Misconception #1: Bridal Boutiques are expensive:

When I was out shopping for my wedding gown five years ago and before I worked in the industry, the only places I knew to shop were places like David’s Bridal. I had no idea about bridal boutiques and when I did start looking I figured they were far too expensive. Boutiques are a bit smaller and don’t carry as much stock as big franchises, but the benefits of these boutiques is you get that personal one on one time with the very knowledgeable staff, the staff gets to know you personally, they are invested in your wedding and want to help you find the perfect dress, and often we find life long friends with our brides. Most boutiques have the same price ranges as the large franchises and the quality is always top notch. Our dresses range from $600-$5000 on average, and often you can hit up local salons for a sample sale with top couture designers ranging from $200-$3000.

Misconception # 2: I can’t wear this style because of my figure.

Ok, so there are some styles that look better with certain figures, but don’t rule out anything just because you read that it won’t look good on you in some magazine. I can’t tell you how many times I had a bride afraid to try something on because they were told or had heard that particular style wouldn’t look good on them, and guess what…it looked fabulous! I always encourage brides to try on a variety of different shapes and styles, because you never know what the dress will look like on YOUR body, don’t rule anything out. I’ve had some brides say to me that they didn’t want lace, and well they ended up with a lace gown. You just never know, and things look so different on the hanger. So just try it on, no harm no foul.

Misconception #3:  I don’t want strapless.

I do understand that most dresses these days are strapless, and you want something different. I hear you ladies! I also hear that you don’t want to be tugging on your dress all night. Here’s what some brides don’t understand..there should be no reason your tugging on your dress all night. Bridal gowns are not like your normal everyday wear. They are built with construction to keep it up and on your body as you dance the night away. This is also where a good tailor comes into play. With the proper tailoring, your gown should fit your body perfectly and flawlessly. Also, strapless dresses can help elongate a short frame, so don’t rule it out.

Misconception #4:  Bridal consultants are just out to make a sale.

There are some people out there just wanting to make a sale, yes,  but I wouldn’t put that label on everyone. We aren’t dirty car salesmen (sorry to the honest car salesmen out there). We are here to help you, to share this experience with you. I have cried with my brides, I have gone to their weddings, I have even seen their family members come back in over the years. We have made lifelong friends. We  are a family. We hire staff that are knowledgeable and helpful, and who really want to be here with you through every step. As cheesy as it sounds we aren’t just selling a dress, we are wanting to help your dream come true.

I read this great article in the parade and I want to attach it, because it’s exactly what we do here, and what we are here for.

http://www.parade.com/news/2012/01/lessons-in-love-from-a-bridal-shop.html

Now for some things we would like you to consider when walking into a bridal salon:

1.) We are working with some pretty pricey, and some delicate merchandise, so we ask that you please consider this when trying on gowns. Samples can be abused and we try hard to keep them in great shape so that more and more brides appreciate the true look of the gown. We don’t keep the dresses in garment bags so that you can actually see them, and touch them.  I have had some women spill coffee on dresses, rip holes in the trains with their shoes, lipstick stains on the inside of the gown, little children running around touching dresses with chocolate hands, brides unfolding pleats, scrunching fabric with their hands, leaving dresses laying on the floor ect… We know they are accidents, but we ask you to try and keep these things in mind.

2.) Sometimes  more opinions can only confuse you more:

We know this is a very important day for you, and you would like to include all your best friends and family members, but often more opinions can really confuse you, and make you stressed and frustrated.  This is your day and should be about YOU and what YOU like.

3.) Speak up!

We are hear to help you, but if you do or don’t like something, or don’t feel comfortable please speak up. Bridal consultants will often try and help you pick out a few dresses, but that doesn’t mean you have to like them. We didn’t make the dresses so I promise you won’t offend us. We also want to hear what you don’t like so we can better assist you. On the other end if you really like something, let us know and we can try and make it work!

4.) Please call to reschedule

It’s busy time of the year and appointments do book up very fast. We normally have a waiting list this time of year, so if you are not going to make it to your appointment or if you find a dress, don’t be afraid to call us and let us know. If we have you down for an appointment and you don’t show up, that takes away an appointment for another potential bride. So please give us a call and let us know.

Now i’m going to leave you with a little piece of advice I think most ladies forget:

This is not a new or different color combo by any means, but it’s not a color scheme I see too much of anymore, and when done correctly makes for a beautiful palet, and how pretty does it look when you add hints of blush.

Navy and Red

Check back with us periodically throughout the months as we embark on fabulous and interesting color schemes throughout the 2012 year!

Utterly Engaged has been a favorite magazine of mine for the past year.  It always has such amazing drool worthy images, great enough for any inspiration board!

The Dress Featured in the shoot is by Jasmine and it only costs $800! Talk about Beauty on a budget!

Happy 2012! Issue No. 18 is Here! « Utterly Engaged } The 1st Online Wedding & Bridal Magazine. Ins

www.utterlyengaged.com

With the New Year comes new look. That’s right. Utterly Engaged just had a facelift with a brand new cover and a sleek design refresh on some of the regular columns, like Ask Katie and Fresh Vendors. This year you will also be seeing new changes on the site to make it easier for you to find resource…

We wanted to wish you the warmest holiday season, and nothing but the best in the upcoming year.  From our home to yours, Happy Holidays!

Here is our present to you: Melange is offering a free veil with every Bridal gown purchase all month long, and we just marked our sample dresses down even more, we are practically giving these beauties away. We also have a door price that you don’t want to miss! what is it you might ask? Well come in and find out!

Happy hunting!

That’s why once a week, we will be showcasing some of our favorite color combos.

I was digging through my closet today and noticed one of my camel long sleeve t-shirts, next to my cobalt mini, it actually made for a pretty awesome color combo so I try to see if anyone else was using this color scheme, I didn’t come across anything.  How pretty would it be though to have beautiful long cobalt bridesmaid dresses with a brown belt….or a camel dress with a bright cobalt sash and flowers?

Or how beautiful would it be to have camel table cloths and cobalt crystal vases with bright blue orchids?

Check back next week as we have more fantastic color combos coming your way!

http://sweetsundayevents.blogspot.com/2011/12/town-meets-country-shoot.html

The dress in the pictures is by Jasmine Bridal. This dress is only $800!

Happy Hunting!

We constantly draw inspiration from Paris in our search for different styles and designers, so it makes sense that we would carry a designer who calls Paris home.  Cymbeline Paris is always surprising us. Their gowns are so unique and beautiful in their own distinct way. I constantly hear brides saying that they want something different that no one else has, and I guarantee you, you won’t find anything that fits more into that category than Cymbeline.  Designers are constantly inspired from European fashion. The very first couture house was established in Paris in the 1800s and since then has been the home for many many other Haute Couture houses. Since the Cymbeline gowns have a European fit, that closely shape your body, showing off those amazing curves, or giving someone curves who doesn’t normally have them.

Come in to check out our Exclusive designer Cymbeline for our December 2nd and 3rd Trunk Show,  you will also be getting a discount on these beautiful dresses, you won’t be sorry! Happy Hunting!

To check out more designs you can visit www.cymbeline.com

We are celebrating the new fall season by getting in our top two designers for trunk shows!

So come join us November 11-12 for our Palazzo Trunk Show, featuring some just released gowns!

And again December 1-3rd for our Cymbeline Trunk show showcasing Fall Paris fashion

Are you excited? I’m excited. More information coming soon!

In honor of this haunting little holiday,  we are having our own little celebration with our Trunk or Treat event. We are having a headpiece and jewelry trunk show filled with lots and lots of goodies. I will be uploading pictures very soon of whats to come. So come join us as we have our yummy cocktail treats and play dress up with designer gowns and accessories! 

Trunk or Treat  

Friday and Saturday, October 28th& 29th

From 10am-6pm

“Why does quality seem to be so hard to find without spending a fortune, and is it just me or are designers losing their originality” -Amber Stelley

Amber, I’m really glad you emailed me this question because it ties in to a blog I had on my plate to write.

With the closing of the Priscilla of Boston it has forced the wedding industry to take a step back and question, what happened? The problem is a multitude of things that the wedding industry has been facing.  The economy is the more obvious of these problems. Brides are not spending as much on gowns as they used to.  I mean we all want a Mercedes, on a Honda budget right? That ties in to your question of quality, most couture designers tend to use the best silks and fabrics out there and the gowns are wonderfully fitted. They have better construction with their gowns because most of the gowns are not being massed produced and pushed out of factories. Now that being said, you can still find a nice quality gown on a more affordable price point. There are many designers out there who are using less expensive materials while still focusing on the fit of the gown. Essence of Australia and Justin Alexander are great examples of great construction on an affordable price point.  It’s hard for designers to go too far down on price because the cost of material is constantly rising.  Two of our couture designers Palazzo and Matthew Christopher focus on high quality fabrics and amazing fits for $2800-$4000

Now with the economy struggle, there are less formal weddings. Women are asking for more simple styles. Designers are constantly having to compete and reinvent themselves, so many are making their dresses more elaborate and more high fashion to stay unique and ahead of the game. Not many brides will be at their wedding wearing something that looks like it came straight off the runway this is the struggle.  It’s not that designers are so much losing their originality its that they are in a competitive market and some are just not going back to what made them so unique in the first place. I have many brides asking for styles designers had in their collection 3 or 4 seasons ago because they were more simple then, and it worked. Many designers still allow you to order from past seasons, so if you aren’t liking things in current seasons take a look at some of the seasons past.

Online ordering is definitely a problem I see for many brides. I’m seeing brides ordering dresses from counterfeit sites that say you can have a designer dress for $200-400. I can’t tell you how many horror stories I hear from girls having to end up buying another gown because the quality was terrible and it wasn’t like they were expecting.

Back in the day dresses were made to last. They were meant to be handed down to their daughters, these days I see these Trash the dress sessions and I cringe. Looking amazing is important on your wedding day, pictures last a lifetime! Now I get it ladies, I paid for my wedding myself and you only wear a dress once and for one day only, but if you can budget in a great fitting gown you won’t regret it to look amazing on your big day, and like I said you don’t have to spend a fortune.

I will leave you with this quote from Mr. Alexander McQueen

“During the nineties, care and attention to detail got lost somehow. It’s about going back to a level of refinement. Every piece is unique and has emotional content. I want to create pieces that can be handed down, like an heirloom”