (216) 566-5400.

This year, whether you’re browsing the aisles at Walmart or shopping for your bridesmaids dresses, you’re sure to see Pantone’s 2023 Color of Viva Magenta  pop up everywhere. Pantone describes it as a color “vibrates with vim and vigor.”

“It is a shade rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength,” Pantone says in a press release. “Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, and a pulsating color whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a new narrative.”

“In this age of technology, we look to draw inspiration from nature and what is real,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of  the Pantone Color Institute. “PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta descends from the red family and is inspired by the red of cochineal, one of the most precious dyes belonging to the natural dye family as well as one of the strongest and brightest the world has known.

Rooted in the primordial, PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta reconnects us to original matter. Invoking the forces of nature, PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta galvanizes our spirit, helping us to build our inner strength.”

Expect to see Viva Magenta in everything from flowers to accessories and décor. 

“This year’s Color of the Year is powerful and empowering,” Pantone says. “It is a new animated red that revels in pure joy, encouraging experimentation and self-expression without restraint, an electrifying, and a boundaryless shade that is manifesting as a stand-out statement. PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta welcomes anyone and everyone with the same verve for life and rebellious spirit. It is a color that is audacious, full of wit and inclusive of all.” 

This year, Pantone partnered with brands such as Motorola, ARTECHOUSE and CARIUMA to promote the color.

Motorola launched its newly launched Motorola Edge 30 Fusion in Viva Magenta across the world. The company will have a space within the ARTECHOUSE Miami exhibit where customers can learn about the device and create their own “Magentaverse.” 

And CARIUMA, a conscious skate shoe brand, features the Color of the Year in six of its styles.

The Pantone Color Institute originally created the Pantone Color of the Year educational program in 1999 to engage the design community and color enthusiasts around the world in a conversation around color, according to an interview with Eiseman.

To arrive at the selection each year, this global team combs the world looking for new color influences in areas such as entertainment, art fashion, design, lifestyle, culture, technology, sports and socioeconomic conditions. 

Carrie Underwood might not know her last name after a wild night in Vegas, but if she kept her own, her momma wouldn’t be so ashamed (You’re welcome. That song is now in your head.).

According to Brides.com, the practice goes back to the Middle Ages, when society began to document laws due to increased literacy. 

Unfortunately, at that time, society also favored men, and women had little rights. The law added the practice of coverture, which is the legal status of a woman under common law.
“Coverture is a legal formation that held that no female person had a legal identity,” Historian Catherine Allgor explains in the Brides.com article. “A female baby was covered by her father’s identity and then, when she was married, by her husband’s.”
Under coverture, when a woman married, she became “one” with her husband.
“It sounds romantic, but the ‘one’ was the husband,” Allgor says. “She becomes, and this is the phrase, ‘legally dead.’ So it’s not that women take the last names of their husbands, which is how we think of it, it’s that they become part of [the husband’s] body. She does not exist in law, only the husband does.”

In more modern times, women take their husband’s name for many other reasons, including solidifying their status as a couple, separating themselves from their parents, unifying the family when having children or simply for the sake of tradition, according to a CNN article. 

However, some women choose to retain their last name or hyphenate it with their spouse’s. 

Keeping their last name is growing in popularity among women with higher levels of education and those marrying at an older age, says Deborah Carr, a professor of sociology and director of the Center for Innovation in Social Science at Boston University, in the CNN article.

“They have more professional identity built by that point,” she says.

Bottom line: While you might feel pressure from your friends or family to take your husband’s last name, it is ultimately up to the two of you to decide. Currently, in the United States, about 20% to 30% of women retain their name, CNN reports.

To learn more about how brides are “bucking tradition,” read our blogs on breaking glass, kneeling to propose and carrying the bride across the threshold.

One of Cleveland’s newest wedding venues, The Elliot, is a one-stop shop for all your wedding needs. Located in Tremont, you can get ready, conduct your ceremony, take photos and host your reception all in the same area, according to The Elliot’s website.

The Elliot contains two wedding suites in its bell towers that feature original stained glass, seating and mirrors. With plentiful natural light and a balcony for fresh air, it is the ideal place to get ready for your big day.

For the ceremony, the venue offers a ballroom with a beautiful 8-foot Swarovski crystal chandelier. And if you want to take pictures around town, The Elliot is within walking distance of Lincoln Park’s gazebo and the iconic Cleveland sign.

Cocktail hour is perfect in the Rosehip Room, a lower-level lounge with a 27’ quartz-top bar, stage and A/V equipment. It features an exposed wood ceiling and green decor and can accommodate 100 seated guests.

Finally, we’re back to the ballroom for the reception. This space includes a 29’ barrel-vaulted ceiling and 16’ stained glass window for the perfect romantic atmosphere. The ballroom can accommodate up to 200 seated guests.
When you rent The Elliot, you receive a venue coordinator, six hours of celebration time, 8 a.m. access, security for more than 75 guests, tables and chairs and WiFi.

Additionally, the Elliot partners with three exclusive caterers to provide food, linens, flatware, glassware and china. You must purchase all beer, wine and spirits from The Elliot.
For more information on The Elliot, 1415 Kenilworth Ave., Cleveland, OH 44113, call (216) 200-8506, email hello@theelliotcle.com or visit theelliotcle.com.

You may have attended a wedding where the couple broke glass during their marriage ceremony. If you are not familiar with this tradition, you may have wondered where it comes from. 

In Italy, many newlyweds smash glass, typically by stepping on it. The number of pieces the glassware breaks into symbolizes the number of years the couple will be happily married, according to Martha Stewart. This is often accompanied by a chant of “per cent’anni,”  which mean “for a hundred years!”

Jewish marriage ceremonies also typically involve breaking glass. 

At some point during the marriage ceremony, which varies depending on the temple and tradition, the couple stomp on a glass wrapped in cloth and placed on the ground under the chuppah, aka bridal canopy. The congregation shouts “mazal tov!” in congratulations, according to Insider.

The reason Jewish couples break a glass during the wedding ceremony is to remember the destruction of the Jewish temples. It is a ritual that tempers that happiness of the occasion and allows for a moment of reflection, Insider says.

Bottom line: If you are Italian or Jewish, you may want to consider the breaking glass tradition to honor your heritage. If not, be aware that some may consider the act inappropriate due to cultural appropriation. 

To learn more about how brides are “bucking tradition,” read our blogs on kneeling to propose, carrying the bride across the threshold and the penny in your shoe.

Celebrate your wedding at the same venue where you see your favorite bands – The House of Blues Cleveland!

The rockin’ 65,000-square-foot space, located in downtown Cleveland on the corner of East Fourth Street and Euclid Avenue, is available for private events and is perfect for the music-loving couple! It also provides access to a plethora of downtown amenities, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and many nearby hotels and restaurants.

While the entire venue an accommodate up to 2,500 guests, you can book areas within the House of Blues starting at 25 guests. You can even say, “I do” right on stage! 

The historic Grand Lobby lends itself well to photographs and opens to the the Music Hall and Cambridge Room, which can accommodate 700 and 200 guests, respectively. The Restaurant & Bar and Foundation Room, however, are perfect for more intimate weddings of 25 to 200 guests.

The House of Blues staff helps plan your event with a dedicated wedding specialist, custom menus and mixology, full-service event production, state-of-the-art lighting and sound and unlimited entertainment access. 

View the House of Blues Cleveland wedding gallery here. 

For more information on the House of Blues Cleveland, 308 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114, call (216) 274-3353, email hobclevelandevents@livenation.com or visit houseofblues.com/cleveland/events. 

Join Sound Precision Entertainment and Cuff Link Media at the upcoming Cleveland Today’s Bride show where you can meet more than 150 Northeast Ohio wedding vendors to find exactly what you need for your big day. The event takes place Saturday, Jan. 21, from noon to 6 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 22, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the I-X Center, 1 I-X Center Dr., Cleveland, OH 44215. 

We know a bridal show can be overwhelming so take advantage of our experience with this list of dos and don’ts, which will ensure you have the best experience possible! And don’t forget to stop by our booth to say hello! 

 

DO purchase your tickets online. 

Buy your tickets on the Today’s Bride website before the show to save $3 (cost is $12 online but $15 at the door)! Additionally, you can save 50% by purchasing a four-pack of general admission tickets for $30 online. And the limited-time Diamond Ticket, sold for $40 online, includes one admission ticket, a keepsake love glass, a bride-to-be or bride tribe sash, a LOVE insulated cooler bag, a pink slim can koozie, a diamond pen, a custom print from SymbolizeIt.com, a set of wedding bands from ZBJewlers.com and two free tickets to the March 5 Akron show! Parking is $10.

 

DON’T forget to prep.

Prior to the show, you’ll want to set up a wedding-only email so all of your wedding correspondence is in one place, e.g., MrAndMrsBrown@yahoo.com. Also, pack a tote bag with pen and paper (to take notes), address labels (so you don’t have to write down your contact information at every booth) and a planner (to schedule appointments and consultations). 

 

DO experience the interactive elements of the show.

This year’s highlights include:

• Fashion Shows: Take a seat as bridal shops and tuxedo companies take the stage to help you find your perfect look. The shows take place at the end of the pink carpet on the exhibit floor and last approximately 20 minutes. General admission seating only on a first-come, first-serve basis. The shows are at 1:30 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.
• Inspiration Galleries: Browse décor, reception table, photography, dress and cake options. 
• Limousine Row: View full-size limos and other transportation options.
• Ring-Cleaning Station: Get a free ring polish from Sunshine of Ohio.
• Free Caricature: Come to the Featuring You Entertainment booth for a free caricature!
• Mobile Beauty Makeovers: Visit the Mobile Beauty Suite Bus to get a mini-wedding day trial hairstyle and make-up application.
• Live Painting: Watch the professionals from It’s Artsee Live as they demonstrate live painting!
• Cake Decorating: See an iSlay Cakes decorator create a wedding cake while discussing the latest trends.
• Consultant Q&A: Receive free advice from Damara Patterson of resinspired WEDDINGS + EVENTS.

And much more!

 

DON’T bring an entourage.

Bridal shows are crowded, so the less people you have with you, the better. Also, bringing too any people is a surefire way to get overwhelmed when they’re each pulling you in a different direction. Instead, bring only a few close friends or family members you can count on, such as your mom and maid of honor.

 

DO check out the vendor list prior to the show.

It’s a good idea to check the vendor list (on the right side of the homepage) to see who will  attend the show. This way, you can plan your day to focus on the vendors you absolutely need to visit!

 

DON’T wait for them to follow up.  

Vendors talk to a lot of people at these shows, so it might take them a little while to follow up with you. If you need more information or want to book a vendor, don’t hesitate to reach out! And don’t forget to mention you met them at the show; they may honor a special show deal or promotion if you ask nicely.

Sound Precision Entertainment has a limited number of FREE tickets, to try and secure those please email Scott at Scott@spedj.com or call directly at 216.870.4513.

See you at the show!

 

Looking for the perfect bouquet toss song but coming up short? We’ve got you covered. Here are five of our top picks for this floral ritual that will get the ladies out on the dance floor and ready to win the prize!

1. “Little White Church” – Little Big Town

An anthem for all women who are just ready to get married already, “Little White Church” is a dance-ready country song co-written by Little Big Town and songwriter Wayne Kirkpatrick.

2. “Chapel of Love” – The Dixie Cups

Legend has it that the woman who catches the bouquet is the next to get married – perhaps in a “Chapel of Love”! While this song has been covered many times, we like the 1964 Dixie Cups version, which spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

3. “Where my Girls At” – 702

’90s girls know all about “Where My Girls At?”, released as the first single from 702’s self-titled second studio album on April 27, 1999. Fun fact: It was originally intended for TLC but the group rejected the song. 

4. “Wishin’ and Hopin’” – Ani DiFranco

While “Wishin’ and Hopin” was first recorded by Dionne Warwick in 1962, we’ve found our clients prefer Ani DiFranco’s rendition of this song recorded in 1995 and featured over the opening credits of the film, ”My Best Friend’s Wedding.”

5. “Ladies Night” – Kool & The Gang

Released in 1979, Kool & The Gang’s “Ladies’ Night” is a perfect bouquet toss song that highlights the ladies’ portion of the evening!

To discuss the songs you’d like to hear at your wedding, or specifically bouquet toss songs, contact Sound Precision Entertainment at (216) 870-4513 or scott@spedj.com.

You can also find more of our favorites by listening to our “Bouquet Toss Songs” playlist!

The CoLab in Lakewood is the perfect wedding venue for a small, intimate wedding. With space for up to 30 people, the venue features an open floor plan with original hardwood floors and a vintage tin ceiling, according to its website. It also boasts large windows that let in natural light and neutral decor that couples can customize to their liking. 

The CoLab and Owner Maureen Koopman pride themselves on being a one-stop shop. Bookings include a complimentary planning meeting and event setup and  cleanup. The venue’s goal is to have couples walk in and out without lifting a finger!

The CoLab features three different wedding packages to suit couples’ needs, the website shows. The first is a ceremony space for up to two hours of use and seating for up to 30 people. The second option is for a longer ceremony with four hours of use and seating for up to 24 people, as well as cake pops from Jenni Pops and florals from Blossom Cleveland. The final package is for a wedding and reception for up to 30 people that includes floral installation, catered dinner, dessert, linens, tableware and more.

All packages include

• Access to a 65″ screen and Sonos sound system
• Parking in the rear of the building and streets
• Newly designed kitchenette/catering space 
• Complimentary coffee, tea and hot and cold filtered water
• Access to furnishings 
• Private dressing suite
• Complimentary bouquet and boutonnière from Blossom Cleveland
• Private use of entire 900-square-foot space 
• Tables, seating and lounge furniture
• Dimmable lights

CoLab is also perfect for showers and rehearsal dinners.