bride candy

Venue Spotlight: Curtiss Mansion

Photography by Csanchez photography

Photography by Csanchez photography

There’s no shortage of amazing venues in Miami. But one of the The Bride Candy’s favorite venues to work in is one that doesn’t look all that Miami from the outside, but has a whole lot of Miami history on the inside. Today, we’re talking about the Curtiss Mansion in Miami Springs. It’s a venue that I love so much it’s where I chose to get engaged!

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It’s Got Style

Curtiss Mansion was the home of Glenn Curtiss, aviation pioneer and developer of Miami communities like Opa Locka, Hialeah, and Miami Springs. It’s built in the Pueblo Rival style, so when you drive up to it you can immediately tell that this is a truly unique venue that looks like it would be just at home in Santa Fe as it is in Miami Springs. Some of the standout features of the venue are the porte cochere (the covered entrance at the front), the front lawn, the interior courtyard, the back arbor, the bridge to nowhere, and the lake. All make a great backdrop for photos, and you can bet that there’s a lot of styled shoots and engagement photos that happen at the mansion. 

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It’s Comfortable

What makes the Curtiss Mansion an amazing venue is its versatility. It’s got a lot of space! With the addition of a newly paved exterior courtyard, it can now accommodate weddings of over three hundred. But no matter if you have a huge wedding or an intimate one, Curtiss is a comfortable spot to host your celebration. One thing the venue really excels at is everything pre-wedding. Many brides choose to get ready at the mansion since they have a dedicated bridal suite. That makes getting to the first look and pre-wedding photos a snap. It’s a great idea to get those out of the way early so you can enjoy your cocktail hour. 

Many couples choose to do the ceremony in the expansive front lawn. Shaded by trees, it’s the perfect spot to exchange vows. Consider adding bistro lighting for extra ambiance. Wondering where to put the dancefloor? The interior courtyard is the perfect place to dance the night away and it looks great with uplighting and DJ lights. There’s also a fair amount of interior space in case of rain, making the Curtiss Mansion a smart venue choice. 

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It Comes With Great People

My favorite part about this venue is working with the Curtiss Mansion family. It’s run by Sherry and Javi, two of the most dedicated people in the industry. “We do what we do because we believe in true love ,” said Sherry. “It’s important to us that every couple has an amazing experience here.” Many venues simply provide the space and a set of rules and walk away. But the Curtiss Mansion give you that personal touch. They are happy to give advice on what works well and they have a list of outstanding vendors who can help you bring your wedding dreams to life. Sherry is also a BIG supporter of same-love weddings and actively looks to promote the venue to couples from all walks of life. 

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If you’re looking for an affordable Miami venue with exceptional customer service, The Bride candy is happy to recommend the Curtiss Mansion as an option for you. Tell them I sent you!

Coronavirus update: How can I save my wedding?

There’s a lot that goes into planning a wedding, but one thing no one counted on was that a global pandemic would mean that many weddings over the next two months won’t happen. It’s a really stressful time! You’re worried about your health and the health of your loved ones. The last thing you want to do is to put your wedding guests at risk. You’re thinking about cancelling or postponing your wedding. But you’ve paid your deposits and signed contracts. What can you do to save your special day?

Stay calm

Right now your focus should be on making sure that you and your partner are safe. Maybe you’re under self-quarantine already or preparing for it. Give yourself time to process everything that’s happening and be kind to your yourself for the emotions that you’re feeling. Nothing about this is easy.

One thing to remember is that everyone in the wedding industry is in the same boat right now. There are many concerned people who have weddings in the next two months. You can expect that your guests, vendors, and venue will be understanding as you start your conversations with them. We are all focused on health right now, and we will understand why you might want to postpone your wedding.

Talk to your venue

If your wedding is around the corner, it’s very likely that your venue may have already reached out to you. It’s unlikely that venues will proceed with events over the next eight weeks now that the CDC had issued its latest recommendations. Talk to your venue about your options. Most will offer to apply your deposit to a new wedding date. Be sure to have one in mind – many other couples are doing the same thing right now and future dates are filling up fast.

Talk to your vendors

Once you’ve talked to your venue, it’s time to touch base with your vendors. Make sure to reach out to everyone – your caterer, florist, rentals, officiant, and entertainment. If you have a new wedding date, now is the time to share it. You can do this all in one email to all your vendors to quickly see if they are available on the new date.  Make sure to ask them if their services will be affected by the new date (maybe the showcase flower on your wedding bouquet won’t be in season anymore, for example).

Check your orders

Right now it’s hard to get anything from overseas. If you’ve placed and order for a dress or ring and expect it to be shipped to the United States, you should get in contact with your seller right away. Ask your seller what you can expect and what options they can give to you to make sure you get your items.

Tell your guests

Your guests are probably expecting to hear from you about your wedding especially if they’re traveling to it. Right now most people are unwilling (or unable) to fly. Reassure them that you still intend to have a wedding but that you’ve postponed the date for everyone’s safety. You’ll need to get confirmations again from your guests since the new date might affect your guest count. That’s okay – as long as the most important people are there it will all be worth it in the end.

Feeling overwhelmed? Tell me what’s on your mind and I’ll do my best to give you advice to make the process a bit easier. Everyone in the wedding industry loves love and wants you to celebrate your special day. We are here to support you!

LGBTQ+ And Getting Married in 2019

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The wedding industry is evolving and becoming more diverse and inclusive. Ever since gay marriage became legal in all 50 states four years ago the LGBTQ+ community no longer is invisible. Over time, it became more common to see non-straight narratives in advertisements and more industries have shown their support, but unfortunately we still have a long way to go. This dawned on me one day as I experienced what it is like to feel uncomfortable while looking for a wedding vendor. Still, there’s a lot of positive things that have happened over the years so here’s a little of my experience. I also included advice for those of you who are in the industry on how to become a better LGBTQ+ Ally.

Photography by Juan Saco Mironoff

Photography by Juan Saco Mironoff

Mr. & Mrs. 

One thing I always thought was tacky were the Mr. and Mrs. signs – at least until I walked into a store and saw Mr. and Mr. gift bags. I had never seen them casually displayed anywhere before. It’s nice to see how inclusive the market has become. Now, you see cards for same-sex couples, cake toppers, all types of merchandise that never existed before. But as great as it is to see more inclusive items, sometimes they can still make people uncomfortable. A venue I visited had a Mr. & Mrs. sign hammered to their wall. As a same-sex couple (speaking for Jeremy and myself) it’s not a problem to see something like this, but when it’s permanently attached to the wall it shows my partner and I that you never thought to cater to same sex couples. So if you yourself own a business, keep in mind if you have novelty bridal items such as Mr. & Mrs. and no same-sex selection it looks as though you are not an ally or comfortable working with same-sex couples. Just something to keep in mind – a little effort goes a long way. 

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Say yes to the dress 

One scary experience for same-sex couples is showing up to a vendor meeting with your partner and having the vendor look at you in shock. I had an experience like this that I want to forget, but it happened to Jeremy and me. I made the mistake of not mentioning my fiancé was a man. Luckily, we have mostly had vendors greet us with open arms, and so have other same-sex couples we know. Jeremy’s cousin was afraid of poor treatment when calling to reserve slots for her and her fiancé Nicole’s wedding dress fitting. She wanted to mention that they were a same-sex couple on the phone to one bridal shop but before she could say it, the associate asked if they were and made them feel totally comfortable. This made them feel good, because there is always a fear someone might make you feel unwanted.  No one wants to made feel different or ashamed for who they love.

Photography by Manolo Doreste

Photography by Manolo Doreste

Gay wedding

Some people get so excited when they hear about gay weddings. Their curiosity gets the better of them. They ask things like: Who is the bride? The groom? Is it the same as a heterosexual wedding? The answer is none of that matters. All weddings are the same, it’s two people are taking a vow to be together forever. It’s not a gay wedding – it’s a wedding. Most traditions are the same but same sex couples tend to be a little less traditional. In the LGBTQ+ community we try and be inclusive with everyone. We try not to label everything and everyone in masculine/feminine terms. So let’s shy away from assuming it’s always bride/groom. Instead ask: Are you the bride? And your what’s your fiancé’s name? Do this instead of handing over a form to fill out with the words bride and groom printed on it. 

Photography by laylledigitalmedia

Photography by laylledigitalmedia

The key to being an ally is simply showing a bit of support. Treat the LGBTQ+ community with the same respect as one would for any other couple. We are all human and I am a firm believer that we are here to love. Let’s break away from our old school  thoughts of only man/ woman weddings. Not everyone is the same, and together we can make the world more inclusive and an overall better place.

How to deal with loss before your Wedding

Most of us have dealt with the loss of a loved one. No matter if we are prepared for it or not, it can be very heartbreaking. What does one do when you are planning a wedding and a family member passes away? It’s a nightmare turned reality for some unlucky people - one that I’ve seen happen a few times. 

Huge flower to commemorate the loss of a loved one.

Ways to cope 

There is no magic antidote or any medicine that can help you cope with a death of a loved one especially right before such an important time in your life. I think one of the best ways to cope is by making their presence known at your wedding. One of my brides had an ofrenda that is customary in her culture. An offenda is a table filled with photos, candles, and flowers for loved ones who have passed. Right before she walked down the aisle, she visited it and made a prayer. This helped her pay her respects and made her feel complete. Many people choose to do very similar things like having a photo of their loved one on a table where everyone can see. Some even leave an empty chair with a photo of them at the ceremony. You can even add a locket to your bouquet with a photo. These things won’t take your pain away but it will make you feel as though they are there with you and every little reminder of them helps. 

Small tabletop floral arrangement with roses anemones in a copper vase.

It’s ok to cry 

Let it out, it’s OK to cry. You are already going through so many emotions. This is a stressful and very happy time in your life. Losing someone you love is devastating for some. But remind yourself of the love that they had for you. Would they want you to feel this pain on your wedding day? Ask yourself this question and think about how happy they are for you even though they are unable to be there for you physically . This is the time when all of your family members will be together and even though there will be a moment of sadness you will all rejoice with happiness for the love and marriage that has been created.

Hard holding a beautiful white garden rose.

They are always with you 

I believe that the people you love stay with you way after they are gone. They live in our hearts and in our memories. I’ve lost a few people that I love very much and I’ve noticed over time that they have made their presence known to me in some way or another. I’ve had my grandparents visit me in dreams before birthdays, and photos appear in random places at times when I needed them the most. If you believe in life after death we must remember that they will always watch over us and send their love and blessings no matter where they are. 

Floral centerpiece with white tulips and mimosa.

I never like to see my brides go through such a hard time right before an event they have dreamt of for most of their lives. I’ve had brides lose their loved one a day before her wedding. I have seen strength in these beautiful women and I have seen happiness in them too. Death is a part of life – it’s a new chapter and with all new chapters we must accept that they are moving on to a better place. Even though they are no longer with us physically they live in our hearts forever.

Hand holding a small bunch of flowers.

The Mermaid Bride

The Mermaid Bride

IG: @Mermaid_julesPhotography @thestory

IG: @Mermaid_jules

Photography @thestory

Many of us have seen Little Mermaid. As a child I would flip my hair just the way she did in the movie in my bath tub splashing water all over my bathroom (poor mom). So you could only imagine what I felt when I discovered a bride of mine was a professional mermaid! I became one of her biggest fans and would stalk her instagram on the regular.

IG mermaid_jules

IG mermaid_jules

I remember the first time I spoke to mermaid Jules. She was everything you would expect a mermaid to be like. She was bubbly , sweet , and very pretty. She has a pink mermaid tail , her hair was long , and she wore crowns made out of seashells. Anthony her fiancé definitely resembles a prince. Anthony was a tall, dashing, dark haired gentleman. The both looked like they came straight out of a fairytale.

Head table floral arrangement for beach wedding in Miami Beach Florida

What does a mermaid Choose for her wedding? A seaside wedding of course! Starfish were placed on every table, pearls were added to her bouquet and a mini starfish in Anthony’s boutonniere . Her colors were blush pinks, pearly whites and light shades of greens.

Beach inspired boutonniere for Miami Beach wedding groom
Simple wedding cake florals for Miami Beach wedding

On the day of the wedding I wore my Little Mermaid shirt. I must say it was a hit, especially for my bride who noticed it immediately. What does a mermaid wear on her wedding day? A dress with a seashell top, pearl necklace , and a smile that made the entire ocean sparkle with her. When she walked down the aisle her dress flowed as her bare feet hit the sand. Hair blowing in the wind she married her prince in front of all of their her loved ones. It was a happily ever after straight from a fairytale.

Whimsical wedding arch with lush flowers and greenery on the beach at Miami Beach
#MermaidSquad

#MermaidSquad

Look closely at the petals in her bouquet!Fun Fact : Mermaid Jules made her dress!

Look closely at the petals in her bouquet!

Fun Fact : Mermaid Jules made her dress!