• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Call us: 248-351-9741

Ashley & Alexandria's

Bridal Boutique

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

  • About Us
    • Blog
    • Experience
    • Store Appointment Perks
    • Shopping Tips
    • Press
  • Collections
    • Bridal Gown & Dress Collections
      • Eddy K Sky Wedding Dress Collection
      • Enzonai Wedding Dresses & Luxury Bridalwear
      • Jesus Peiro Wedding Dresses & Bridal Gowns
      • Lusan Mandongus Bridal Gowns
      • Rosa Clará Couture Bridal Gowns
      • Paloma Blanca Bridal Gowns & Dresses
      • Steven Birnbaum
      • Victor Harper Couture Bridal Gowns & Dresses
        • Victor Harper Bridal
      • Jesus Peiro Bridal Designs
    • Bridal Accessories
    • Couture Wedding Dress Sample Sales
  • Wedding Dress & Gown Services
    • Bridal Alterations
    • Custom Wedding Suit & Tuxedo Rentals
  • Brides
  • Events
  • Contact Us

Couture Bridal gowns

10 Wedding Tasting Menu Do’s and Don’ts

January 31, 2018 by aaadmin Leave a Comment

Source: Brides 

Wedding Tasting 

Whether your wedding venue is providing catering or you’re using an outside vendor, most reliable caterers offer potential clients a wedding tasting where you can sample their food, from hors d’oeuvres and salads to main courses and desserts — and it’s a good idea to take them up on it. The tasting has become increasingly important as couples increasingly choose to personalize everything from their signature cocktails to their desserts, and this is the only dress rehearsal for food that you’ll have. Read on for key do’s and dont’s that will help you make the most out of your tasting.

Wedding Tasting Do’s

  1. Go In With a Budget In Mind

Not all menu items are created equally — serving filet mignon instead of chicken can increase the price per person by up to 25 percent! Furthermore, even if you offer two options, like chicken and filet mignon, at many venues the “higher price will prevail.” Meaning, if chicken was $80 a plate and filet mignon was $100 a plate, you’d still have to pay $100 a plate of all guests. Make a budget for catering and see what options fit it. If you’re dead set on serving a more expensive dish, you can always trim your guest list to stay within your budget.

Furthermore, you do have the power to negotiate. The per-plate prices aren’t set in stone. The per-person rate typically includes things like hors d’oeuvres, a glass of wine at dinner, a champagne toast, etc. Things like a glass of wine or a champagne toast can be removed to bring the per-person price down, and it might even make sense if there’s already an open bar. You can also offer three hors d’oeuvres instead of four to bring down the per-person price and make it fit within your budget.

  1. Invite Your Wedding Planner Along

If you’ve hired a wedding planner or consultant, you should include him or her in the tasting; it’s the wedding planner’s job to be the clear-eyed troubleshooter, and to make sure you get the service you want.

  1. Pay Attention to the Details

Look for signs of good-quality foods and ingredients. If the ends of cheese slices appear dry and discolored, that could mean that the cheese was cut hours before — or even yesterday. Are the vegetables brightly colored and not soggy? Is the salad fresh and not wilting? Are baked breads soft and chewy and not stale and hard? Even little things like butter having a refrigerator taste, can be a clue to a caterer’s attention — or inattention — to detail.

  1. Notice the Attentiveness of Staff

If you’re attending a buffet tasting, note whether food is allowed to sit out for long periods without being replenished. The caterer should have sufficient staff to keep presentation as fresh looking at 3 p.m. as it was at noon.

  1. Ask If It’s Possible to Meet the Chef at Your Tasting

Another key piece of wedding food tasting etiquette is making sure to thank the chef and offer positive feedback. You want to get off on the [right foot with your chef and the catering staff, since they’re going to be the ones responsible for creating amazing food on your most important day. Once you empower a chef with your attention and confidence, the results can be amazing.

Wedding Tasting Don’ts

  1. Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute

As with everything wedding-related, things must be planned well in advance. Schedule your wedding tasting three to four months before the wedding. If you are going to offer a choice of dishes, i.e. fish or chicken, on your RSVP card, you’ll then need to figure out what the wedding tasting menu options are before printing the invitations. Given that invitations are to be ordered three months before the wedding, you’ll need to have figured out your menu figured out first.

  1. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Tweaks

Let’s say you’ve chosen the Caesar salad but you really want to have cherry tomatoes added to it. Or maybe you want carrots even though the chicken you chose typically comes served with asparagus. Or, perhaps you’d prefer all white chocolate strawberries instead of an assortment of white chocolate and milk chocolate. When it comes to small things like these, don’t be afraid to ask for tweaks. Small changes like these are perfectly acceptable to ask for, and the caterer will be more than happy to work with you. It is, after all, your day and they want to make things exactly how you’d want them.

Read the rest here.

photo: Creative Market

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Ashley and Alexandria's bridal, ashley and alexandrias bride, Ashley and Alexandria’s Bridal Boutique, bridal salon, bridal-boutique, bridal-gown, classic-wedding, Couture Bridal gowns, Detroit Bridal Boutique, Detroit wedding store, wedding dresses, wedding menu tasting, wedding planning

8 Ideas to Keep Your Guests Warm at Your Winter Wedding

January 10, 2018 by aaadmin Leave a Comment

Source: Martha Stewart Weddings

There’s so much to love about winter weddings (cozy décor, hearty meals, and breathtaking backdrops), but particularly blustery weather can leave the bride, groom, and their guests in a less than celebratory mood. If the weather outside is downright frightful, ward off shivers with our best warming tips. Here, eight ways to keep your loved ones warm and happy while the snow falls outside.

 Thoughtful Favors

To keep everyone comfortable at your cold-weather celebration, stock your venue with blankets, wraps, mittens, or scarves that guests can use during the party and take home at the end of the night. These are especially thoughtful giveaways if any portion of your wedding will take place outdoors.

 Outdoor Attire

If your wedding party is taking heading outside for photos, provide matching shawls or jackets for your bridesmaids. For the guys, consider suits made of wool and flannel, which are heavier than their linen and cotton counterparts. Choose a cloth weight between 14 and 19 ounces for the perfect balance of comfort and style; anything thicker may look and feel too bulky.

 Limited Outdoor Time

Have you always imagined getting married with a snowy scene behind you? Make your dream come true, then move the celebration indoors for the rest of the evening. Guests will be much more comfortable if protected from the elements. If you’re tying the knot somewhere especially chilly, look for a venue with windows that show off the scene from the inside.

Heated Transportation

If your guests must walk outside between the ceremony and reception, consider renting comfortable transportation. You’ll protect everyone from the cold temperatures while also saving them from potential falls on slippery ice. Walking through the slush in high heels is never easy.

 Piping Hot Drinks

Combat freezing temperatures by serving steamy beverages like mulled wine, hot chocolate, or warm apple cider. You can even create a coffee or espresso bar with various mix-ins. Guests will be especially appreciative of comforting hot drinks pre-ceremony and during cocktail hour.

Read the rest here. 

Photo: Tulip Bridal

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: antique Beaded lace dress, ashalexbride, Ashley and Alexandria's bridal, ashley and alexandrias bride, Ashley and Alexandria’s Bridal Boutique, Best of Weddings, bridal fashions, bridal gowns, bridal-boutique, bride-to-be, Couture Bridal gowns, Detroit Bridal Boutique, Detroit wedding vendor, Metro Detroit bridal, wedding planning, wedding shawl, winter wedding

What Should Each Bridesmaid “Really” Expect to Pay For?

October 4, 2017 by aaadmin Leave a Comment

Source: Martha Stewart Weddings

bridesmaid

What are the true financial responsibilities of being a bridesmaid?

Being a bridesmaid can be a complicated role, especially considering all the expenses and expectations that go along with it. From knowing who pays for her dress and accessories to determining whether or not she should foot the bill for the bride’s share of the bachelorette, decoding each bridesmaid’s pre-wedding spending is no easy task. Here are a few of the most common money-related questions we’ve heard from first-time ‘maids. [Read more…] about What Should Each Bridesmaid “Really” Expect to Pay For?

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Ashley and Alexandria's bridal, ashley and alexandrias bride, Best of Weddings, bridal fashions, bride-to-be, Couture Bridal gowns, Detroit Bridal Boutique, Local Bridal shop Franklin Michigan, Metro Detroit bridal designer dresses, Metro Detroit real brides, Southfield Bridal Boutique, Southfield Wedding dresses, Southfield wedding vendor, wedding, wedding dresses, wedding stylist, wedding tips, what should your bridesmaids pay for

The Top Waterproof Mascaras for Your Wedding Day

September 20, 2017 by aaadmin Leave a Comment

Source: Brides 

Mascaras

When you’re prepping your wedding check list, the beauty essential every bride needs and therefore you mustn’t forget waterproof mascara. Even if you don’t think you’ll tear up on your big day, a waterproof mascara is the best option to ensure your lashes show off your eyes in every photo without smearing, or flaking off before your first dance. Here, the seven best waterproof mascaras reliable enough to wear on your wedding day.

Tom Ford

Mascaras

A combination of deep black pigments and lash-filling powders help achieve glamourously lush lashes with just one coat. Tom Ford Waterproof Extreme Mascara, $45 at Nordstrom.

L’Oreal Paris

Mascaras

Flake-free, larger-than-life lashes have never been easier to achieve—and the price is right. At $10, this drugstore mascara is packed with over 200 bristles to ensure every lash is coated, making it every bride-to-be’s must have. L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara, $10 at Walgreens. [Read more…] about The Top Waterproof Mascaras for Your Wedding Day

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: antique Beaded lace dress, ashalexbride, Ashley and Alexandria's bridal, ashley and alexandrias bride, Best of Weddings, bridal makeup, Bridal shop near Oakland county Golf Clubs, Couture Bridal gowns, Detroit Bridal Boutique, Detroit bridal fashion, Local bridal shop Southfield, makeup tips, mascara, Metro Detroit bridal designer dresses, Metro Detroit real brides, Southfield Wedding dresses, wedding, wedding dresses, wedding stylist

6 Ways You’re Ruining Your Wedding Ring

September 6, 2017 by aaadmin Leave a Comment

Source: Martha Stewart Weddings 

Wedding Ring

With your busy day-to-day life, it’s easy to forget you’re even wearing your wedding ring until something goes wrong. Make sure you’re not making these six mistakes, and you’ll keep your ring safe, shiny, and in mint condition.

Washing your hands.

It might be a good hygiene practice, but it’s a big no-no when it comes to your ring. “Soap sticks to the diamonds and metal and dries,” says Nadine Tacorian Arzerounian, president of operations and design at Tacori. With a sticky residue overlaying its brilliance, your ring just won’t have the same shine it normally does. To keep your ring sparkling, take it off every time you wash your hands. Just be careful when you’re in public that you put it in your pocket or purse so it’s safe. [Read more…] about 6 Ways You’re Ruining Your Wedding Ring

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: ashley and alexandrias bride, Best of Weddings, bridal tips, bridal-gown, bride-to-be, Couture Bridal gowns, lifestyle, Metro Detroit Bridal Boutique, Metro Detroit bridal designer dresses, Metro Detroit real brides, Southfield Bridal Boutique, Southfield Wedding dresses, Southfield wedding vendor, wedding dresses, wedding ring care, wedding stylist

Next Page »

wedding-wire20132015

2016

 

The Knot Best of Weddings - 2018 Pick
The Knot Best of Weddings - 2019 Pick
The Knot Best of Weddings - Hall Of Fame

 

29260 Franklin Rd Southfield MI 48033 US+1.2483519741
Ashley & Alexandria
  • About Us
    ▼
    • Blog
    • Experience
    • Store Appointment Perks
    • Shopping Tips
    • Press
  • Collections
    ▼
    • Bridal Gown & Dress Collections
    • Bridal Accessories
    • Couture Wedding Dress Sample Sales
  • Wedding Dress & Gown Services
    ▼
    • Bridal Alterations
    • Custom Wedding Suit & Tuxedo Rentals
  • Brides
  • Events
  • Contact Us