DESIGNER FEATURE: Nicole Miller

I'll admit, Nicole and I were a little unsure about adding a new designer at market. We were especially unsure since we had never seen Nicole Miller Bridal in person. But all of this changed at market. Once we saw them in person we knew immediately we had to add them!! From her detailed laces, to her stretchy and comfortable silk, her gowns are perfect for every bride! So here are some of the many reasons we love Nicole Miller! We now have Nicole Miller gowns in our shop, so make sure to set up an appointment to try these lovely gowns on!

1. Handmade in the USA: These gowns are handmade in NYC. So that means amazing craftsmanship, American made, and the best quality! We strive to have USA made gowns here at Ivory and Beau, showing you can get a great gown right here at home.

2. Her gowns are classic: Nicole Miller is known for her clean lines and stretchy, body hugging gowns. Her gowns are sophisticated, chic with a modern touch. But she doesn't just do silk, she has an amazing selection of lace gowns that you are going to love! She has such a range, from her classic and fitted Dakota mermaid, to her sheath lace Jamie gown. So many styles to choose from!

3. Her Price: One of our favorite things about Nicole Miller is the price! Her gowns start at $1000! Handmade in the US and under $2500? Yes please! So brides, you don't have to spend thousands to get an amazing gown with impeccable quality!

4. Need a gown ASAP? But don't want to go to David's Bridal? Nicole Miller is perfect for you! Select gowns can be received within a week! Is your wedding in a year? No worry, we can place the order and have the standard bridal timeline of 4 - 6 months.

{Photo Credits} Alexis Gown // Jamie Gown, via The Wedding Boutique, Photography by Zoom Fiji // Millie Gown // Dakota Gown, via Style Me Pretty, Photography by Sarah Kate

WHY WE LOVE OUR DESIGNERS #4: Alvina Valenta

Alvina Valenta is one of our newest designers we recently added to Ivory + Beau and we are seriously head over heels in love with every single dress from this collection. But really. These gowns are serious show stoppers. I can still remember when Adrienna + I were perusing through the dresses on their website trying to pick our favorites to buy for the store and we would just spend hours looking at them. And then we would do it again the next day. Even though we already knew which ones we wanted, we just couldn't stop ourselves from looking again and again and again. And even now some days I'll stop and think to myself, which dresses are we getting again? And then I'll go look at their website some more. That being said we are so excited that we are an official retailer that carries Alvina Valenta permanently and we are having a Trunk Show where we will have even more of their gowns from August 2nd through August 9th. So now let me tell you a little about why I love them so much...

1. Oh my, is that a mermaid!? If you know me... then you know that I looooove mermaid gowns. The more poof and drama at the bottom, the more I am in love. But really. These mermaid gowns put real mermaid tails to shame. 

2. Exquisite attention to detail. From the buttons down the back of these gowns, to the hidden lace under the tulle, to the incredible beadwork, to the layers upon layers upon layers of tulle. These dresses are just incredible. When we started getting them in the store we were just so in awe at all the little details of these gowns that you can't even see from just looking at a picture online. They really are a beauty that is meant to be seen up close and personal.

3. Amazing construction and craftmanship. No need for a slip or corset bra with these dresses. They have incredible structure not just on the top layer but to the very depth of the inside of the dress. They have boning that helps keep everything in place. Krenolin that keeps the skirt full and poofy. And the lining is of the best materials yet still soft against the skin as opposed to being itchy.

4. Low back anybody? One of the season's hottest trends is the sexy low back. And Alvina Valenta does low back like it is their specialty. So not just are those looking at your front saying oh wow beautiful, but the guests behind you are probably also saying oh wow to that glamorous low back.

If you are interested in this designer and would like to schedule an appointment to come check out these dresses click here, call us at (912)200-4794 or e-mail at ivoryandbeau@gmail.com!

{Photo Credits} Alvina Valenta via JLM Couture

POP UP SHOP: ALVINA VALENTA

When picking our next trunk show, we knew we wanted one with a ton of options, from different fabrics, to various silhouettes. Alvina Valenta was a perfect fit! Their gowns range from traditional to funky, and every bride can find a dress they love with this designer! Make sure to make an appointment while these dresses are here!

The Collection: These gowns have a refined elegance, with a modern femininity. They are fresh, with a touch of vintage, and effortlessly chic, just like the brides who wear them. 

Price Range: $2500 +

Pop Up Shop Dates: March 13th- 23rd 

Why We Love Our Designers #1: Kate Pankoke of Elaya Vaughn Bridal + Project Runway Contestant

So... today I am back to blogging. It's been so weird not blogging lately. Adrienna has really been a master blogger fiend but I am back today with a vengeance for a new blogging series I thought up while ermm... sleeping? I'm not sure where I thought of it. But whatever, I thought of it, I loved the idea and so here I am typing away with this new blogging series to talk about "Why We Love Our Designers." And today I'm starting with a designer who actually was one of our brides before being one of our bridal designers at Ivory + Beau.... Kate Pankoke. Also, this post is just in time to kick off our Elaya Vaughn Trunk Show starting tomorrow!! Also, Kate herself will be at Ivory + Beau tomorrow through Sunday March 16th!!! If you are interested in meeting the designer call us today at (912)200-4794 or e-mail at ivoryandbeau@gmail.com to make an appointment to come in!!

With that being said... here is why we love Kate Pankoke:

1. She is a ginger. And super cute. And gingers rule the world. And I'm super impartial to pretty gingers because I'm a ginger. And yeah. Enough said. But really. Nothing else needed to add here.

2. She is younger than me + been on a TV show. And I'm super young. Well not super young. Not like Adrienna young. But still 25 years young. So she's younger than 25... and she's been on Project Runway not once but twice (being on a TV show is something which is definitely on my bucket list, but at this rate might not ever happen since we keep scheduling trunk shows + more styled shoots for Ivory + Beau so not really sure when I will ever have time to travel away from Savannah to film a TV show but hey a girl can dream right?)

3. She hired me as her day-of wedding coordinator. Kate probably doesn't know this, but I guess well now she does... but I was super super super super super excited when Kate + Zach told me that they wanted me to be her day-of gal. I mean super. How cool to be helping out a Project Runway + bridal designer on her wedding day? It's awesome too because with most of my clients the contact with them ceases completely after the wedding (except for several who are freaking amazing and continued supporters of Ivory + Beau on Facebook and Instagram - love you ladies out there for this, it seriously melts my heart for real, no lies because I don't lie.) Anyway, back to Kate. So it's really really really cool that I get to have a continuing relationship with one of my clients in a whole new way and now after she hired me, it's kind of like we get to help her and her business by spreading her beautiful wedding designs to the South. This just makes me happy. Ohh and she designed her own wedding dress... which was seriously gorgeous by the way. Don't you think!? Her wedding will be up on Style Me Pretty soon and we just can't wait to share all the gorgeousness captured by Shannon Christopher of her + Zach's big day at Brockington Hall.

4. She is not afraid of a colored wedding dress. We at Ivory + Beau just love anything quirky, funky, unique and modern and Kate's dresses are just that. We love a bride who isn't afraid of color too. We are pretty excited especially about her blue sparkly wedding dress and her lavender floral print gown + her gray ball gown. We don't have these as part of our permanent inventory but all of her collection arrives tomorrow at Ivory + Beau and we cannot wait!!! We do love our 3 gowns we have from the Elaya Vaughn line though: a gorgeous sweetheart mermaid gown, a backless silky gown that is reminiscent of a Grecian goddess, and by far the softest flowiest ballgown I have ever felt. To see her entire collection that arrives tomorrow check out her website here! Also, huge thank you to Izzy Hudgins for capturing our Elaya Vaughn gowns for our bridal lookbook (which is in the works - coming soon whenever I get a chance to do that... which at this rate may be never but that's not true, I'll make it happen... and it will be really cool, I just know it.)

With all that being said... we cannot wait until tomorrow to hang out with Kate all day at Ivory + Beau! We hope to see you all here!! Thank you Kate for coming out to Savannah to see us!!!!!!!!! <3

{Photo Credits} Kate Pankoke and Project Runway Image via Kate herself // Wedding Images via Shannon Christopher // "Daisy," "Marlo," and "Maria" gowns from Elaya Vaughn at Ivory + Beau photographed by Izzy Hudgins