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Every year, Christmas at Ava Laurénne Bride feels a little bit like stepping inside a memory, one stitched together with nostalgia, beauty, and a kind of togetherness that can only be described as sacred. But this year’s Ring In The Season Christmas Concert was something more. Something bigger. Something undeniably alive.
It was a night where artistry met purpose, where families became performers, and where community became the heartbeat of the room. Most of all, it was a celebration of connection, the very foundation on which the Ava Laurénne Bride brand was built.
And perhaps the most beautiful part? That connection was shared in the most radiant way through our partnership with STEP VA, a Fredericksburg nonprofit that provides performing arts opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Welcoming STEP VA back onto the Ava Laurénne stage felt like greeting family. Their presence brought an energy that can’t be manufactured, joy that rises from deep within, courage that inspires everyone watching, and a purity of heart that reminds us what Christmas actually is.
This year, Noah Finch stepped into a new role, not only singing, but directing an original musical composition performed by the STEP VA choir. To witness his leadership, creativity, and vision was to witness a young artist fully stepping into his gift.
Then there was Meredith, who moved every soul in the room with Little Drummer Boy. Last year she battled stage anxiety. This year she stood confidently beneath the lights, delivering a performance filled with strength and grace. It wasn’t just a song—it was a milestone. A moment that will be remembered by everyone who saw it.
And of course, the showstopper that left the entire room breathless: “This Is Me.”
Performed as the grand finale, this number filled the stage with performers from STEP VA alongside our other concert vocalists, one united chorus representing every age, background, and walk of life. It was more than music. It was a proclamation: We belong. We matter. We are beautifully, powerfully, unapologetically ourselves.
To end the concert on that note was nothing short of perfect.
Christmas is a season where family traditions take center stage, that’s part of why we all love it so much. And this year, we had the privilege of watching families share the stage together in some of the most tender moments of the evening.
Michelle, our Master Stylist and Program Director, graced the stage with her daughter in two charming numbers—Jingle Bells (in a playful, Andrews Sisters–inspired style) and Mele Kalikimaka. It was sweet, nostalgic, and a perfect nod to this year’s Christmas décor theme:
Owners of Ava Laurènne Bride, Wendy and Gabe Rivera, have a rich history rooted in the arts—they actually met while traveling on a drama team. Their love for music, theatre, and family has shone brightly throughout their time as boutique owners, from serenading brides with “The Prayer” atop the spiral staircase in their first location, to now sharing that same joy and passion with their children, Ava and Gabriel at the annual Ring In The Season Christmas Concert.
Together as a family, they performed “Carol of the Bells”, a whimsical, joyful piece overflowing with warmth and affection, the kind of moment that reminds you why Christmas gatherings matter so deeply. Later, Gabriel’s solo performance of “Believe” was so enchanting and beautifully delivered that it left the entire room covered in goosebumps.
A highlight each year, the Lewis family’s breathtaking performance of Mary Did You Know (alongside a Christmas medley) moved the room into quiet reverence. Their journey to our concert began when Michelle met them during a worship night, one of many ways this evening was stitched together through unexpected, meaningful connections.
While this year’s Christmas decor theme, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” resonated through every corner of the boutique. This theme was more than seasonal décor, it was a tribute, a reflection, and a beautifully layered nod to history.
Inspired in part by the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, our Christmas design paid homage to the patriotism, unity, and national pride that have shaped generations. Yet it was also a couture interpretation of post-war nostalgia, the kind of elegant soirees, White House inaugural balls, and military celebrations that echo the cinematic magic of White Christmas.
Every detail held meaning:
The American flags tucked gently into garland.
The vintage-inspired stars shimmering through the room.
The soft glow and timeless charm reminiscent of 1940s and 50s Christmas traditions, an era defined by hope, reunion, and the longing to be home.
Together, these elements told a story far deeper than seasonal decorating:
Home isn’t a location, it’s the people you love.
It’s the relationships that shape your life.
It’s the togetherness that every heart longs for, especially at Christmastime.
And at its core, that is precisely what Ava Laurénne Bride exists to honor: Love. Connection. And the sacredness of life’s most meaningful moments.
Perhaps the most exciting announcement of the night, and one we’ve been eagerly waiting to share, is that Ava Laurénne Bride has written and produced its first original Christmas song!
Written by Michelle and brought to life with the help of gifted local musicians, the song is a love letter to the heart of the season:
A celebration of love.
One lyric Michelle shared encapsulates the heartbeat of the song:
“Many dream of a white Christmas, but I dream about you.”
Another:
“I’ll be home for the holidays, because my home is where you are.”
It is tender. It is moving. And it captures, with almost startling clarity, what love means to Ava Laurénne Bride.
We cannot wait to share it with you!!
Thank you to every performer, every family, every STEP VA member, and every guest who filled our boutique with warmth and wonder.
Thank you for giving your voice, your time, your heart, and your presence.
And thank you, Fredericksburg, for supporting a night dedicated to artistry, inclusion, and the kind of community that makes this season truly magical.
From all of us at Ava Laurénne Bride,
Merry Christmas and may your home be filled with the people who feel like home.
Stay tuned for “Ring In The Season” dropping Christmas Eve.
We promise: it will be worth the wait.
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