15 Things Every Bride Should Know Before Shopping for Her Wedding Gown

The dress of your dreams is finally just an appointment (or two or three…) away. There aren’t many things on this earth as dreamy as walking into a bridal salon for the first time. Each store, with rows and rows of wonderful white fabrics and runway-worthy silhouettes, is overwhelmingly enchanting. Combine that magical feeling with one part excitement, two parts mama’s opinion, and three parts champagne, and you can bet all normal reasoning goes right out the door.

So, before the bridal store casts its spell on you, it’s important to do a little homework. That way, when you’re star-struck by a budget-busting ball gown, you at least have a few notes jotted down to help bring you back to reality (or help you responsibly reason your way to a bigger budget). Here are a few helpful things to keep in mind before you slip on your first dress.

1. The earlier you can shop, the better. It’s helpful to know the general tone of your wedding before hitting the boutiques, but it’s shocking how far in advance you need to order your gown. We recommended shopping eight to ten months in advance. This will ensure your selection isn’t limited based on your ordering time frame, and, just in case you need multiple shopping trips, you’ll have plenty of extra shopping time.

2. Keep your shopping team small. We know that “Say Yes to the Dress” brides often have a couch full of commentators, but we don’t recommend it. Invite a two or three people whose opinions you trust to avoid being overwhelmed or deterred from a dress you love by too many comments from the peanut gallery.

3. Brush up on dress terminology 101. Taffeta, tulle, illusion – oh my. It’s helpful to speak the same language as your consultant, and you may not have looked at designer dresses in a while (cotillion and prom were many moons ago!). As you’re pulling pictures from Pinterest, be sure to check out the terminology behind the looks you love.

4. Do your research, but avoid over-pinning. Definitely do a good bit of online looking before you shop, but be careful of the fairytale world Pinterest depicts. If you spend too much time scrolling through perfectly styled images of super expensive dresses, you may end up a little bit disappointed during your real life appointment with a budget (even if it a big one!).

5. Remember that every bride’s experience is different. Just because your sister picked her dream dress during her first-ever appointment doesn’t mean the pressure is on for you to do the same. Don’t be deterred if it takes you longer than you expected, but also don’t walk away if you fall in love at first sight.

6. Don’t walk in the door without a budget and general style in mind. While it’s critical to keep an open mind during your appointment, you’ve got to give your consultant some direction for a successful shopping experience. Your budget, taste, and over-all wedding vision are some of the first questions you will be asked, so come prepared.

7. Factor in extra costs. Don’t forget about the price tags on alterations and accessories when planning your budget. The perfect shoes, veil, and belt can be more expensive than you expect. Be sure to ask the salon about their alterations policies and pricing, too. You’ll need to factor in those costs into your gown-shopping budget.

8. Take how far you’re traveling into consideration. Don’t get us wrong. We love a weekend getaway with the girls to go shopping. But, don’t wander too far without considering the complications for alterations. If you buy a dress that’s a plane flight away, you’ll either have to fly back there for fittings, or figure out a local seamstress willing to work on a designer dress he or she may not be familiar with. Many bridal salons will not work on a gown they did not sell you.

9. Come ready to play the part, but don’t go overboard. There’s nothing like having all eyes on you to make you hyper aware of your appearance. Stepping out of your yoga pants with no make up on into a designer ball gown may not set the right tone for wow-worthy appointment. Don’t get all dolled up, but looking presentable will help you feel good in the gowns you’re trying on.

10. Try on a few things outside of your comfort zone. Even if you’ve always envisioned a ball gown, don’t be afraid of the A-line or fit and flair mama pulled for you. We promise it’s not a waste of time. There may be another element – like the fabric or the neckline – that will speak to you. Or, you just might surprise yourself and fall in love with look you hadn’t anticipated.

11. Shop for your own skin. What styles and silhouettes do you like on your body as it is now? Even if you’re planning to lose a few pounds between now and the Big Day, your body type won’t completely change. Shop for what looks good on you now. It’s easier to take a dress in than make a dress that’s too small work at all.

12. Don’t let bridal sizes scare you. It won’t be your normal number. Bridal sizes are tiny. Don’t get down if the gown you’re trying on is a much bigger size than you normally wear. It’s not you. It’s the dress. Really.

13. Come ready to commit, but don’t force it. When the right one comes along, you’ll know it. It sounds cliché. We know. But, it’s so true. If you’re not feeling it, don’t let mama’s tears on the sideline talk you into the wrong gown. On the other hand, if it’s the one, don’t feel like you have to walk away and think about it. Go for it.

14. Be prepared to approve every little detail before you leave. The process isn’t over when you pick the dress. As you’re getting measured, you’ll get questions on every detail of your dress from any variation in fabric color to the heel height you plan to wear on your wedding day. You’ll have to sign off on them all.

15. Take a picture of “the one,” but don’t put too much weight on that one snapshot. If you’re shopping on a normal schedule, it might be six or more months until you see your gown again. Though you’re sure to obsess over any pictures you took of yourself in the dress in the meantime (it’s impossible not to!), don’t secondguess yourself. Keep in mind that the dress in that picture isn’t your dress. It’s likely clipped all over the place and may even have an element that you’re changing all together. Replay the amazing feeling it gave you in the salon, and remember your gown will literally be made to fit your body.

Once you’ve found the one, get ready to pop the champagne and wait. There’s nothing quite like unveiling your dress at your first alterations appointment. You’re sure to fall in love with your pick all over again.


From Weddings Beautiful Worldwide newsletter May 2017

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Caring for Your Wedding Gown after your wedding

 

 

 

 

You are quite unlikely to ever own any item of clothing as beautiful and symbolic as your wedding gown!

If you wish to keep it so that your daughter can wear it one day or as a personal keepsake of a monumental day in your life or plan to sell it someday, it is important that you realize that there are things you must do in order to preserve it.  There is an overwhelming number of brides who treasure their gowns and preserve them after the ceremony. These brides actually forego the popular trash the dress  ritual.

Firstly, you must make sure that your dress is carefully cleaned  before it is stored.  Food and beverage stains, though seemingly invisible at first glance, are likely to yellow later on.  The hemline is usually soiled and must be cleaned.  Many cleaners may offer to pack your gown in a special box, which offers protection from dust in the air and I suggest you choose a cleaning company that offers this service.

If you decide to store it yourself, it is best to place it in a cool, dry place.  If you chose to store it on a hanger, sew straps to the waistline to relieve pressure on the shoulder seams from the weight of the skirt.  Stuff the sleeves (if your gown has them) with white tissue.  Finally, wrap the entire garment in a protective sheet or muslin covering.  Do not encase the gown in plastic.

Guidelines For Choosing Your Wedding Gown Style

When you are shopping for your wedding gown, select a style that is appropriate for your body shape. This key piece of advice is the secret to looking amazing on your special day.  Choose a store where the salespersons know what makes you look fabulous and not the gown that they want to get sold.

 If you are a petite bride – shorter than 5’4” and small boned, look for gowns that give the illusion of more height like off the shoulder or gowns with vertical lines.  Your goal is to draw the eyes upward by keeping details at a minimum and focusing the eye to the bodice area.

If you are tall – usually 5’9” or taller, you can wear a wider variety of shapes.  It is best to emphasize your longer proportions.  Bias cut skirts and straight designs can be fabulous.

If you are a plus size consider a gown with a skirt that flows from just under the breast to the floor.  A-line silhouettes and princess lines work well as well as does heavier fabric like satin.

If yours is a triangle shape – narrower on the top and fuller on the bottom, your goal is to create balance.  A V neckline is excellent for you.

Changing Traditions

Many of the traditions that we follow in weddings today have their origins in Elizabethan or Renaissance eras and modern day changes have been made.

·        VOWS – the phrase “Honor and obey” has been replaced with various alternatives that reflect equality in the relationship.

·        BRIDAL ESCORTS – More and more brides and couples are having both parents escort them down the aisle.  In some ceremonies, the groom comes down the aisle with both his mother and father, followed by the bride on the arms of both of her parents.  This honors both parents and recognizes each of their roles in preparing their sons/daughters for this day.  In fact, if the bride’s father is not available or this is a second marriage, a bride may choose to walk down the aisle alone or she may choose anyone to escort her.  A sibling, her mother, her grandfather, her son or a friend may do the honors.

·        PARENTAL ROLES – Parents are no longer limited to escort duty.  Many grooms are choosing their father to be the best man and brides are asking Mom to be the matron of honor.

·        RECEIVING LINES - These may still be part of a very formal wedding where the ceremony and reception are at different venues, but for smaller weddings with the same site for ceremony and reception, more and more couples are foregoing the receiving line and instead making it a point to acknowledge and thank each guest at his/her table throughout the evening.

For more advice about changes you can comfortably make in your wedding plans, stop in and chat with one of our experienced consultants.  We know how to help you make your wedding uniquely yours or tie it comfortably to tradition. For answers to your questions,

call 868 624-4014 or email mwilt@triniweddings.com

Wedding Trends for 2013

According to several sources, including emilypost.com , brides this year can expect to see weddings that reflect the following changes and influences.

·         Personalized Weddings continue to be important to couples who are looking to include elements that have personal meaning to them. Ceremonies and receptions can reflect multi –cultural and/or inter-faith statements.  Monograms remain important and reflect the couple’s first names.

·         The Internet continues to play an important role in wedding planning.  High tech access is used in vendor selection, gift registries, information sharing, guest information sources and communication with members of the wedding party.  Note:  Emailing invitations and thank you notes is still not considered correct or classy.

·         The importance of color continues in bridal apparel.  While white and ivory remain favorites, wedding gowns are showing color touches, shoes are colorful (with blue the odds on favorite) and floral decorations carry the color theme throughout the wedding plans.

·         The role of grooms in wedding planning continues to grow.  There are more and more joint decisions being made by the couple (who tend to be older and funding their own weddings).

·         While the formal structured wording of the wedding invitation is still customary, more couples are choosing to individualize their invitations with colorful papers, ribbon trims and unique wording.  It is important to note that even if the format of the invitation is unique, it should still contain all the information guests need plus be grammatically correct.

Brides need to remember that no mention of gifts, even “no gifts, please” is ever made on a wedding invitation.  It is acceptable to mention a website on an enclosure card and that website can contain information about gift registry options.  The phrase “black tie” may appear on the reception invitation, but is not printed on a wedding invitation.

For more ideas about making your wedding plans unique, contact us at 868 624 4015  or email  mwilt@triniweddings.com.

Themed Weddings?

While it is useful to get ideas from themes which have been used before, it is important that the bride and groom have a wedding which is true to their taste and vision.  The theme that is selected should have some personal relevance and meaning to them as a couple.  Themes provide a sense of continuity for all the wedding elements - from the gowns to the flowers to the decor and the menu.

Decisions are much easier once the theme has been established.  Whether it is a color or a location or a time period or event, there is the focus to ensure that this  life changing celebration is memorable for participants and guests alike.

Here are some examples:-

·        History lovers can choose a “Roaring Twenties” theme.  Art Deco can be the design focus.  Jazz was king at the time and short gowns were worn.  Bling was everywhere. Most of the candy popular today, hit the markets in the 1920’s.   This can be a perfect reason to set up a sweets table for the likes of Milk Duds and Baby Ruth bars.

·        World travelers – or dreamers – will find a wonderful theme in exotic locations.  Tropical isles, far Eastern spots or The Scottish highlands all provide a structure for food, décor, dress and paper products.

·        Bright colors against neutral backgrounds can be very effective.  Instead of carrying out a color theme in the bridesmaid dresses, have the maids in a basic shade like platinum and carry out the color theme in the flowers and reception décor.

·        The ceremony and/or reception location can provide the theme for a wedding.  If a museum is chosen as the venue, art and sculpture become the theme.  If a garden or beach or ranch is chosen as the site, the theme becomes clear.

·        Medieval accents combined with fairy tale touches work well in historic buildings or even modern renovations which retain the original stone walls and structures.

If you are confused about how to execute a themed wedding or want to avoid overdoing it, call Triniweddings at 868 624 4015 or email mwilt@triniweddings.com . Make an appointment for a consultation.We have years of experience in helping brides create the wedding of their dreams.

Vera Wang & Arthur Becker Split: Renowned Designer Announced Her Split

 

On Thursday, the heralded wedding apparel designer Vera Wang announced that she was separating from her husband of 23 years, Arthur Becker. Becker has helped Wang build her bridal empire and reportedly has a huge stake in the brand.

However, Mario Grauso, President of Wang's company told Women's Wear Daily, that the former couple will not let this impact the running of the company. They have worked too hard to build it up."

In a statement released the company informed the public that the couple of 23 years, "Vera Wang and Arthur Becker have mutually and amicably agreed to separate... They remain devoted parents to their two daughters," as reported by People's.

The couple married in 1989 at New York's Pierre Hotel and have two daughters Cecilia and Josephine.

In addition to her luxury bridal company, Wang recently collaborated with David's Bridal to create a line of affordable bridal gowns and accessories for the discount retailer. Her Fall 2012 Bridal Collection which featured an entire line of black wedding gowns created quite a stir in the bridal fashion world. In fact, Las Angeles Times (with intended pun obviously) reported on the spilt saying "the black wedding gowns could have been a bad omen."

Her 2013 Fall Collection contains nudes, blushes and scarlet reds, no blacks, but neither the traditional whites. Her most notable gowns have been for a-list celebrities and public figures including Chelsea Clinton, Alicia Keys, Ivanka Trump and most recently Kim Khardashian.

The Role of the Wedding Planner

If the bride and her family would like a stress free wedding, the best solution is to hire a wedding planner.  If the wedding is to be at an out of town/destination wedding, then dependence on a planner at the venue to which the wedding party will be traveling is a must.  If the bride and groom are planning a small intimate wedding and reception but the couple both have jobs that demand huge time commitments, a wedding planner can take the couple’s wishes and instructions and produce exactly the event they envision.

The term planner can cover a wide range of services.  In general the term refers to services provided by an individual, selected by the bride or her mother, to assist with some or all of the details involved in the planning and implementing of an error-free, stress free rehearsal, ceremony and reception.   A plus feature in hiring a wedding planner or coordinator is that the bride can decide the level of service she desires and pay only for those services.

Brides-to-be should determine the credentials of the planner they are considering.  They should check the training/certification that the planner has earned.  They should ask for references from two or three brides the planner has served and decide on the level of involvement they will require.  Maybe an initial consultation to help identify choices and set preliminary plans and schedules is enough for one couple.  Others may want a comprehensive package, which covers time and advice on all aspects of the wedding plus vendor and site negotiations.

Do make an appointment with a TriniWeddings consultant. This can make a valuable and beautiful difference in YOUR wedding.

New Bridal Trends

 This season’s bridal gowns are reflecting new looks that one fashion writer termed “More Kate and less Kim”.  Many gowns are reflecting more traditional looks and a bit of classic charm.

Gowns are showing more coverage.  Not necessarily Kate Middleton’s long sleeves, but cap sleeves are being shown along with illusion necklines for those brides who want more coverage than strapless gowns provide.

Longer veils are back in vogue after being absent for a period.  In a survey of brides 75% reported they plan to wear a veil with preferences for floor length or longer.

Many brides are selecting plainer gowns with less “bling” and focusing on fabulous accessories like jewelry and expensive shoes.  More and more brides are choosing colored shoes with blue a popular choice.

Some brides are including “costume changes” in their selection of the wedding gown.  One gown is chosen for the formal ceremony and either adaptations are made in that gown for the reception and dance or a second and more informal gown is worn for the reception.

We are also seeing bridesmaids in white thanks to Pippa.  All white weddings have been appearing in areas, but more brides are choosing the mono theme for spring and summer.

Brides continue to create a personalized wedding with signature color (s), monogrammed items, and motifs to set and reinforce the theme of the event.

What is your view of your ideal wedding gown?