Questions to Ask Your Bridal Salon

When you find your dream wedding gown, it can be very easy to get swept away by the excitement and emotion of the moment (as well you should be!). But a bridal gown is also a big expense, and a lot rides on getting all of the details right. Before you leave the store on the day you order your wedding gown, be sure to ask these important questions of the bridal salon staff…

One: What is the deposit, what is the balance, and when is it due? A 50% deposit is customary at most bridal salons. This is basically to cover the wholesale cost of the gown, especially for those rare cases when the bride does not come to pick it up. If ordered early enough, your wedding gown might arrive at the bridal salon months before your wedding, but the balance might still need to be paid within a couple weeks of its arrival. Also be sure to find out if alterations will incur an additional fee.

Two: What if you change your mind on the gown or cancel the wedding? At many bridal salons, orders cannot be canceled once they have been sent in to the designer of your gown, because the designer probably does not accept cancellations. So even if you get cold feet the next day, it may be too late to pick a different style. Also be aware that deposits are usually non-refundable (no store wants to get stuck with your custom ordered gown!), so in the unlikely event that the wedding is called off, the bride will have to pay the balance on her dress and take it home, or forfeit the deposit and the store keeps the dress.

Three: Is it possible to try on all of the accessories at the final fitting? Most salons allow plenty of time at the final gown fitting for you to try on your veil, headpiece, bridal jewelry, and any other accessories with your gown. It is a really good idea to take advantage of the opportunity, in case you discover that the bridal jewelry needs to be adjusted to suit the neckline of your gown or that your gloves are the wrong shade of white. Better to find out at a gown fitting than on the day of your wedding when everything should be perfect!

Bridal Gown Tips to Hide Your Hips

Every bride has some part of her body that she does not love. For those brides for whom the trouble spot is their hips, rest assured that with the right wedding gown you can make your problem area virtually disappear. These are the top bridal gown tips to hide your hips.

One: Avoid fabrics that cling. A bridal gown made from a more structured material will always be more forgiving than one made of filmy material. When you are trying to downplay your hips, avoid bias cut gowns like the plague.

Two: Try an empire waist bridal gown to conceal a pear shaped figure. The empire waist hits just under the bustline at the narrowest part of the ribcage. This draws the eye to the smallest part of the body, which is always flattering. A generous A-line skirt is ideal, as it will gently skim the hips, neither clinging tightly nor adding extra fullness.

Three: If you are a true pear shape with a smaller bust than hips, choose a wedding gown which has a lot of embellishment on the bodice above the waist. Details such as ruffles, pleating, and ruching can add volume to a smaller chest, which will help to balance out your figure.

Four: Don’t assume that a very full skirt is the best way to hide your hips. In many cases, adding a lot of fullness on your lower half will actually emphasize exactly the parts you want to minimize. Pleats may not lay smoothly over fuller hips, which will only make the effect unflattering. A generously cut A-line skirt is almost always the most attractive bridal gown silhouette.

Five: Draw attention to your assets. If you don’t want people paying attention to your hips in your wedding gown, be sure to draw the eye upwards. Choose a gown with a pretty beaded bodice, add sparkle to your face with gorgeous Swarovski crystal earrings, and wear an elegant crystal tiara to complement your Swarovski earrings. With so many beautiful details above the waist, the lower half of your body will be de-emphasized.

David’s Bridal or Local Bridal Salon?

With brides looking for ways to have a beautiful wedding on a budget, more of them are considering shopping at discount retailers like David’s Bridal instead of their local bridal salon. After all, the idea of getting your wedding gown for only $99 sounds pretty good! But of course, there are advantages and disadvantages to most things in life; to help you sort it all out, here is what you need to know about the differences between shopping at a bridal warehouse versus a smaller bridal salon.

Certainly the number one reason to shop at a place like David’s Bridal is price. There is no doubt that they will have some of the lowest prices in town. However, that is not to say that you will get the best value for your money. They are not selling top quality gowns like you would find in a local bridal shop. When shopping at a wedding warehouse store, you are not getting the same gown for less, you are getting a totally different type of dress. This may be just fine for some brides, but for others it will not be.

Of course, there is one advantage to mass produced gowns, which is that there will be a full size range available in the store. Plus size brides in particular appreciate being able to try on the wedding gowns in their own size. Designer bridal salons only carry one sample size in each style, and it can require a lot of imagination to picture how the gown would look when it does not come close to fitting you. However, with that said, all made to order gowns can be ordered in every size, and a good consultant will know which gowns will look best when they fit properly.

One of the intangibles is the level of service that you will get at a small local salon as compared to a mass merchandiser. At a discount bridal warehouse, you may be able to get help, but many brides end up in a self service situation, which can be a very challenging way to shop for a bridal gown. In the end, it all comes down to what you want in terms of a wedding gown and a gown shopping experience. If you want to be pampered, and have a personal consultant who will help you with everything from picking out your gown to suggesting styles of bridesmaid jewelry gifts, a bridal salon is for you. Brides who are perfectly comfortable picking out their own gowns may be happy with a bridal warehouse which has a large number of dresses in stock. And then there is the matter of finding the right balance between quality and budget, which is a decision that each bride has to make for herself.

Preparing Your Gown for Your Wedding

Your wedding day is right around the corner, and you want to make sure that everything looks picture perfect. There are some easy steps that can be taken to make sure that everything you wear for your wedding is in tip-top shape. This is what you need to know about preparing your wedding gown, veil, and jewelry for the big day.

When you are working with a bridal salon near your wedding location, you should plan on having the dress freshly pressed the week of your wedding. It will come to you on a bust form over a hanger, with tissue stuffed into the sleeves to help hold its form.  Give some thought to where  you can hang it up when you get home. If the gown has a train, you will want to open the bag to let the train unfurl. Hang the gown from the highest possible place (plant hooks on the ceiling are great for this), and spread a clean white sheet on the floor under the train. Be sure to protect your gown from wandering pets and fiances! Brides who will be traveling with their gowns will need to make advance arrangements to have them pressed or steamed when they arrive at their wedding destination.

Don’t forget about your accessories; you will want them to be in top form for your wedding, too. Your veil will need to be steamed, and if it has a ribbon or lace border, that should be gently flat pressed. Ironing a veil is a very delicate operation, because it is easy to melt the tulle with too much heat or tear it with the tip of the iron. It is best to have this done by a professional, but if you must iron your own veil, be sure to use a low heat, and to over the veil with a press cloth for protection.

The rest of your wedding accessories might need a little sprucing up as well. Silver wedding jewelry should be polished according to the designer’s instructions. Pearl bridal jewelry can be gently wiped with a soft dry cloth, and diamonds should be cleaned so they shine like the sun. After all, you will want everything  in your wedding to look absolutely beautiful on your special day.

What to Expect at Your Final Gown Fitting

In the final months and weeks before your wedding, you can expect to have several bridal gown fittings. The last fitting usually takes place about a week or two before the big day, and it is the most important one of all. Here is what to expect at your final bridal gown fitting, as well as some tips to make sure that you get the most out of the appointment.

One  misunderstanding that many brides have about their final fittings is that they will leave the appointment with their wedding gown in hand. In most cases, the gown will require additional finish work after the last fitting. Unless you have made a special arrangement to that effect, you should plan on leaving your gown to have the final sewing done, as well as to have it freshly pressed in the last few days before your wedding.

Okay, so now you know what will not happen at your final fitting, but what about what will take place? This is your golden opportunity to try on all of your accessories with your gown to make sure that you like the way it all fits together. This is particularly useful for brides who did not have all of their accessories in advance; for instance, if your mother flew in the week before your wedding with her antique lace bridal veil or the pearl jewelry she wore to her debutante ball, this may be the first chance you get to try it on with your gown. It is far better to find out before the day of your wedding that your mother’s pearl bridal jewelry does not look right with the modern chandelier earrings that your chose, or that her veil looks too brown against the white of your dress.

Definitely plan to bring your mother or a friend to your final gown fitting. You will want to have the seamstress give someone a lesson on how to tie up your bustle. Each one is different, and the last thing you want is to have your maid of honor and your mother fumbling around after the ceremony trying to figure out how to deal with your train. Also, it can be helpful to have an objective set of eyes to take a look at your gown to spot anything that needs to be adjusted. After that, it should be just a matter of a few minor tweaks; before you know it you will be picking up your wedding gown just a matter of days before your wedding!

Get a Perfectly Fitting Bridal Gown

Finding your dream wedding dress is only the beginning. After that you have to worry about how to accessorize it and how to make sure that it looks right on you. Here is what you need to know on how to get the perfect fit from your bridal gown.

Different styles of dresses should fit differently, but the one thing that they have in common is that you should not see the fabric pulling tight anywhere. Take a spin in a three-way mirror; do you see a taut area across your bum or hips? Does a strapless gown have horizontal pull lines across the waist? These are all signs that your gown needs to be let out a pinch. (And often it is only a minor adjustment that is needed; you would be amazed at the difference as little as a half an inch can make.)

Strapless gowns are known to be the most tricky to fit. They need to be snug enough to stay up, and yet loose enough that the bride can breathe. In addition, if the gown is too tight across the top, you will end up with the dreaded “back cleavage”. There are times when that back squish is unavoidable, but if you choose a strapless gown with an inner corset, it will be much easier to get a perfectly smooth fit.

To ensure the ideal fit of your special gown, expect about three appointments with your seamstress. It is a good idea to put together your entire bridal ensemble at least one of your fittings, including your veil, jewelry, and gloves. After all, it is good to make sure that everything looks perfect all together, so you will be thrilled when you get dressed on the morning of your wedding.

Sexy Mermaid Bridal Gowns

Are you looking for a bridal gown with that “wow” factor? The dress that will make your fiance’s jaw drop when you walk down the aisle? Then look no further than the sexy mermaid style bridal gown.

A mermaid gown is a silhouette that is fitted through the bodice and the hips, and then flares out into a fuller skirt at the knee. Mermaid gowns are usually made of fabrics that can hold their shape, such as satin, lace, or tulle, to really emphasis the signature flared hem. It is a style that is made for a bride who wants to make a dramatic grand entrance.

Wearing a mermaid gown is not going to be for everyone. You have to be comfortable with your figure, and with having a lot of attention drawn to your hips. This can actually be a shape that is flattering on a variety of different figures. Girls who are blessed with great curves will look eye-poppingly gorgeous in a sexy mermaid gown. Brides who have more straight figures will find that a mermaid style can add the look of curves to their frame. The one category of bride who should avoid a mermaid gown at all costs is the pear shape.

Because the mermaid gown does have a glamorous feeling, you will want to choose accessories that are equally fabulous. For your wedding jewelry, look for custom bridal Swarovski necklaces. The sparkle of Swarovksi crystals will add the drama that you want in custom bridal necklaces. When the piece is handcrafted just for you, it also allows you to make changes so that the necklace is a perfect match to the style of your gown. Finish the look with dazzling crystal earrings and a matching bracelet.

You can’t beat the mermaid style bridal gown for drama, elegance, and sensuality. It is a style that always stays in fashion because of how great it makes a woman look and feel. If you want to be drop dead gorgeous on your wedding day, then definitely give the mermaid shape a try.

An Insider’s Look at Bridal Market

Did you ever wonder how bridal salons end up with all those fabulous gowns and accessories? The answer is special bridal markets, which are held twice a year in New York (and other cities). Market time is very exciting for bridal shop owners, and it is also a big deal for brides, because what comes out of the markets is what they will be choosing from when they shop for a gown.

Salon owners get a chance to see the latest in gowns and accessories at bridal market. Every year there are important trends. The fun part for salon owners is that they never know what gorgeous and creative new looks they will discover over market weekend.

The fun part for brides is when all of those hot new looks start arriving in the bridal salons about six moths later. There is nothing more thrilling for a bride that to be the first one to try on the brand new styles fresh form the box. It is a great chance to find something totally unique that will make your wedding look distinctive and gorgeous!

Wedding Gown Shopping 101

Congratulations - you’re engaged! Now comes the fun part - picking out your wedding gown. Finding the perfect gown is a lot like finding a man to marry - for some women, it’s love at first sight, while for others, it seems like an endless search. Going into the process of gown shopping prepared will help to make it a much more pleasant experience.

After you have set a date for your wedding, make an appointment to go to a bridal salon to start trying on gowns. When you go, do not bring all eight of your bridesmaids, your mother, your sisters, and your great-aunt Matilda. Pare your invitation down to two people at most. Try to bring only those who understand your taste, and are genuinely happy for you (leave the jealous sister at home!).

Bring pictures to show the consultant what gown styles speak to you, but be open to her suggestions as well. She will know at a glance which dresses will flatter your figure, if if they don’t have much hanger appeal. You might fall in love with a bridal gown that you would otherwise never have considered.

When you find the perfect dress, order it! Don’t risk that a style may become discontinued or go up in price. Besides, after you have your gown, there is still the fun of shopping for your bridal jewelry, headpiece, veil, and other accessories. Be sure to take the time to enjoy the time you spend finding your bridal gown and accessories - being that pampered is a special experience reserved just for brides.

Two Gowns Are Better Than One!

A growing trend these days is for brides to select not one, but two wedding dresses. Is this a wee bit excessive? Perhaps. The mark of a spoiled princess? Well, maybe. (But, hey, all you princesses out there know that you are spoiled, and love it!) Is it a totally fun way to indulge your every whim on the most fabulous day of your life? Absolutely!

Sometimes, the dress that is perfect for your ceremony just doesn’t work for your reception. Often a bride loves the drama of a full ballgown for walking down the aisle, but she can’t imagine wearing something so heavy for an entire evening. The solution: pick a second dress for the reception. Choose something fun, like a beaded sheath that moves like liquid when you dance.

A great idea for your jewelry would be to have a pair of custom bridal Swarovski necklaces created. They could be made with a similar look, but with a more elaborate version for the ceremony and a simpler necklace for the reception. Or, have pearls mixed in with the crystals for a more traditional style to wear with the first gown, and go for a dazzling all-crystal effect for the second gown.

Your wedding is the one day when you really get the chance to splurge and fulfill your dreams. So go ahead, if one bridal gown just isn’t enough, treat yourself to a second fabulous gown!