Fun Games For Your Wedding Reception!

We've All Been To That Wedding

   you know, the one where you keep checking your watch and seeing if  it's socially acceptable to leave. The food takes too long, the lines are too long, and the dance floor is not lit at all. We know you love the bride and groom, but the reception was nothing to brag about. A little dancing, some decent food, a glass of wine or two, and that's it. We've researched on ways to ~liven up your wedding reception~ and from what we can tell, this option is the highest rated, guest approved way.

GAMES! Everybody loves a little friendly competition! We've been searching high and low on our favorite-Pinterest-and we've found some super cute (and some DIY) wedding games for your backyard/outdoor wedding reception!

Backyard Bowling

Seems easy enough! Just grab some pins and a big plastic ball! Drag some hay stacks to make your lane and you have a super fun and ~fancy sounding~ DIY game!

Giant Checkers

This may take a little more planning, but how fun would this game of checkers be at your wedding reception. Not to mention, the Alice in Wonderland type wedding photos you could recreate with this.

Corn Hole

It's a southern favorite. A good ole game of corn hole. Its friendly competition that everyone loves!

BONUS* get a custom made corn hole boards with your new last name and have it for your very own backyard forever!

Ring Toss

Okay maybe we just want to drink the wine and then glitter up the bottles and keep them for our own decorations. This could be a fun game for your wedding as well.

Sack Races

For the guests who don't mind getting down and dirty. How fun would a sack race be!

Tic-Tac-Toe

Instead of using X's and O's, use yours and your husbands first initials! Unless of course you have the same first initial. Then please use X's and O's.

Yahtzee!

Okay, here's a super fun one! And you can easily make this DIY!

Do you like our game suggestions? Have any other games we can add? Let us know!

Email us your suggestions!

The 25 Most Popular Wedding Gowns of 2016 (We made the list!)

See blog article on BridalGuide.com here.

The 25 Most Popular Wedding Gowns of 2016

   voted by BridalGuide.com has dresses that give us life. Some of these are our favorites too! We carry some of the top designers in the bridal realm at Bravura and are so excited that we have so many of these dresses and designers in stores! Here's some of our personal favorites and yours too!
(See full list on Bridal Guide website (located at top of this blog post.)

1. 

Sophia Tolli's Riona

We have this in stock at Bravura in Cumming and Marietta

3.

Sophia Tolli's Novella

Can be special ordered through Bravura Bridal

4.

David Tutera's Jelena

Can be special ordered through Bravura Bridal

6.

Allure style no. 9366

Can be special ordered through Bravura Bridal

11.

David Tutera's Sialia

Can be special  ordered through Bravura Bridal

12.

Allure style no. 9364

In stock at Bravura in Marietta

14.

Essence of Australia

May be ordered through Bravura Bridal at the Cumming location

15.

Maggie Sottero's Andraea

In stock at Bravura in Cumming!

20.

Maggie Sottero's Roberta

Available for special order through Bravura Bridal

22.

Madison James Bridal style no. MJ203

Currently sold out of our stores BUT can be special ordered through Bravura Bridal!

2016 has been the year of beautiful bridal gowns! Did we miss your favorite? Let us know!
Want more information on any of the dresses you've seen here? Give us a quick email!

Email here.

Georgia Venues

Looking for ~The Perfect~ Venue For Your Wedding?

   We adore chatting with our brides about their weddings. Each wedding is so unique and fit for their individual personality. Wedding venues, of course, top the list on things we talk about! Where you get married sets the theme for the whole day. We've prepared a list for you of some of our favorite (and our bride's favs) venues in Georgia!

Fair Weather Farms

Facebook Page

   Fair Weather Farms is a bride favorite. Located in Monroe, Georgia, Fair Weather Farms is a perfect indoor/outdoor rustic barn venue that can accommodate plenty of friends and family. Beautiful trees, a lake and dock, and rustic wood backdrops makes this a country girl's dream. 

Chataeu Elan

Website

"Our luxurious Atlanta, Georgia wedding venue features both indoor and outdoor locations at our winery and hotel.  From intimate and elopement wedding packages to large ballroom receptions, we can cater your wedding day.  Additionally you and your guests may experience amenities at our luxurious spa, rounds of championship golf, or enjoy many dining options at our award-winning wedding location in north Atlanta, Georgia."

The East Cobb Center

Website

A huge ballroom with beautiful chandeliers and romantic lighting, this well-known wedding venue is perfect for our Marietta brides! Budget-friendly and very accommodating, this venue has been recommended to us time and time again!

Windermere

Website

"A wedding at Windermere Golf Club can only be described as magical. Our beautiful Piedmont Room, charming Plateau Grill and outdoor patios and veranda all await you. The scenic golf view from our clubhouse will enhance your ceremony, while our elegant ballroom hosts your perfect reception. We look forward to sharing your special day with you."

The Gardens at Kennesaw Mountain

Website

"At The Gardens, we want your wedding day or special event to be as stress-free as possible. To us, that means helping you from the very beginning right through the completion of your big day. We are available for all of your planning and coordinating needs. We team with Parsley's Catering, a full-service catering company, which sources local and organic foods to provide "fresh, creative cuisine" for your guests."

We Love Allure

   and we absolutely are loving their Spring 2017 collection! Brides, if you have a passion for lace, romance, and all things girly, Allure may be the designer you're looking for. Allure Bridals has four lines that Bravura carries: Allure Bridals, Allure Couture, Romance by Allure, and Madison James Bridal. Each has a touch of their specific collection that makes them so unique. Here's some of our Spring 2017 favorite that we know our brides will just adore.

Allure Bridals

   (top; style no. 9400) This gown is the epitome of perfection. A light and breezy looking ballgown is hard to find these days! Most ballgowns look like they will weigh you down but not this one. This dress has everything we could ever ask for-dainty straps, soft (yet so unique) lace, and a silhouette that is timeless and captivating. 

(middle; style no. 9410) This dress will look great on almost any bride! The fabric change from the top half to the bottom will really accentuate your waist and the belt gives it a touch of old Hollywood glamour. 

(bottom; style no. 9416) We love this dress because it is so versatile! Leave it plain and let the satin body of the dress just shine in the lights or add a belt and make it your own! Give it a color ribbon or go silver or gold jewels. Anything will look so amazing on 9416.

Allure Couture

   (top; style no. C400) Okay brides, you've got to look this dress up. The back (pictured) makes it look like its this amazing ivory on nude ballgown but if you see the front, it's a sheath gown with a skirt on the back! 

(middle; style no. C406) A long-sleeved all lace gown with a see-through netting back could be exactly what you're looking for. 

(bottom; style no. C412) A sheath wedding dress with a satin underlaying fabric and delicate lace details is as luxurious as they come. Add on the crystal encrusted bodice lining and we're sold!

Romance by Allure

   (top; style no. 3004) This A-line wedding dress is so lightweight and airy, it looks like it'll just float down the isle. We adore the netted bottom and the dainty belt to really clench in your waist!

(middle; style no. 3011) You had me at hello. The satin belt is something that just is oh so romantic. We love the color it's pictured in!

(bottom; style no. 3018) In L-O-V-E with the bodice on the dress. Check out the incredible details on Romance style 3018.

Madison James Bridal

   (top; style no. MJ300) Our favorite 2017 trend-detachable skirts! MJ300 has a detachable skirt! Imagine walking down the isle in a super romantic ballgown looking wedding dress and getting all the oohs and ahhs. Take it off for your reception and you have a super sexy and moveable wedding dress to dance the night away in!

(middle; style no. MJ303) If you're looking for a unique wedding dress that is eccentric and edgy just like you, here's the gown you're looking for! We've never seen this lace design before!

(bottom; style no. MJ315) Gypsy brides, this ones for you. We don't even need to say anything about this dress. You can already tell why this made our favorites list.

Do you agree with our favorites list? Which ones do you like?

Silhouettes

Silhouettes

   With all this new jargon in the bridal world, it can be difficult to know what you're really getting if you don't know the slang. The shape of your wedding dress is no different! Sure a trumpet and mermaid sound like they'd be the same shape, but if you're expecting a true mermaid and you get a trumpet expecting it to fit like a mermaid, then you're going to be dissatisfied with the end result. What's an A-line dress? What in the world is a Modified A-line dress? We all know what a ballgown is, but then your consultant may ask if you want a ballgown or a drop-waist ballgown. And what in the world is a sheath? We're here to give you the naked truth on some of the most common silhouettes you'll find in the bridal world.

Ballgown

Allure style no. 9375 (Shop here)

Sophia Tolli style Veneto (Shop here)

   Okay so this is the easy one...we all know what a ballgown is. It's the typical princess look that every little girl dreams of. This silhouette looks great on almost every body type although petite brides may have a little difficulty moving around in a ballgown. A ballgown can be super fun and whimsical and make for some amazing wedding photos. 

Drop-Waist Ballgown

Maggie Sottero style Castalia (Shop here)

   Similar to a regular ballgown, a drop waist ballgown is defined by its voluminous bottom half. A drop-waist is just that...it drops at the waist. The bodice on a drop waist ballgown is elongated to show off your curves and waist line. 

A-Line

Allure style no. 9309 (Shop here)

Casablanca Bridal style Juniper

   A-line is the most common dress in the industry. An A-line gown looks great on everyone! Most bridal gowns are typically an A-line cut. It is tight at the top and gradually flares out to make an 'A' shape. 

Modified A-Line

Maggie Sottero style Beverly (Shop here)

Mori Lee style no. 2881 (Shop here)

   Modified A-Lines are another silhouette that is super common in the bridal world. A Modified A-Line is defined by the tight bodice, a subtle tapering above the waist, and a gradual flare going downward. Modified A-lines have some of the same characteristics of a ballgown however these do not have layers and layers underneath to give the bottom a poof.

Trumpet

Blu style no. 5464 (Shop here)

David Tutera style no. 116205 (Shop here)

   A trumpet style dress is curve hugging throughout the body and flares out mid-thigh. 

Mermaid 

Madison James Bridal style no. MJ257 (Shop here)

Maggie Sottero's Adalee (Shop here)

   A mermaid style dress is a curve hugging dress that flares out at the lower thigh/knee area. 

Sheath

Maggie Sottero's Greer (Shop here)

Romance style no. 2504 (Shop here)

   A sheath style wedding dress is simply a straight wedding gown with no flair or poof! A sheath style can be super sexy and dressed up or down depending on your style!

Two-Piece

Maggie Sottero style Griffyn (Shop here)

Sottero and Midgley style Jude (top) and Shardea (skirt) (Shop here)

   Don't be frightened by the word two-piece or crop top. A two piece wedding dress doesn't even have to show your midriff. Two pieces allow you to really customize your bridal look! This type of gown can be as revealing or modest as you wish!

Short

Allure style no. 2507 (Shop here)

Sherri Hill style no. 50656 (Shop here)

   Common among courthouse weddings, backyard weddings, and some destination/beach weddings, short dresses can be just as beautiful as a long one!