The Velvet Couch

Track your RSVP Cards!!!

2011-11-30T13:36:00.001-05:00

How many times have we sent in RSVP cards - then realized that we didn't write our names on it or check off our preference for the main course at the reception? Now there is an easy and INGENIOUS way for you, the bride and groom, to keep track of your guests who are as absent minded as I am! What a pain in the butt it must be to receive an RSVP card with no name, no meal preference - how are you supposed to tell who it came from? Well, by using this invisible ink pen - you can solve those problems and remain headache free (at least for now)! Click here to purchase invisible pen

As you are collating and sending your invites, write numbers in the bottom corner or back of your RSVP cards - then, as you are sending them off and writing addresses on the envelopes, keep track of which number on the RSVP card corresponds with which guest. The back of the pen has a special black light that allows you to see the number you've written on the card. So once those RSVP's start rolling in and silly Aunt Mildred sent it back completely blank, you can shine your nifty pen light on the card to see the number you wrote and the corresponding guest that you need to follow-up with! How much simpler could it be?

in all things bridal,
V
P.S. Did I mention that the pen is dirt cheap?

Choosing Colors for your Wedding

2011-10-05T15:09:00.000-04:00

During my consultation with first time brides in our stores, I always go through a bevy of questions about their wedding planning. Though for most consultants, it may just be small talk to relax their bride and make them enjoy the experience a little more, but for me, it’s a time for me to do some research and see what ideas are out there. It’s important for me, as a blogger, to really get in tune with the everyday bride and see what types of stresses and decisions they’re going through. One of the more frequent questions I get is whether or not a certain color is appropriate for a particular season, skin tones, etc. So, here is my advice on choosing a wedding color/s.

1. There is no etiquette for wedding colors, especially if you’re having an evening wedding. Anything goes. This is YOUR wedding, so don’t let the season dictate your palette. If your favorite color is red and you’re having a summer wedding, go for it! And if you’re really hesitant about it, rather than making it the main color, make it the accent color. Have red pop out here and there – in your flowers, favors, or our favorite… the sole of your shoes! But, really, go with what you’re drawn to, and not what October says the colors should be.

2. If you have a large bridal party, remember that everyone is going to be in that color. Sure, your favorite color may be Neon Yellow, but if you have 10 bridesmaids and they’re all in that color, will that be too overwhelming? This also goes for choosing a particular style dress. Many unique bridesmaids’ dresses may look fine when one or two girls have it on… but dress all 8-12 of them in a floral halter dress of various spring shades? You might end up looking like you’re standing next to a flower garden. A good way to see what you think is by googling your ideas to see pictures of other wedding parties who have done the same.

3. Every bride says “I want to do something unique.” When it comes to colors, no offense to brides out there, but there is no such thing as unique. Somebody somewhere has already done it, and while I may not burst your bubble to your face, I will on this blog. This is the truth of the matter, there are thousands of brides out there and you won’t be the only one to have a Turquoise wedding. And this point isn’t to upset you, it’s to say: Don’t worry so much about competing with other weddings! Your wedding will be unique and special because of YOU and your FIANCE. The decisions that you make will showcase your personality as individuals, and a couple and that will make all the difference. I can assure you that nobody will like you any less because your colors were similar to your cousin’s best friend’s brother’s wedding colors.

4. If you have a very specific shade in mind and are not open to other options, be prepared to possibly look far and wide for a designer that carries that exact shade. Like I’ve said before in my Bridesmaids’ Dresses Post, a designer may carry 30 colors of one dress, but there is no guarantee that the 3 shades of green he/she has will mimic the one you’re looking for. You may need to either be more flexible, or do a lot of research in order to find that shade. I’ve seen my fair share of brides struggle over this fact. So this is me, pre-warning you.

5. If you’re having trouble finding a color palette, a great way to start your research is to go to: http://www.projectwedding.com/photo/browse?tag=%22inspiration+board%22. Project wedding has 3,700 photos (as of today) of inspiration boards and color palettes. Go through them one by one and stay true to your immediate reaction. If you click “next” and your heart skips a beat at the next photo, save it into a folder. Go through as many as you can while doing this. Once you’re done (or have had enough), go back to that folder and take a look at each of the photos you’ve saved. That should give you a very good idea of what types of colors and palettes stand out to you.

in all things bridal,
V

Bridal Emergency Kit

2011-09-27T13:06:00.000-04:00

This is a little blog post that you can (secretly) slip to your bridesmaids – just leave it open on your computer the next time they come over and excuse yourself for a while.

While we pray for a flawless occasion, many things can happen on your wedding day that you may not have anticipated. For this reason, it’s important for you to be well prepped for any and all disasters. Putting together a small “Bridal Emergency Kit” is a good way to stay that way, and once you’ve made it, you never know when it will come in handy in the future! Of course, the extent of the products you purchase is entirely up to you – but here are some essentials we suggest you carry on your person in case your beautiful bride freaks out on the day of her nuptials! (Psst… it makes a great wedding day gift, as well – the bride could pack it with her on her honeymoon!)

1. Small sewing kit – You can find this easily at the dollar store. Most kits some with thread (remember to check for white and whatever color the bridesmaids dresses are), needle, extra buttons, and a small scissor. This is especially important in case somebody accidentally steps on the dress and rips the bustle button or loop. Just a quick little stitch of thread and the use of those handy buttons could fix that problem easily for only $1.00! Imagine what your poor bride will have to go through if no one had that on handy; she’d have to hold her train for the rest of the night.

2. Safety Pins - I’ve read many horror stories online of bridesmaid’s straps ripping off or stitching coming loose for various reasons. What a terrible ordeal to live through if you didn’t have safety pins in your Bridal Emergency Kit!

3. Emery Board and Nail Clipper – It always seems like on the days in which we need our nails to cooperate with us, they never do. Hang nails and broken nails are an awful sight to behold, especially in the pictures your brides will keep for years to come.

4. Bobby Pins and Hair Spray – Let’s face it, an hour into the non-stop dancing that the bridal party will be doing, small pieces of baby hair will come flying out of place. Nobody wants to look like a mess in the pictures!

5. Lint Roller – For the groomsmen’s tuxes in the pictures. You never know what types of messes those boys (I mean, men) will get into on the day of the wedding.

6. Facial Tissues – For those tears of joy throughout the prep and ceremony

7. Aspirin – From the time you’re up in the morning, through all the hair and makeup, dressing, and pictures – you’ll probably have a darn good headache by the time dinner rolls around. And while we hope that this doesn’t happen to you or the bride, it’s better to be prepared than to survive the rest of the wedding night with a pounding migraine.

8. Fashion Tape – You may go through 3-4 fittings of your dress, but during those times you’re not moving nonstop, sitting and standing, walking and running in heels, and dancing your butt off on the dance floor! Who knows what part of your dress might become loose or annoyingly fitted? Fashion tape is something you can purchase, and then use afterwards if you didn’t need it!

Make this into something fun that you do – buy a cheap lunchbox and decorate it for your bride. You can also purchase a box in various colors from the dollar store and decorate the outside with magazine cutouts of images and words for the wedding day. What a wonderful keepsake and surprise for your blushing bride and best friend!

in all things bridal,
V

Top 5 (Easiest) Ways to Cut Costs on your Wedding Day

2011-09-21T15:50:00.005-04:00

With the economy these days, who can afford a Kim Kardashian style wedding? Not all of us are lucky enough to accept sponsorships, trade goods for publicity, or borrow $15 millions in Lorraine Schwartz diamonds. The rest of us lowly middle-class Americans (sarcasm) just have to make do with spending our own hard-earned money for the biggest day of our lives. Actually, I’m ashamed-ly a huge Kardashian fan (gaahhh gorgeous hair envy)… but all that aside, let’s be honest, there isn’t one of us who isn’t look to cut the budget or save some money here or there. It’s a constant struggle trying to find the right balance between having the perfect wedding day and not rendering ourselves homeless afterwards. Like a very down-to-earth bride said yesterday, “What’s the point in spending $200,000 on a wedding if you don’t have a bucket to (insert another word for going to the bathroom) in afterwards?” After inspecting all the different features of a wedding day thoroughly, here are the top 5 ways to cut corners and save some Benjamins.

The Date

Let’s start with the basics: Saturdays are by far the most expensive day of the week that you can hold your wedding – to save a little (actually, a lot) of cash, opt to host your wedding on a Friday or Sunday, when prices are lower for all of the businesses involved in your wedding. You will find that your florist, caterer, and even the baker who is making your cake, will all cut their prices for a Friday or Sunday wedding. Even better, if you can make it during the weekday – it will be even cheaper than that!

Secondly, having an “off-season” wedding will also save you loads of money. Wedding season is typically from May to October of each calendar year, so having a winter or late Fall wedding will be cheaper. Avoid having a wedding on certain vacation holidays (i.e. Memorial Day Weekend, Labor Day Weekend, etc.) but have them on family holidays in which people tend to host parties at home rather than at a venue (i.e. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, etc.)

The Music

How important is it really to have that 20 piece band or DJ who flew in from the other side of the country? These days, people barely pay attention to WHO is playing the music, and concentrate more on WHAT is playing! I’ve been to weddings where the music was terrible, what a waste of a few hundred dollars to pay the DJ! I could have done a better job with my iPod playlist, and that is exactly what you should do. Who knows your musical taste better than your very own iPod? It would take you no longer than an hour to put together the ULTIMATE wedding playlist – one that both you and your guests will enjoy all night. No need to worry if the next song will be good or bad, songs will play one after another seamlessly throughout the night. Ask one of your very boisterous and comedic friends to emcee the introductions and announcements, because there is really nothing else you need all night from a DJ besides the music. Let's be honest, half of those deejays sound like they’re announcing a game lineup, rather than the people in your wedding party. Most venues already have speakers and surround sound set up throughout the hall, so all you have to do is plug in your iPod and press play!

The Favors

This is a very fun and easy way to DIY with a few supplies and at half the cost. Do some research on wedding websites and DIY sites for ideas on how to make fun, artistic, and simple wedding favors! Really, how many of those trinkets do you end up keeping anyways? Don’t stress yourself out over having to purchase expensive and lavish favors. Nobody wants or will use a coaster with your name embroidered on it, or an emblazoned champagne glass. Those are items we’ve all received at prom and formals when we were younger, and how many of you ever used it or even ended up keeping it? These are the extremities of your wedding that can be budgeted and you CAN be cheap on without it being obvious.

The Cake

Rather than paying thousands of dollars for a four tiered fondant wedding cake that… let’s face it, will look like every other wedding cake in the book, opt for something non-traditional and fun! It will add a little detail and spark to your wedding for guests to remember. A popular trend these days is having a tower of mini cupcakes in the shape of a wedding cake. Not only will you avoid any cake cutting fees, but you can purchase these mini cupcakes from wholesale clubs like Cost Co or your local supermarket. To keep the first cake cutting tradition in your wedding, purchase a small mini-wedding cake for you and your new husband to cut through, and serve those pieces only to family and your wedding party. It’s much easier (and cheaper) to serve a cake to 20 people versus 150.

The Invitations

These will probably be the hardest (and the biggest pain in the behind) to make cheap because you will really need to spend the time to sit down and DIY. While favors can be found small and simply bought to hand out, or made simply – invitations need to be printed, put together, collated, and stuffed into envelopes. This is something dull that you can turn into something fun for you and your bridal party. The perfect way for everyone to get to know each other and spend time together! Invite them over, pop in a movie, and set up some snacks. You can have your invitations, RSVP cards, and the like printed for a low cost from websites such as vistaprint.com. Purchasing stock paper is something cheap and affordable that you can buy from any crafts or specialty shop, even online! The main aspect will be putting everything together. This summer, I helped a friend out with hers and the invitations looked completely professionally made! You can find layouts and design templates online very easily. And in the end, who will know? The answer is no one.

In all things bridal,
V

An Editorial on Modern Weddings

2011-09-08T18:02:00.004-04:00

I’ve come to the point in my life where lo-and-behold, all of my friends are starting to get engaged and married. Scary! As a teenager, you thought you’d never get to that point in your life as you watch your closest friends sail off into their happily ever after, but ladies and gents, that time has come. As I begin to receive more invitations for bridal showers, bachelorette parties, and weddings – I really begin to notice how much things have changed since those days of the traditional wedding our last generation was privy to. A lot of that etiquette has disappeared and many of the traditional wedding “to-do’s” have been taken over by electronic doo-dads and hee-haws. (What is a hee-haw…? I have no idea, but it seemed like it fit in the sentence.)

Is this good or bad – I’m actually not quite sure. In many respects we’ve become a much more realistic and honest generation. We threw some etiquette out the window because, let’s face it, not all of us can have a $10 million wedding like Kim Kardashian, and saving our Benjamins by not providing stamps on the RSVP envelope is just something that must be done for better or for worse. And if I don’t like you and/or don’t know who you are, just because you know my sister’s friend’s mom, you are certainly not invited to my joyous day.

So while in the face of the happy couple, all of this is understandable and are decisions that must be made… still, etiquette and expectations are hard to toss from a guest’s point-of-view. However, I think that that’s where technology comes into play and can ease those woes. While you may not provide stamps on your envelope, you can give guests the choice to R.S.V.P. on the couple’s website – much faster and more cost efficient (not to mention decreasing the carbon footprint.) For instance, on e-wedding.com, you can add a special RSVP feature to your website. Guests simply type in their last name, find their name on the guest list, and can click whether or not they will be able to attend, and which meal they’d like to have. If you’d like to be a little simpler, have your guests RSVP to a special e-mail address that you, yourself, will keep track of as they respond.

Likewise, while I may not think you are an important person to invite to my wedding – that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy it via satellite! Many videographers and companies offer live streams of your wedding ceremony for your invited, but unable to attend, and uninvited, but curious, friends and family. Make sure those select few who could not make it (whether their choice or yours) know that you’d still love for them to share in your day in another way, though they cannot be there physically for you.

So while being an honest and realistic generation, financially and in other respects, has probably helped in our generation’s wedding planning, it’s still important to realize that there are other ways in which you can rectify those eliminations through the use of technology today. Rather than throw etiquette out by not giving guests a choice but to pay for a stamp to RSVP, or rejecting your family friend and not saying anything, use what is at our fingerprints and what our generation has grown up with to your advantage! I think you’d be very surprised what this industry has in store for you if you do a little digging and research.

in all things bridal,
V

How to Choose a Photo Booth Company

2011-09-07T15:14:00.000-04:00

In a previous post, I had written about photo booths as a part of the wedding day festivities and how I thought they were the greatest gift known to weddings since open bar (See March 16, 2011 blog post.) My opinion on such still stands, as I have had the pleasure of attending a few weddings since then, and participated (very… very… enthusiastically) in the photo booth extravaganzas. So, I wanted to put together a post dedicated to finding the right one for your wedding. You’d be amazed to see how many different types of photo booths there are and what items to take into consideration to make it a more pleasurable experience for your guests. Truth be told, no matter which one you choose, your guests will inevitably have fun because who doesn’t love drunken, silly group shots in a container small enough that even your dog would hesitate walking into it? (I kid… kind of.) But, really, like anything else in your wedding, you should put just as much thought into this as you do/did everything else.

#1: Ease of Use and Timing

- This is my biggest pet peeve with the photo booths, so I’m sure many of your guests will have the same irks when it comes to taking their photos at your wedding. Test the photo booth out for yourself before putting down a deposit. You can judge its ease of use in a minute or two, the very first time you use it. Advice: Don’t ask any questions on how it works beforehand. Simply step in and use the machine. (You can’t guarantee that the employee they send with your photo booth will be all that interested in explaining how it works to each and every one of your guests.) Ideally, you would like your photo booth to exemplify the following:

o Be easy to understand how the booth works before pressing the button to begin (A lot of the photo booths don’t come with these instructions, so it would be a nice touch on your part to include a small sign on the outside of the photo booth for your guests to read before entering.)

o Allow your guests to see themselves between shots so that if there are a group of people in the picture, they can make sure that everyone is in the frame

o Give a clear countdown between shots so they know how much time they have to prepare before the flash goes off (the worst is when you’re taken off guard and the flash goes off in your face to capture a bewildered expression)

#2: How Many Print Out?

- There are five people in the booth and two photos print out… who gets to keep it? Ah… the age old question. Rather than making it awkward for your guests to decide who should get to keep the snapshots, many photo booth machines now allow you to choose the number of shots that will print out once you are finished. This way, EVERYONE in the group gets to keep a shot… and so do you! (For your keepsake memory book.)

#3: Background and Props

- In the day of photo booths galore, it’s not enough to just have a plain black background screen and let people take photos of… just themselves. YOU’VE GOT TO SPICE IT UPA LITTLE! Many photo booths have patterned backdrops to choose from, but if you can’t change that, go to your local dollar store or Party City and pick up a few odds and ends! Some silly sunglasses, mustaches, and hats can go a long way for your guests.

#4: How to Carry It

- So your guests have taken as many pictures as they can hold… but now their finger prints are getting all over them! A photo holder doesn’t have to big a huge, expensive ordeal emblazoned with Swarovski crystals and diamonds on a gold plated box. It can be something as simple as zip-lock bags or kid’s goody bags handed out so they can safely store their photos to relieve the memories when they get home. You can print out some monogrammed stickers to place on the zip lock bags to personalize them a bit if you want to make them a little fancier.

All of these aspects are just a small way to pay attention to details that will make your guest’s time at your wedding more enjoyable. There are so many photo booth companies to choose from, and you are spending a pretty penny having this for your guests, you should make sure you’ve picked the perfect one for your special day! The best piece of advice I can give is to go by your instincts. When you visit the company and try out the photo booth, what is your first impression? Your feeling should come right from using that photo booth for the first time – don’t listen to excuses or explanations that they might offer for why things are a certain way. If it wasn’t easy to use and the photos didn’t come out in good quality, on to the next one! There are plenty of more photo booth fish in the sea.

In all things bridal,

V

BE ON BIJOU BRIDAL'S NEW REALITY SHOW

2011-09-06T17:22:00.005-04:00

... AND RECEIVE FREE ALTERATIONS!!! (PARAMUS, NJ LOCATION ONLY)

Bijou Bridal seeks Brides-to-be and Bridal Parties who will allow us to film them shopping for dresses at Bijou Bridal, for an upcoming reality show. There is no obligation to buy a dress during your visit, but if you do you will receive free alterations. We want brides and bridal parties with big personalities and interesting stories behind their hunt for the perfect dresses.

Slots open for Mid-Late September!

To apply, contact the producers at weddingdresscasting@gmail.com

Include the following:

* Your name, age, and profession
* Whether you're shopping alone or w/a bridal party
* Best time and number to reach you
* Recent photos
* Describe your idea of the perfect dress
* Share any worries or concerns that might come up while dress shopping
* Who's going to be with you when you're shopping?
* Why do you think you're wedding shopping experience will fun to watch on TV?

in all things bridal,
V

Re-Post From January 7, 2011: DRESS SHOPPING 411

2011-08-17T13:07:00.000-04:00

Before you begin dress shopping, there are five things you should know that will help you in having a smooth and enjoyable experience. This is one of the most important aspects of your wedding, and a very big purchase – you want to make sure you get the most from your appointment and these five points will help you prior to your shopping day.

1. Make an appointment. Most, if not all, of the wedding dress shops (no matter how big or small) require an appointment, even if you call 30 minutes before showing up. There are high’s and low’s for shopping season, but if they can’t accommodate you, you’ll have made the trip for nothing and will leave annoyed. That’s no way to begin your shopping experience! Plan ahead and schedule accordingly, especially on the weekends when appointments are booked a week or two in advance. This not only applies to bridal gown shopping, but also bridesmaid’s dresses and mother-of-the bride/groom evening gowns, as well.

• Side note: This may seem “well, duh” to many of you, but you’d be surprised at how often this happens. Cancel or change your appointment if you can’t make it! You’re actually doing a disservice to your fellow brides if you don’t. The slot that you filled with your appointment could be a slot another bride needs to make hers. This is especially important on the weekends, as it’s the busiest time of the week for any wedding business.

2. Educate yourself on the designers the store carries - it will help you immensely if you’ve seen some of their work beforehand. And more generally, do research on styles, cuts, and silhouettes you can see yourself wearing on the day of your wedding. It helps if you bring in pictures of dresses. The more information you give your sales consultant, the better they can assist you in finding the perfect dress. A few questions to think about:

• What silhouette am I looking for?

• What part of my body would I like to enhance and what would I like to downplay?

• Is there a specific color I have in mind? (White, Ivory, Offwhite, Champagne, Natural, etc.) Surprisingly, this is a very important question because many designers don’t make dresses in white anymore.

• How do I feel about lace and/or beading? If you like beading, do you want obvious, silver beading (which tends to give the “bling” affect) or do you lean more towards subtler, crystal clear beading?

• Am I partial to or against any material? (Satin, silk, taffeta, organza, chiffon, or tulle) Think about the month of your wedding, the setting [outdoors, indoors, both], and the theme [black tie, white tie, semi-formal, etc.].

3. If you have a special situation (rush wedding, you need sleeves or dresses to be built up to cover you), it’s always good to let the receptionist know when you’re making your appointment. Unfortunately, any of the aforementioned situations (along with others) limit your choice of designers and possibilities. Find out what your choices are so you can do some research!

• Special note for rush weddings (6 months and under): You really have two choices, some designers carry stock in their warehouse and if they have your size [or something close to it that can be altered to your size] you can purchase it right away and have it by the end of the week. The second choice is to pay for rush shipping (average is about $150-$200 extra), but every designer has different rules as to how soon they can get you a custom made gown, even with a rush order. This is why it’s important to tell the receptionist what your situation is. Depending on your timeframe, they will know exactly which designers you will be able to work with and which ones are out of the picture.

o Dresses in stock: If you are, in fact, lucky and find a dress you love and they have in stock, you NEED to purchase the dress ASAP. Boutiques from all across the country are calling for brides in a situation similar to yours, and a dress that could be available at 1:00 pm will no longer be there half an hour later. If you are in the position where you need to buy a dress soon, be prepared to make quick decisions when you go shopping.

4. Who will you bring with you? Really think twice about this question. As fun as it may seem, it is not productive to bring a whole entourage of people with you the first time you shop in a store. There are too many opinions and it will only confuse you. Bring 3-4 people max whose opinions you really respect and can help you to eliminate choices. The next time you come in, bring “second tier” audience members to help you decide between your top picks. At least that way, you’ve given yourself time to gather your own thoughts, before taking in the thoughts of other.

5. Bridal Gowns are custom made. But don’t misunderstand that phrase, this doesn’t mean that when we take your measurements – they will make the gown exactly to your bust, waist, hip, so that you don’t need alterations. This only means that gowns are made to order only, so once you place the order, they will begin to make a gown in the size closest to your measurements. This process takes, on average, 6 months – in addition to 1-2 months for your alterations - for a total of eight months. If there is nothing else that you take away from this entry, please remember this. It’s heartbreaking to get a bride who didn’t know and can’t buy the dress of her dreams.

in all things bridal,
V

What To Bring To Your Appt.

2011-08-16T17:20:00.004-04:00

Some items that you should bring to your appointment to make your, and your consultant's, life a little easier. The first list are the items that every bride should bring (if you forget or don't have them, it's okay - but having them will help you during your appointment), and the second are extras that are nice to have, but not necessary if you don't have them. We've been getting a lot of first time brides in our stores, so I thought this might be a relevent article for all you lovely ladies out there!

Should Have's:
1. Your Research (bring pictures of styles that you like or aesthetic aspects of dresses that you're interested in. Even if the store doesn't have that exact dress, they'll get a feel for your taste and personality through the pictures.)
2. Strapless Bra
3. Heels (if you plan on wearing them on your wedding day)

Nice To Have:
1. Spanx (if needed)
2. Hair tie, clip, or claw

Have a great week, everyone!

in all things bridal,
V

Dress Buying Timeline

2011-08-11T15:54:00.004-04:00

I’ve had a lot of brides recently coming in and not knowing at all what the appropriate timelines are for ordering and picking out dresses for themselves, their bridesmaids, and their mothers/future mother-in-laws. I am here to lay those questions down to rest once and for all – hopefully you will all be better prepared because of it!

(For more detailed information on dress shopping, look back to my January 7th, 12th, and 15th blog posts.)

Note: Times are all relative to the date of your wedding. (I.e. if I wrote “1 year” it means, 1 year before the date of your wedding)

Individual Timelines

Bridal Gown

1 year: Begin shopping, doing research, and narrowing down your choices

9-10 months: Order your wedding dress

4 months: Order your veil and hair accessories

2 months: Start your fittings (average number of fittings is 2-3 spread out over that 2 month period)

Few days before: Pick up your dress

Bridesmaids Dresses

7 months: Begin shopping, doing research, and narrowing down your choices

6 months: Decide on a dress and relay all of the information to you bridesmaids so they can make appointments to be measured and put down deposits for their dresses

5 months: At this point, all of your bridesmaids should have been measured and put down deposits for their dresses

1 month: Start their fittings (average number of fittings is 1-2 spread out over the 1 month period)

Few days before: Pick up their dresses

Mother of the Bride/Groom Evening Wear

7 months: Begin shopping, doing research, and narrowing down your choices

5 months: Order the evening gown

2 months: Start their fittings (average number of fittings is 2-3 spread out over that 2 month period)

Few days before: Pick up their dress

Flower girls Dresses

5 months: Begin shopping, doing research, and narrowing down your choices

3 months: Decide on a dress and have your flower girl(s) measured and put down deposits

1 month: Start their fittings (average number of fittings is 1-2 spread out over the 1 month period)

Few days before: Pick up their dresses

____________________________________________________________________________

Summary of Everyone’s Timelines

1 year:

Bride: Begin shopping, doing research, and narrowing down your choices

9-10 months:

Bride: Order your wedding dress

7 months:

Bridesmaids: Begin shopping, doing research, and narrowing down your choices
Mother of the Bride/Groom: Begin shopping, doing research, and narrowing down your choices

6 months:

Bridesmaids: Decide on a dress and relay all of the information to you bridesmaids so they can make appointments to be measured and put down deposits for their dresses

5 months:

Bridesmaids: At this point, all of your bridesmaids should have been measured and put down deposits for their dresses
Mother of the Bride/Groom: Order the evening gown
Flower girls: Begin shopping, doing research, and narrowing down your choice

4 months:

Bride: Order your veil and hair accessories

3 months:

Flower girls: Decide on a dress and have your flower girl(s) measured and put down deposits

2 months:

Bride: Start your fittings (average number of fittings is 2-3 spread out over that 2 month period)
Mother of the Bride/Groom: Start their fittings (average number of fittings is 2-3 spread out over that 2 month period)

1 month:

Bridesmaids: Start their fittings (average number of fittings is 1-2 spread out over the 1 month period)
Flower girls: Start their fittings (average number of fittings is 1-2 spread out over the 1 month period)

Few days before:

Pick up everybody’s dresses!

Have a great weekend, brides!

in all things bridal,
V

Inspiration Board: Destination Wedding

2011-07-27T10:14:00.003-04:00

The longer I work in the bridal industry, the longer I realize what a genius idea this is. God bless the woman or man who came up with the destination wedding. I mean, aside from the fact that it’s an automatic vacation for all those involved there are so many other reasons that we praise the destination wedding. First and foremost, what New Jersey building could possibly compete with the backdrop of the Caribbean Sea? Secondly, what better way (and I’ve said this before) to invite everyone you want, but know that only the people you want to be there will actually make the trip. Make everyone feel special while getting the small, intimate wedding you’ve always dreamed of? Where do we sign up? And last but not least, let’s talk about what we’ve been talking about for the past two weeks – the fact that there are so many creative ideas you can incorporate into a destination wedding.

First and foremost is your ceremony site. If you haven’t already read my post on the top things to keep in mind when hosting a destination wedding, check back to the Tuesday, May 3, 2011 blog post! You’d be a fool (well, not a fool, but a silly person) to not take advantage of the gorgeous scenery you’ve immersed your guests in by having your ceremony outside. Most resorts have beautiful outdoor locations (not always in the sand) for wedding parties overlooking the ocean. Keep it simple – the destination ambiance will be all the décor you need on the day of your wedding. Don’t overdo it with flowers and mumbo jumbo.

See a theme in these past few inspiration boards? Flowers in the hair: the most popular hair accessory of the year. But if you’re having a destination wedding, I absolutely encourage you to go for a real flower, rather than a fake pin-in. Choose one in your wedding theme color or something that pops against your hair color. It’s all about the drama – and you can really play it up at your destination wedding. One thing to keep in mind is to have one or two extra flowers refrigerated and waiting as replacements. Especially in the warm air, flowers can wilt after a few hours, so keep some on hand to change out every 2-3 hours.

Brides spend thousands of dollars on the perfect photographer to catch their magical day – what better location to play around in than the Caribbean? Every island has its own culture and feel, and you’ll always find little nooks and crannies, rocks, patios, sunsets, and landscapes to take your wedding day pictures in. This was a fun photograph I found of a couple jumping in the air on the dock – though it looks like they’re jumping into the water, they’re not! Here’s a tip for adventurous brides: take your wedding photos the day after your wedding so you and your husband will be more at ease and without a time constraint. Then after you’re done with all your formal photos, TRASH YOUR DRESS! This is a huge phenomenon for brides – they take their dress and do something to destroy it. Get some photos of you jumping in the water and splashing around! Anyways, when are you ever going to wear this again? Have fun with it!

Adorable cake toppers like the one shown on the inspiration board is just one of the fun ways to tie in your destination wedding theme into your décor and the details of the wedding. You can find cake toppers like this on etsy.com.

A lot of couples choose to have their reception dinner indoors to keep their guests on the cooler side, especially if the ceremony was already outdoors. Either way, they’ll be happy to be where they are for your wedding. If you do choose to have an indoor reception, make sure to have some seating and lighting outdoors, as well! The cool Caribbean night air is like no other, and believe me, in the still of the night, the music inside will make its way out.

I loved this favor the minute I saw it and had to include it on the inspiration board. Miniature sand buckets filled with little trinkets like umbrellas and shovels are an amazing way to keep your guests wanting more. Simply use a black sharpie to neatly write everyone’s names and table numbers on each bucket and you’ve got an easy DIY project that will make your family and friends smile.

The next photo is of an invitation sent out – the bride designed it herself using textured paper that she found at her local arts and crafts store, along with dried starfishes (fake, of course). The invitation was so easy to make! She used her two wedding colors – pale blue and purple – as the larger and medium square, then the textured paper as the backdrop to the actual invitation. She then re-used the pale blue paper as the paper that would have the announcement on it. Tie the whole thing together with a strip of the same type of papers glued together, slap your starfish on top and VOILA! Everyone’s going to want to be at your wedding this year.

Fans are a great way to keep your guests cool in the warm sun, while doubling as the program for your reception. Fans come in all shapes, sizes, and colors – I’ve seen everything from paper fans, to these wooden ones, to plastic fans in a rainbow of colors. Your guests will surely appreciate this gesture.

Keep your dress simple – you’re out at your destination wedding, you don’t want to be hot, sweaty, and uncomfortable in your dress! Materials like chiffon, organza, and Charmeuse are ideal for destination weddings because they’re movable, allows you to breathe easily in it, and they’re light. If you want to go a little fancier for your indoor reception, change dresses!

Having a small welcome bag for each of your guests in their room is a wonderful way to great them to a week (or weekend) full of fun. Add a welcome note, some flip flops, water, and information about the area you’re in to get them in the mood to explore.

Parasols are also a nice gesture for your guests, along with the fan program. Pick up some colorful straw and paper ones in Chinatown or even your closest Dollar Store! Rather than just throw them into a basket for people to take, personalize them a bit by wrapping a strip of paper with your monogram around it. Small details like this are a nice way to personalize each aspect of your wedding day.

Last but not least is their favor. I always suggest giving away something that is reminiscent of the island they’re visiting – whether it is a spice, trinket, or bottle of a locally brewed beer. This couple chose to give each guest a small vial of sand from the beaches in the country. They tied a monogram ribbon around each bottle and the bride glued sea shells they found to each. It’s a nice, easy, and inexpensive way to say “Thank you” to your guests.

In all things bridal,
V

Floral Inspiration Board

2011-07-22T10:45:00.004-04:00

Floral weddings should seem an easy route to take for your wedding theme – after all, don’t all weddings consist of floral arrangements? Just… Add more, right? Not really. It still has to be done tastefully – you don’t want your wedding to smell like a flower shop or make your guests feel like they’re walking through a botanical garden. Having a floral themed wedding really encompasses adding some girly, soft details with accents of flowers and bouquets here and there. Here are some ways to incorporate this theme into your wedding without overdoing it!

First, of course, is your bouquet. But that is self explanatory – let’s move onto the next one!

Your centerpieces: this couple used such a fun and simple way of incorporating flowers into their centerpieces without being too overwhelming. Clear circular vases with branches of flowers make for a very dramatic and well-sized centerpiece. Since the centerpiece is just this one element, you won’t overdo the flowers and you can add more floral elements to your wedding in other areas this way.

Your place cards – this is a great way to give everybody a beautiful scented flower! Pin them to a message board along with their name and table number and one plus one equals two. You’ve got your floral tribute to your theme in there and made it practical by making them into place cards as well.

If you’re on a budget, don’t even worry about springing for an expensive cake. Order a simple, multiple-tiered cake and add some fresh flowers all around the base and a few stuck in here and there to give it the va-va-voom you want your cake to have. One of the great things about having a floral themed wedding is that you can really add this element in anywhere so easily, and for a low price.

Incorporate the floral theme into your invitations by having a patterned background, as shown here on the inspiration board. Another idea, that is not shown here, is to add a small, fake flower and paste it to the top of your invitation! Including these small pieces that tie in your theme together from beginning to end will really wow your guests at the level of detail you and your fiancé have put into the planning.

This was an adorable photo I found of a ring bearer’s pillow made of small flowers. You can make one yourself by purchasing a piece of green foam board (you can find this in the flower section of your local arts and crafts store) and either some fake (or real) flowers. Cut the stems really short and simply place a little arts and crafts glue on the stem and stick it into the foam board. Do one side at a time, waiting for each to dry before continuing to another side. (You don’t’ want to turn the foam board around and have your flowers fall out before the glue has dried.) Once you’ve finished placing all the flowers in the foam board, tie a ribbon around it in the color of your choice, and string both rings through the bow.

The next decorative floral piece can also be a DIY. Hanging your monograms at your ceremony site can be a beautiful way to tie in your floral theme, as well as your own personal initials and stamp. Hang the initials from ribbons off of trees, door knobs, above you when you’re saying your vows, or over your place cards table! The sky is the limit with this fun and easy project. First you want to blow up your monogram, or if you don’t have one the font of your choosing, on your computer and print it out. Choose a font with distinct edges and lines, because the addition of the flowers might skew the outline a bit, so you don’t want anything that will look indistinguishable afterwards. The print out will be your stencil for the hanging monogram. Purchase a large piece (however big you’d like the monogram to be) of the green foam board and use a carpenter’s razor or knife to trace out the stencil you printed out. It doesn’t have to be perfect because you’ll be covering it in flowers anyways. Before adding flowers, poke a hole in the top of the board straight throw, and tie a ribbon into it. Then, similar to the ring bearer’s pillow project, use fake or real flowers, cut the stems fairly short, place craft glue on the stem, and insert them into the foam board. Remember to be methodical about the pattern in which you’re adding your flowers!

One of the easiest and most popular ways of adding flowers into your wedding day is in your hair. This is the most sought after hair accessory this year, and will continue to be for a while. Remember when we were little and we’d pick a flower off of a tree or bush and stick it behind our ear? I think that this look brings back that nostalgic feel of being innocent, young girls dreaming of the day we’d meet our prince charming.

Be creative with your runner and use flower petals to silhouette a design down the aisle towards your husband-to-be. Remember to do this after your guests have all arrived, or seat them from the far ends inwards, rather than down the aisle and out – to avoid anyone messing up the beauty swirls.

Of course flower girls are next on our list for the perfect floral wedding. Here, you can tie in the theme to any part of their outfit, hair, or bouquet! US Angels has some beautiful flower girl dresses with flowers and petals adorned on them. Put a small crown of flowers on their heads, like Kate Moss did in her wedding this past month, and a small bouquet or basket of petals in their hands.

Bring some of those colors and the outdoor feel into your reception room by using natural (and eco-friendly) materials. At this couple’s wedding, the bride and groom incorporated bamboo slates, upon which they placed their menu cards, tying them to the bamboo with a colored ribbon. Bringing in those brown and green earth tones are a beautiful way of tying in your floral theme to the reception site.

The photo is quite small – but to the right of the table setting, you will notice some favors – this couple was eco-friendly in their gifts to their guests by handing out small potted herbs for everybody to plant and enjoy later that summer. Whether you use herbs, flowers, or trees – this is a great way to send your guests home with a little reminder of your beautiful and fragrant wedding. Rather than writing separate place cards, why not paint or have a calligrapher write their names and table numbers on each pot?

Lastly, at the reception site, set out little white cups or bowls of flower petals at each seat for your guests to celebrate with after you’ve been officially wed as man and wife. This is a bright and colorful way to decorate your ceremony location without having to do much!

Hope you enjoyed this inspiration board – 4 down and 2 more to go until the end of July. Have a great weekend, everyone!

In all things bridal,
V

Inspiration Board: Modern Wedding

2011-07-20T11:44:00.004-04:00

One of the most popular themes for the past few years has been that of the modern décor. Honing in on the “south-beach-esque” feel, the contemporary elements boast geometric shapes, clean lines, and bright, vibrant colors.

The cake seen in the top left corner of the inspiration board is a four-tiered mint fondant cake with chocolate trimming. Using clean, straight lines and square shapes for the cake tiers, the design is simple, yet sophisticated in its minimalism. That’s a key word, actually: minimalism. Keep that word in mind as you plan your modern-day wedding, because it’s a great word to describe what you’re looking for in décor and details.

The second image is a reception photo taken at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, California. Here, the ceremony site does most of the work to boats a modern-themed wedding. Using a museum as your wedding location is the perfect way to jumpstart your modern theme – as industrial and commercial buildings, they’re built with geometric shapes, clean lines, and marble finishes. It’s a gigantic way to add that modern flair to your wedding without having to re-do the entire set up! Just add a few finishing touches here and there and voila!

Adding décor like the vases and candles shown in picture three can really add to the presence of the theme. Small elements added to areas such as your gifts table or guest book signing table can spice up your wedding. Notice how this couple used geometric, cone-shaped vases filled with a bright color water (blue) and in order to infuse a softer tone (after all, it is a wedding) – floating candles and using candles on the table. Having structures like this at different points of the room will draw people to it, especially if you have something important going on at that table (i.e. your place cards).

The last photo on the top right shows a centerpiece used at a modern themed wedding. Again, we’re looking at minimalism, color and shape. This bride and groom utilized simple, white porcelain box filled with black, polished stones, and a small floral arrangement. Remember, when hosting a modern-themed wedding, less is more. You want to keep things simple, but still put a lot of thought into its presentation. As much as modern is minimal, it still doesn’t mean you can just slap one and two together to make three.

Crystal chandeliers such as this one are a great addition to your wedding décor. Of course, though they are expensive, they can be easily made yourself using some wire, and crystal bulbs at your local art supply and hardware store. Remember, they don’t necessarily have to have a light bulb inside – so you don’t need to be an electrician to do it. Simply having them there will add to your ambiance. Check this out: http://heidirohrblog.com/2011/03/24/diy-thursday-modern-chandelier/ to find out how to make your very own modern day chandelier.

This next couple set out transparent, square boxes of candy in their wedding colors as favors for their wedding. Again, minimalist – clean, geometric lines and bright colors are all used to infuse these small elements of their wedding into their overall theme.

I loved this next idea! This bride and groom made simple, black and white table numbers for their wedding. But don’t worry, there weren’t 59 tables! Each table number they chose represented some aspect of their wedding planning or history as a couple. Everything from the number of years they’ve been together, to the countdown of days until their wedding from the day they got engaged – they really had fun with this. I included this less as a nod to the modern theme, though it is, and more to the creative nature of such an idea. Taking something as simple as the table numbers and turning it into a fun tidbit of information for your guests, really amps up the originality of your wedding.

Going along with the theme of the crystal chandeliers, this is a nice way to tie all of that in together and keeps the crystal element flowing. Make a curtain of the same crystal beading you used in your chandelier, and clothes pin your place cards to them.

The main event: your wedding dress. This wedding gown, designed by Enzoani, is known as the Fernanda. Extremely modern in its fit and flare silhouette, it uses the traditional material of tulle, but in a new and innovative way. The haphazard pick-ups and lace infused appliqués really make this couture piece unique and modern. Add the sharp, black belt around the waist and that’s about as modern as it gets!

Bride, Caroline, and groom, Josh, brought their modern theme into the invitations, as well. Your invitation is really the jumping off point to what your guests can expect. What are your colors? What is the feel of your wedding? Should they be excited or bored? Give them a reason to mark this date on their calendars – using the bright red and orange colors on a black and white backdrop, Caroline and Josh kept up their modern attitude and left their invitations simple, but with the same straight lines and minimalist flair that they will instill in the rest of their wedding.

Having a separate lounge area at your reception is a great way to give your guests another “WOW!” aspect in the modern décor that is your wedding day. At what other wedding would they find this symmetrical, clean set up as a location them to lounge or chit-chat with fellow guests? Bring the upscale club and lounge that you frequent into your wedding by adding this either in a separate room, or just a separate area by the bars! This decorator used transparent curtains to set apart the section from the rest of the room so that there was still congruency in the set-up.

Lastly, your table arrangements should also reflect your wedding theme. Here you can see that they used black and white with punches of their wedding colors through the menu cards and lighting. Just like the last post with the rock and roll themed wedding, modern weddings use the same use of colors in that black and white are the base and an extra color or two are the focal points to that backdrop. The important thing to remember here is that rather than using red or a deep, serious color – you want to go for something brighter and more “in your face” like a peacock blue, hot pink, or bright coral. Keeping every aspect of the table setting using certain geometric shapes – circles, squares, etc. will keep within the overall theme of the wedding. Make sure that everything is sharp, concise, and clean.

Looking back on this post, I re-used a lot of the same words. I tried to edit some out and use other descriptive adjectives, but I really couldn’t! And maybe that’s a good thing – because certain words used to describe a modern wedding really can’t be replaced. Use those adjectives as ways to describe what you’re looking from your florist, bridal consultant, and reception location. The more they understand what you’re looking for, the better they can assist you in making the biggest day of your life… the biggest it can be!

in all things bridal,

Rock and Roll Inspiration Board

2011-07-15T11:08:00.002-04:00

Who wouldn’t remember the wedding they went to that had just a little bit of edge? For those of you who shy away from the everyday wedding themes of daisies and daffodils, and head to the darker side of the spectrum – a rock and roll themed wedding is perfect for you! It’s a great way to show off your personality as individuals, and as a couple, so don’t be afraid to bare it all to your family and friends! (In décor, I mean.) Though many of the color combinations here are black, white and red – as this is typical for a rock and roll style wedding, really any vibrant punch of color against a black and white patterned backdrop will do. Here is my rock and roll inspiration board.

What an amazing idea to get the ball rolling on your ceremony, than by having two dapper young gentlemen in top hats roll a runner down the aisle? Having a patterned black and white runner with a punch of color really adds to the décor of your rock and roll wedding without much fuss or preparation. Here, you can see that even without any other décor in this outdoor ceremony, the graphic print with the red runner over it already gives you a sense of the theme for the wedding. What a fun way to make your way down the aisle towards your happily ever after!

LOVE this cake here. Again, in the color scheme of the wedding – using black and white photographs (whether photos through the years, or your engagement photos) to line each of the layers of the cake, then using your colored flower as accents on it – really attributes itself to your wedding. Something as simple as your cake, which can serve as a focal point in the room, can really add to the whole effect of the theme. Light some tea candles around the table to give your cake the attention and glow it deserves!

Giving your guests a functional favor is a great way to end your wedding day. Don’t you hate it when you get a boring gift you know you’ll never use? Send each guest home with a tumbler etched with your name and wedding date – who wouldn’t want to relax with a beer when they have a cup like that to use? Tumblers have two layers to keep condensation from dripping onto the surface of the table, and keep your drinks colder for a longer period of time – so they’re a great and useful gift to give away to your friends and family. Stuff them with some tissue paper in your wedding colors and fill them with a few chocolates, if you want!

A rock and roll wedding would be nothing without great music. A swing or jazz band is an excellent addition to your wedding and if nothing else will let the guests know that they will never attend another wedding like this one!

Remember the graphic print on the rug under the runner? Use that same print on your invitations! Your invitations set the feel and tone for your entire wedding, and it lets people know what they’re in for. Boring invitation = boring wedding. Well, not all the time, but isn’t that how we feel when we see it? When we were younger and invited our classmates to birthday parties – we spent hours picking out the perfect invitations that would exude fun and excitement! The same goes your wedding invitations – make your guests want more!

A small detail that can add a lot to your theme is choosing the right font for your invitations, programs, and menu cards. Stuffy, boring, Times New Roman is for the faint of heart. Jazz everything up with a fancy font! You can download plenty off the internet (ah, technology these days) and play around with wording and format!

Showcase some drama at your rock and roll wedding with a dress that will make people say “WOW!” A simple, fitted mermaid or sheath style dress will do exactly that. With all the dancing you’re going to be doing later on, you don’t want to fuss with a cathedral length train or heavy material – stay on the lighter side. You want to be able to move, get down, and groove with the best of them. A classic material and color with a punch will say everything you want to at your wedding. This Sophia Tolli dress is a perfect combination of all the aforementioned aspects. (Style Allanah Y2945)

I saw these shoes and had to add them to my inspiration board. Aren’t they amazing? These shoes are completely covered in rhinestones and sequins, a purple sole, and the words “Rock” on one shoe and “Bride” on the other shoe written in cursive. LOVE THEM!

Rather than going with your typical silver or clear candelabra, opt for a solid black one. If this is too dark for you, brighten it up with some clear beading hanging down (instead of black like on the inspiration board) and of course, you guessed it, a punch of color with the flower of your choice. Tea candles and spotlights will help brighten up the black centerpiece.

Another great idea for a favor, if many of your friends and family are musically talented – they will appreciate this. A guitar pick is a great choice, and less expensive option, for a favor. Engraved with your names, they can be used by those who are part of a musical community for years to come!

Lastly, remember the bike I had in my vintage post? Replace that with a motorcycle in your photo shoots. Have them leaning against posts at your wedding site for photo ops, not only for you and your wedding party, but also for your guests!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

in all things bridal,
V

Vintage Inspiration Board

2011-07-11T13:03:00.008-04:00

The next few weeks will be dedicated to putting together inspiration boards for different themed weddings; everything from vintage to rock & roll and floral/girl to Great Gatsby themed. Hopefully this will inspire some of you to be creative in your wedding planning and really surprise your guests with some DIY goodies and décor.

This Casablanca dress (Style 2036) exudes vintage elegance with its lace and satin bow detail. While the sweetheart neckline and fitted bodice give it a modern feel, the simplicity in the modified A-line skirt and champagne hue still allows for the vintage feel.

Why not spice things up a bit with some original cocktail seating? Instead of renting the same old fold out plastic or wooden chairs, you are sure to find some great deals at garage sales in the summer, for wooden benches and colorful throw pillows. What a great spot for your guests to sit and mingle!

DIY signs are the easiest way to add a little oomph to your wedding day décor. String signs in the trees using thick presentation paper, stencils, a sponge, and black paint. Easy to do in 1, 2, 3 and perfect for some picture opportunities for you, your groom, and your guests!

Pay homage to your parents, grandparents, and relatives by showcasing their own wedding photographs throughout your reception room. Of course, blowing up the photos to a size as large as the one on the inspiration board can be tricky (and expensive), so instead, frame them in some antique frames (which you can look for when you’re garage sale hopping) and place them around your dessert tables or gift table. One day, when you have children, perhaps they will pay the same respect to you and your wedding picture will be up there!

What better way to add that special vintage tough than with a flower and feather head piece? If you want to forego the veil and birdcage look, this is a simple and inexpensive way to add dimension to your hairstyle, without overdoing it. It will keep with the simplicity of your vintage theme, and really stand out in pictures!

Purchase a pack of paper with varieties of patterns for this easy DIY table number picture frame. Trace out the shape of the frame onto the patterned paper to use as the backdrop, and purchase wooden numbers from your local craft store, or the metal ones used on house numbers from your local hardware store, to paste onto the paper background. VOILA! Instant table number with a vintage feel!

Vintage cake toppers, like the ceramic one shown on the inspiration board, can be found anywhere – especially on etsy.com. That is a great site for finding unique and vintage-looking pieces for your wedding day and rather than add to the sales figures of the major corporations and conglomerates, why not support a local artist by purchasing their goods off of etsy?

Using that patterned paper you bought for your table numbers, make some DIY place cards. You can make them into flowers (like the photo on the inspiration board) and write their name on a petal, or fold them into an origami shape for something fun and interesting! The possibilities are endless.

Why not find an old vintage bike during your garage sale hopping to decorate and use as a prop for photo ops? It can make a great decorate piece, and your photographer can really utilize it in creative shots for you and your wedding party.

Pastel macaroons in different colors really add to that beautiful classic feel of your wedding day. Place them on the dessert table for your guests to eat after dinner, or make them a part of your favors by giving each guest a little box to fill with the macaroons.

Last but not least, what is a vintage wedding without the ultimate vintage car? Not only can it transport you and your groom from location to location, but gorgeous photo opportunities can be taken outside and inside the vehicle. I remember seeing an Estee Lauder advertisement many years ago in a magazine taken inside of a vintage Rolls Royce with the bride and a flower girl sitting hand and hand waiting to get to the church. That memory has stuck with me for years, and I couldn’t help but to add this in with my vintage inspiration board!

in all things bridal,
V

What’s the deal with corsets?

2011-07-05T18:17:00.001-04:00

The history of the corset dates back to the 1550’s when Queen Catherine of France banned thick waists in her court. Since then, and for the next 3-400 years, women wore corsets mainly made of whale bone and metal, in order to create the look of a tiny waist and full bust. Remember that scene in the movie “Titanic” where Rose is being corseted to fit into her dress for dinner that evening? Ugh, how painful. Actually, I once read in history class in middle school that the corset was so painfully tight, that it would often cause women to be black and blue by the end of the night because the bone/metal was digging into their flesh and the corset gave way to very little blood flow. No, thank you!

Fortunately for us modern day women, the look and feel of the corset has changed. Long gone are the days of metal digging into flesh. The corset top has become more of a fashion statement on the detail of clothing, than a means of sucking in our belly jiggle. (Now, we have Spanx, a much better alternative to metal boning, if I do say so myself.) In relation to wedding dresses, how does this corset look fit in?

Here at Bijou Bridal, we’ve had a lot of brides recently who are looking specifically for corset backs. They believe that the corset on these dresses will have the same function as they did back in the 1550’s. This is the biggest misconception about corsets, and I am here to set it straight.

1. The main reason why corsets are added to dresses is for the look, not the historically known use. While in all senses of the design, of course, you can use the corset to pull your dress in tighter, it can only be pulled in so much. By pulling a corset in too tightly, it will cause the material around your bodice to pucker, producing unsightly lines (see picture above), essentially making it look like you’re too big for your dress. Imagine what you look like when you try on a t-shirt that is a size too small. The material is stretching and folding in areas it shouldn’t. This is what will happen to your wedding dress, too. So while we can pull in your waist a little tighter, than you could a zipper, it won’t be the extent to which you normally think of with a corset – which is that you will be squeezed into a fraction of your original size.

2. Just because a dress has a corset back, does not mean you won’t need alterations. Take, for instance, a pair of sneakers. Just because the sneaker has laces and you can tie it tight, doesn’t mean a larger sized shoe will then fit properly. You still need the right size shoe to fit properly before you can even consider the laces. While I understand that the material of a dress is not the same as a shoe and can seemingly mold itself to your body a little better, the basic concept still applies. Your dress will be ill-fitted if you don’t get alterations done. Again, because going back to the first point, the corset’s main purpose is a superficial one, not a functional one.

3. I hope I’m not discouraging you brides out there. There are still many positive reasons to go for a corset back dress. So, what WILL it do for you? Two main points. It will allow you to gain or lose a few pounds, since corset backs are easily adjustable, and it will give your body nice structure.

An extra note: Many designers will change their dress pattern from a zipper to a corset back for an additional fee. If they are not able to, ask your consultant or seamstress if they are able to take the zipper off of the dress and create a corset back for you. Depending on the style and type of work on the dress, it can be a possibility.

in all things bridal,
V

The Groomzilla

2011-07-01T14:20:00.001-04:00

Groomzilla - (noun.) Formed from blending of the words groom and Godzilla (Japanese movie monster). Used to describe a man whose behavior becomes outrageously bad in the course of planning for his wedding.

The creation of the groomzilla is a new term to me. I recently read an article in Marie Claire magazine titled "The Rise of Groomzillas." Of course, being in the wedding industry, I had to read the article in its entirety! I mean how could you not be transfixed on an article that explained how men were equally as crazed and obsessive as women about their wedding? HALLELUJAH! Someone of the opposite sex understands our pains! It was such an interesting read, and if any of you still have your old June 2011 issue, or can find it at your local library, I highly suggesting going to pick it up. It won't help you in any of your wedding planning (unless your fiance is said groomzilla), but it really is entertaining.

According to Dr. Katherine jellison, author of It's Our Day, the reason why there are more and more men becoming "Groomzilla-ish" is because men these days are marrying at an older age. By that time in their life, they have developed a very particular taste and pickiness about certain things - making them much more opinionated when it comes to the details of their wedding day. Yes, theirs, not yours. Imagine that! And being that a lot of couples are shelling out the money, themselves, to pay for the wedding - they want a bigger say in where their money goes and how it's being budgeted. (That's not something new to me, though.)

The more I think about it, the more I realize what a truth this is. Whenever brides come into the salon to shop for a wedding dress, we always make small talk about their plans for the wedding, what still needs to be done, and what has already been done. From time to time, I might ask a bride how involved her fiance is and what kind of input he has been giving in all of the details that come with the planning. And thinking back, it was always the younger brides who said their fiance was basically staying out of it, except for the bigger decisions, and of course, the honeymoon. Those husbands-to-be always claim the job of the honeymoon - psch, take the easiest part, why don't you? While the older, more mature brides mostly state that their fiance has been wonderfully helpful and is really taking an interest in all of the planning and details! They attend everything from meetings with the florist to the band and even the dress shopping, for some!

So for those of you brides out there who have an excited and eager fiance, send him over to http://www.thegroomslist.com/ - a great website catered to the husbands-to-be on everything from the proposal, to the wedding and honeymoon. And for those of you brides who have very un-involved fiances, but need a bit more help, send him over there, too! Maybe once he learns a bit more about the process, he won't be as daunted by it.

Happy planning, brides! Have a great weekend :)

in all things bridal,
V

P.S. Groomzilla picture taken from http://www.iamstaggered.com/usa/headline/confessions-of-a-groomzilla

Thanking your Guests with a Favor!

2011-06-24T16:27:00.002-04:00

It was a tradition that started when we were in elementary school - sure the birthday parties were fun and all... but what was everyone REALLY waiting for? Let's be honest. It was the goody bag you got before you left. I'm not sure what the boys at that age gave one another at those parties, but us girls received colorful pencils and pens, candy, plastic jewelry, stickers, and fun noisemakers that drove our parents nuts on the 5 minute ride home.

Now, some of you may think that this is all a thing of the past, but rest assured that upon entering the reception room, you are NOT the only one thinking "I wonder what I got as a favor," because let's face it: presents, no matter how big or small, never get old. These little trinkets that you purchase for your guests could end up on their kitchen refridgerator, displayed on their mantle, or on their office desk at work. And my thought process is, if you're going to spend money on favors, put as much thought into it as you did with everything else in your wedding. You could be remembered for years to come as the couple who gave out those "fabulous favors!"

All photos couresty of http://www.theknot.com/

This bride and groom handed out mini cans of champagne,

which doubled as a place card holder!

This bride and groom were eco-friendly and gave their guests

tree-planting kits. These also doubled as place card holders (see a pattern here?)

This bride and groom really took us back to the old days and made

goody bags filled with candied almonds, water bottles, and little treats -

along with a fact sheet about the bride and groom!

Many guests are already so full by the time you cut your cake,

how about sending them home with a slice instead!!!

This couple tied colorful pashminas around each of their guest's chairs to keep

them warm on the cool night of the wedding. Great way to spruce up your decor, too!

This lovely bride and groom handed out small fuschia boxes with silk

handkerchiefs for their lady guests to use during the ceremony.

This couple found vintage compasses on etsy.com and bought one for each guest,

personalized it, and used it as their place cards, as well! (That seems to be a popular concept)

Giving out reusable tote bags at this bride and groom's celebration

was an eco-friendly idea that everybody could use!

Have a great weekend brides!

Hope this gave you a jump start on thinking about your wedding favors :)

in all things bridal,

Looking for Wedding Colors? Look no Further!

2011-06-16T16:38:00.000-04:00

Having a hard time envisioning your wedding colors on your bridesmaids? Take a look at how these brides incorporated their colors into their wedding decor and how the dress colors photographed! I went through hundreds of brides' photo albums on projectwedding.com to find the perfect examples of colors for you to look through! Check out their website for ideas and DIY tips for your wedding :)

in all things bridal,
V

Inspiring Ideas from Brides Across the Nation!

2011-05-27T12:35:00.003-04:00

I’ve been brainstorming for the past hour on what to write in today’s blog… sometimes you really hit that writer’s block mode where you just draw a complete blank (don’t you hate that?) As I was scrolling through all of the bridal/wedding related Twitter accounts that I follow, I came across a status update from our friends at “Project Wedding” to check out a couple’s unique wedding ideas and from there I continued to browse through all of the other wedding photo stories they had to share. Really, I was hoping for some inspiration for this post, but in this industry – looking through wedding stuff is both work and fun (for most of us anyways) and I leafed through endless photo albums of couples all across the country, marveling at unique ideas and additions to their weddings to make it, well, their own. Suddenly, it dawned on me, why am I trying so hard to write about ONE specific topic when I can share with you some of the creativity that I’ve found?

These original ideas, no matter how big or small, add up in the eyes of your guest and really help to make your wedding far from cookie-cutter. Long gone are the days of endless tulle, bad bridesmaids’ dresses, boring church ceremonies, and tasteless reception food. Good Riddance! Showcase your personality as individuals, and a couple, through favors, decor, monograms, stationary, and more! Paying homage to activities you enjoy, inside jokes, and shared personality traits are a fun way to let your guests in on the biggest day of your lives. Below are some of the photos and descriptions I found of original ideas – I hope looking through these will inspire you for your wedding.

Note: All of these photos are courtesy of ProjectWedding.com

The Wedding of Zoe and John: Winters, California
Not only was the illustration found on the programs, but also on the

"I know the bride" & "I know the groom" paper pins for the ceremony!

Photographs by Jose Villa Photography.

Coordination by Bliss'd. Venue: The Bear Flag Farm.

The Wedding of Beth and Kevin: Seattle, Washington

The reception seating chart was handwritten on a

chalkboard by Beth's incredibly artistic MOH.

Photographs by Jagger Photography

The Wedding of Jennifer and Kirt: Montecito, California

The romantic ceremony space was set on the lush grounds of the ranch.

Photographs by Jose Villa Photography; Florals and styling by Mindy Rice

The Wedding of Joanna and Alex: New Yotk City, New York

A legacy of love. Joanna and Alex framed their grandparents' wedding photos

and displayed them on a table adorned with English lavender.

Photographs by Max Wanger, courtesy of Joanna Goddard and Alex Williams

The Wedding of Leslie and Harry: Escondido, California

After dinner, guests kicked off their heels and

slipped into these multi-colored dancing shoes.

Photographs by Photorange

The Wedding of Lorin and Jamie: Zihuatanejo, Mexico

Lorin hand-painted the miniature-boat place cards.

Photographs by Union Photography

The Wedding of Christina and Timothy: Sturgis, Michigan

A wooden sign greets the guest and points them in the direction of the ceremony.

Photographs by JK Photography and Jen Badalamenti

The Wedding of Holley and Jason: Austin, Texas

In addition to the truffles, test tubes filled with local honey -- l

abeled with tags made from paper bags -- served as favors.

Photographs by The Nichols

The Wedding of Kristin and Micah: Beverly Hills, California

The extra special favors: Kristin and Micah as the Simpsons ...

Photographs by Marlin A. Munoz Photography

The Wedding of Caitlin and Luke: Oakland, California

All aboard: Guests travel to the Claremont Country Club for more celebrating!

Photographs by Andrew Weeks Photography

Have a great weekend, brides!

In all things bridal,
V

Wedding Proposal: "Making the Movies Jealous"

2011-05-24T16:12:00.010-04:00

The biggest Youtube sensation since “Charlie Bit My Finger” surfaced early last week and I have to say, it’s my favorite Youtube reel yet. Well, maybe second after the laughing babies… because that’s just classic entertainment… but I digress. This video has captured the hearts of many brides and brides-to-be, and screwed over every boyfriend who plans to ask for his girl’s hand in marriage (sorry, guys, but it’s true.) So, what is it about this proposal that puts it at the top? I tried to dissect this question by laying out our poll’s top three proposals of all time and figuring out what key elements make a proposal truly amazing.

(Warning: movie is a bit shakey - but it's just so you can get an idea of the proposal)

In the grand scheme of proposals, we only found two that made my poll’s heart melt just as much and wasn’t corny, cheesy, or overdone like a bad ending to a chick flick. The first was something also found on Youtube, actually, and that was a Disney World proposal (because girls are a sucker for anything Disney related.) The boyfriend and girlfriend sat down to get a caricature done in the theme park, and the caricaturist sketched a picture of him, on one knee with a giant ring, asking for the girl’s hand in marriage. So once the artist was done, the girl stood up to take a look at the masterpiece, and upon realizing what it meant – turned around to find the guy down on one knee, like in the picture. There are three key points about this engagement that stood out to me as important aspects to a proposal. First, is taking a very normal, non-suspicious event and adding this small twist, giving it the ultimate element of surprise – this, specifically, is what makes the proposal seem non-cheesy. Second, is that it was captured by a perfect keepsake to treasure the moment. And third, it involved a crowd of onlookers to give it, what I call the “movie effect,” a combination of sighs, smiles, clapping, and nods of approval, when the guy finally gets the girl.

Also in the top three, is a story one of my clients shared with me a few months ago. The couple met online because they both had a shared admiration for the same author, a writer of suspense and mystery. Upon his decision to ask for her hand in marriage, the guy sought out the author at a book signing, and asked him to autograph his latest book with this message of proposal. So one day at home, he simply gave her a plastic bag from the book store with the book in it and told her he picked it up for her to read, and you know how the story goes. So AGAIN, you have the normal, non-suspicious event, turned into a special occasion by a small twist. You have the perfect keepsake that captures the moment. Though, it is missing the “movie effect,” the guy does get props for originality (that the Disney proposal did not because I found multiple reels using this same proposal method).

And last, but not least, we figure out why this YouTube video, "Making Movies Jealous" proposal really topped the charts and became a Facebook-posting, Tweet-writing-craze topping 6.5 million views this past week alone. For those of you who have NO Idea what I’m talking about follow this link or play the video below – it will be 7 minutes well spent (which I can't say for every YouTube video I've seen.) Once you’ve finished, read on.

So the four elements I’ve indicated are: putting a small twist on an everyday event, capturing the moment with a keepsake, the “movie effect,” and originality. This proposal had all four – going to the movies (an everyday event) with a twist (inserted a home-made trailer), he captured the moment with a keepsake by filming her reaction and the proposal, the “movie effect” thanks to the crowd of 100 or so people in the theatre there to watch Fast Five, and finally, the most important: originality, making it the ultimate proposal. Not to say that there aren’t others who have hit all four points, but none as famous (for now) as this one. This proposal has gotten so much press that their website actually has a “Media Contact Information” page, as well as advertisements – so I’m sure they’re making a pretty penny from this. Go, Matt and Ginny!

in all things bridal,.
V

Too Good to be True? Trade in your Bridesmaids/Prom/Mom’s Evening Dress for a New LBD!

2011-05-17T12:23:00.000-04:00

Every bride says that they want to pick a dress their bridesmaids can wear again. When is this ever true? 0.0002% of the time. And even if the dress can be worn again after it’s hemmed short to a party dress, how many of you actually take the dress to get altered once the event is more? More often than not, they end up sitting in the back of your closet, collecting dust, until you rediscover it 20 years later and give it away to Goodwill because it’s no longer in style. Well, the fairy god mother has appeared and given you a way to recycle the dress while benefiting you, the giver! Too good to be true? NOPE! The Dessy Group just launched a new company “Newlymaid” to help recycle old dresses that you have in your closet and exchange it for a discounted LBD. What girl doesn’t need another LBD?

So how does this work? All you have to do is create an account on their website www.newlymaid.com, order a pre-paid mailer [do this soon though – we don’t know how long this “free” mailer will last!], and send in your old dress. Just make sure that the dress is in good condition – they will not accept dresses with tears, pulls, or stains. Also, zippers and clasps must be in working condition. I mean, don’t be silly. You can’t trade in gold (the LBD) for a rag. One good thing is that you DON’T have to get it dry cleaned because they’ll take it as is. Once they receive and inspect it, they will credit your account with special pricing and you can use that credit to purchase an LBD from their selection. Usually with the price of their dresses and your credit, you can purchase an LBD for up to 50% off the retail value. They have all kinds of LBDs – career chic, casual brunch style, girl’s night on the town, formal event, and more!

They accept most major designers including many of the ones that Bijou Bridal carries! Monique Lhuillier, Jim Hjelm, Watters, Bari Jay, Bill Levkoff, and Jasmine are amongst the many designers the company will take. Want another good reason to send in your dress? The proceeds that you are handing it go for a good cause – they will either be recycled for other uses, or donated to a charity called Clothes4soul. Shopping WHILE helping out a non-profit? Amazing. THAT’S the kind of company we like to work with J

in all things bridal,

Follow Me on Twitter! & Notes on Flower Girl Dresses

2011-05-11T14:33:00.003-04:00

Twitter

Why follow me, @thevelvetouch, on Twitter.com? If you love to win prizes and find out some of the latest and greatest in wedding trends, that's one HUMUNGOUS reason to follow my Twitter! I've subscribed to dozens of professional wedding Twitter accounts, and I scour their tweets daily to find you the best information out there - hooking you up with vendors in the area, wedding ideas, and best of all - LOTS AND LOTS of sweepstakes! I retweet so many of my findings throughout the day - everything from money for your wedding, free dresses, free invitations, to events and shows hosted by designers and professional affiliations. Rather than following a million different companies, magazines, and bloggers - why not follow just one? @Thevelvetcouch - I'll weed out all the random stuff you'd rather not read, and only send the important information your way!

Flower girls’ Dresses

Ordering

Joan Calabrese Style 211308

Most flower girl dresses typically only need 2-3 months to order because the companies who make them usually carry stock of each size. I say most because there are certain designers that I know of who require a 5 month period to order the dresses, because they do not carry stock. Make sure to ask your salesperson about this.

This is important to take into account because at the average age of most flower girls, they are going through growth spurts, making it best to order their dresses as late as possible to get the most accurate measurement and size. If you do decide on a dress that will take longer to order, the person measuring your flower girl will most likely suggest a size or two up from her current measurement at the time to account for any growth. How many sizes up will largely depend on how far away the wedding is from the purchase date. If the salespeople do not ask you about the flower girl’s growth pattern, make sure to bring it up!

Color

Watters Style 42864

The color of the flower girl(s) dresses should match that of the bride’s dress. If your dress is ivory, the flower girls’ should be ivory, as well. Putting them in diamond white or white dress will only prove to show the creaminess of your ivory even more so and it will end up making your dress look yellow. This may seem “well, duh” to you – but in fact, if you are not shopping specifically with the flower girl and have sent girl’s mother to find one, you want to make sure they know. We’ve had plenty of women come in with the flower girl not knowing what color the bride’s dress was.

Sash to Match your Wedding Colors

US Angels Style 101

Many brides ask about ordering sashes in a shade close to their wedding colors and/or bridesmaids’ dress colors. There are two suggestions that I usually give in order to do this:

Order additional fabric when you order your bridesmaids’ dresses (usually about an additional $20+ per yard) – and you will most likely only need one yard per girl – they can turn this into a sash for your flower girl(s) and you will get an exact color/shade match
To save money, if any of your bridesmaids’ need their dress’s hemmed, you can use the bottom piece (provided there is enough material) and ask the tailor to make it into a sash for the flower girl

in all things bridal,
V

To Slip or Not To Slip

2011-05-06T15:45:00.000-04:00

So, we always get a lot of questions about the necessity of crinoline slips and which ones to choose. The common perception of wearing a crinoline slip is to create more fullness, but that’s not actually the main purpose of slips for most wedding dresses. The silhouette of your dress is what largely determines whether or not a crinoline slip is recommended, though I will be honest and say that 98% of the time, it does wonders
for a bride’s wedding dress. The models you see in the magazines and on the bridal runway shows are all wearing slips – that’s how they look so flawless whether they’re posing on a set, being photographed frolicking through a dandelion meadow, or strutting their sexy stuff on the catwalk. The shape of the dress holds true and the end effect is clean and pristine.

To give you a better explanation of why they’re used, I’ve compiled a list of the top reasons why I suggest that brides purchase a crinoline slip:

1. Shape. If for no other reason you purchase a slip, purchase it for this. Crinoline slips miraculously help to hold out the silhouette of your wedding dress in all its intended glory. There’s nothing worse than purchasing a mermaid gown, but have the shape not be seen as dramatically as it should be. Spend the extra few dollars to invest in a slip because it is WELL worth the money.

2. Walking. This is actually tied into reason number one. Wedding dresses, no matter how large or small, detailed or simple, are much more material than you are used to wearing – especially in the skirt. Once you start trying on dresses, you’ll note that oftentimes the skirt will fold in between your legs as you’re walking, simply because there’s so much material there and most of the fabrics – satin, taffeta, organza, etc. – won’t hold its shape out on its own, therefore causing it to fall wherever there is space for it to go (i.e. clinging around your legs). That’s where the slip comes in. Since the right slip adds a few extra layers of crinoline to the right spots, you won’t find walking or dancing to be a problem. It will hold out the shape of your dress so that you can boogie freely and easily.
3. Fullness. If you’d like to use the slip to create fullness, that is definitely one of its many uses. This is true more so for the brides wearing A-line or ball gown dresses. In doing this, I would usually go one up in slip fullness to create that look. So for those wearing an A-line wedding dress, but want fullness, I would choose a 2-tier slip rather than the A-line slip. The A-line slip will only help to hold out the shape as is, not create more volume. With ball gown dresses, I would suggest wearing two 3-tier slips, rather than just one, if you prefer a fuller princess look.

Below are photos of the types slips so you can make note of the differences in style:

A line

Mermaid/Trumpet

Double Ruffle/Two Tier

Three Tier

Have a great weekend, ladies! Enjoy the sunshine :)

in all things bridal,
V

Destination Weddings: The Nitty Gritty

2011-05-03T16:08:00.000-04:00

I recently came back from a vacation in the Caribbean and while drinking a rum punch on the beach in my cabana, my mind wandered back to the blog and what I would write about next. Inspired by the resort backdrop and the fact that there were couples everywhere I looked, naturally I put two and two together and came up with this topic for today’s post.

Destination weddings have become more popular as the weddings have turned from white, boring, obligatory celebrations to a way to throw the party of the century. As each bride tries to top the weddings hosted before her and each couple tries to put their signature stamp on their big day, more and more people consider going out of the country to commemorate the occasion. I mean, who could forget their fabulous trip to the Cayman Islands where you got married whilst dolphins jumped in the background and seagulls cawed in the distance? Having a destination wedding just puts another point on the scoreboard for you and your hubby: your wedding, 1, another person’s wedding, 0.

Of course, the Caribbean resorts are one of the top destination wedding locations; airfare is reasonable from anywhere in the states, deals can be negotiated left and right for accommodations, it’s exotic compared to your hometown of nowheres-ville, and if you don’t want a lot of people to attend – this is the perfect way to invite anyone you want and weed them out at the same time. (Let’s be honest, which one of you is NOT dreading that part about the wedding planning?) It’s also the perfect way to kill two birds with one stone – it’s a wedding and honeymoon all in one! What? Reduced costs for our honeymoon if we have our wedding there? Say again? You’ll throw in a few spa treatments for free? I say, don’t even consult your fiancé. DONE AND DONE. (Just kidding, don’t do that.) But, it’s true. Destination weddings have become increasingly popular. I lived on the islands for a little over a year and wanted to give some insight into 5 aspects of your destination wedding

1. There are two main seasons: wet and dry season. Wet season is the East Coast’s Fall and Early Winter – it rains often, sporadically (think Florida rain) in torrential downpour then five minutes later the sun is out and the birds are chirping. This is also hurricane season; though many of the islands don’t get actual hurricanes, there is always the possibility and the wind/rain that comes with it. And with the rain, come humidity and the most hated part for me: the mosquitoes, which are vicious and plentiful during this time of year. Dry season is Mid/Late Winter into the Spring and most of Summer – this is the period of virtually no rain (read: no mosquitoes), drought, and yellow grass. The air is dryer, lighter, with a breeze and the nights are cool. The most popular time of year is late wet into early dry season – the mosquitoes are gone, the rain is lessened, the grass hasn’t yellowed yet, and the weather is cooler. This is somewhere between December/January into Late March.

2. The hardest part of flying into the Caribbean is… finding flights into the Caribbean. Many of the smaller islands require multiple transfers, sometimes even on really small 20 person planes (which are horrific and scary.) Let me be clear: those small airlines companies can’t always be trusted – there are often problems. For the convenience and sanity of your guests, choose a destination that you know major airline companies fly into – either directly or with only one/two stops, but through other major airlines.

3. With these smaller destination weddings, it’s more important than ever that you pay particular attention to details and be hospitable to your guests, as all of them are from “out of town.” Adding welcome notes, small gifts, or organizing activities for them are just some of the ways you can show your appreciation that they’ve come so far to join you on your special day. Don’t feel like you have to be the one to do all of this, either – the resort that you are hosting your event at will often take care of all of this for you at your request. Make sure that whatever you do decide to give them, it reflects the style of the island you’re on. Each island has their own special culture, foods/activities that they’re known for and set them apart from the rest of the Caribbean. Organizing a Jet Ski excursion or massage is nice, of course, but they can do that anywhere! Leave a plate of local snacks in their room upon arrival, ask them to join you for a special dinner tasting of local dishes, or send them on a guided tour around the island to learn a little more about the culture and its’ people!

4. If you’re having a beach ceremony, make sure to take note of when the sun sets and from where. The worst thing to have, when having an outdoor ceremony, is the sun starring right into your guest’s eyes, so much so that they’re squinting and can’t even look at you in all your glory! Also, it’s important to hit the time right when the sun is about to set – so you have the beautiful, natural backdrop of color – as well as the coolness in temperature as the sun goes down. This way, your guests aren’t sweating up a storm in their fabulous outfits and can really enjoy the ceremony, rather than wishing it was over so they can get into the a/c. Lastly, why not make it fun and invite your guests to go barefoot in the sand. There is nothing worse than feeling like the formality forces you to keep your shoes on, even as your heels are sinking and sand is being kicked up into your socks (for the men.) If being barefoot rubs you the wrong way, supply your guests with colorful flip-flops! Attention to details such as these really adds up for your guests. They’ll be talking about your wedding and hospitality for years to come!

5. If you are able to, visit the site before choosing your location. Having lived in the islands for a bit of time, I know that standards there are much different than in the United States. Certain aspects of the hotel might not be as kept as you’d assume to see in the states, so don’t choose blindly. You want to shop and look around to make sure you are getting everything you want from the location, service, staff, etc. Take recommendations and find reviews from other people who have hosted a wedding and guests there. Since their service and resort experience will reflect upon you, as you are the one choosing the location, it is important that it say everything you want about you, as a couple, and as a wedding spot. Remember, your guests are spending a lot of money to fly out and stay for your wedding, so you must take the utmost care in all the details that come along with that. Essentially, you are planning a vacation for however many people are coming.

Don't forget about the Mon Cherie contest - it ends on June 30, 2011 - enter for a chance to win a Bridal gown, Evening Dress, or Bridesmaids dress of your choice! Follow this link

in all things bridal,
V

A Royal Success!

2011-04-29T11:25:00.000-04:00

Okay, I have to admit... all along I've been a little jealous of Kate Middleton - so I have to say that I 80% love her and 20% have a secret loathing deep down inside that she gets to be a Duchess and I won't. But all dreams aside, she looked stunning today - and then I actually fist-pumped in the air when I realized that her dress was almost exactly what I had predicted for her in my last post under the option: "had she married a simpleton." The Watters Escalante - did I not call it??? But the great thing about this was that she DIDN'T marry a simpleton and she still stayed completely true to her style. LOVE LOVE LOVE- absolutely love that. It's like I keep telling brides over and over again - it's not about copying a celebrity's dress/look or copying the future princess's Alexander McQueen dress - it's about staying true to YOU. That is when you will look your most beautiful and perfect on your wedding day and I think that this is something Duchess Middleton has showed those of us in the wedding business and those planning for their big day. She didn't fold into all the hype or the glamor of the wedding, which she definitely could have. Instead she went along with her gut instinct and stuck with what she loved - the dress was so simple, sweet, classic A-line silhouette, and the LACE... I'm so happy she went with lace. So now instead of being jealous 20%, I bumped it down to 10% because... how could you not love her more after today? So cheers to the lovebirds and here's to wishing them all the best in the future :)

Watters Style: Escalante

Paloma Blanca Style: 4161

Paloma Blanca Style: 4154

Also, as a bonus for reading this post - win a wedding dress by Mon Cherie Bridal (or Bridesmaids dress or Evening Gown for your Mom)! Just follow this link to enter in the contest. It ends on June 30, 2011.

in all things bridal,

The Royal Wedding

2011-04-14T16:05:00.002-04:00

I'd like to start off on a sidenote that our Twitter account has been "born again" and I invite all of you to follow me on Twitter :) Now onto the main topic of this post...

There have been many speculations and rumors regarding the royal wedding recently, including the anonymity of the designer, how many dresses Ms. Middleton will wear, and what style she will choose for her nuptials. I’ve tried to avoid talking about the royal wedding because I’m personally not enthralled by it, but as the day draws nearer and the topic headlines all the major newspapers, television networks, and tabloids – it’s a hard subject matter to steer clear of. So rather than evade the whole shenanigan, I’m going to embrace it and make my own speculations as to the type of dress Kate will wear on the big day. If you can’t beat em, join em!

For those of you who have followed Kate Middleton from the time she was first engaged to Prince William, seen her in the news, outfits, character, and style, you’ll get the sense that she’s rather conservative (as a future Princess should be), a little retro (think: Jackie O), and she likes items very clean cut and tailored. She is neither extravagant, nor does she seem to revel in detail and “extra fluff.” The hardest part for her in all this would be to find a dress that speaks to her character, while being equally as magnificent and over-the-top as Westminister Abbey.

Assuming Ms. Middleton does indulge in two wedding dresses, one for the ceremony and one for the reception, how do you think she will vary her choices to both satisfy her new role as Prince William’s wife, but still stay true to her taste? I listed a few dress options below for her church and reception – but I guess we’ll have to wait until April 29th at 5:00 am to see whether my predictions ring true or false! No matter what happens, Kate will reign in a new era of wedding dress styles and requests from all future brides; that we can say for sure.

WESTMINISTER ABBEY
Kate will most likely go with a traditional ball gown dress, as dramatic as the history and celebration surrounding her big day. I believe that people will expect this of her, though she is a modern-day bride, and the Royal Family does have an "image," shall we say, to uphold. Though she should caution on the side of traditional and conservative with her dress for Westminister Abbey, I believe Kate will still add her own bit of modern flair to the dress with a form fitting, drop waist top.

Stephen Yearick Style 13068

Justin Alexander Style 8486

Ysa Makino Style 2756

RECEPTION FOLLOWING THE CEREMONY
This is where I hope Kate will be able to let loose and have a little more fun - though she will still have to remain conservative in her dress choice. I hope to see her in something more form fitting - she's a petite little thing and has a great figure that shouldn't be hidden under poof and crenoline the entire day. A dress with a simple silhouette such as the ones believe will accentuate her curves, while the lace in the first two and the jacket in the third, will add to the modesty element that people expect to see on the future Princess.

Enzoani Style Francesca

Justin Alexander Style 8530

Stephen Yearick Style 13171

IF KATE WERE TO BE MARRIED TO A SIMPLETON…So what if Kate were to marry a simpleton (i.e. NOT Prince Charles) - if she had her choice of a dress with on rules or expectations, this is what I could see Ms. Middleton donning. I would absolutely choose something in lace for her - she has that sweet and innocent disposition to her face and mannerism. It seems from her daily outfit choices that she (or maybe it's the Royal protocol) often choose to wear dresses with a sleeve. Whether or not this is the Queen's call remains to be told, but the fact is that the style suits hee dresr well - she has nice toned arms and a graceful collarbone and neck. So a dress with straps or cap sleeve are actually very nice on her and help to accentuate those features. I could imagine her in something very simple and sweet, with clean lines and pastel, floral colors either in the form of her bouquet or perhaps a bow around the waistline of the dress.

Paloma Blanca Style 4105

Watters Style Escalante

Watters Style Dallas

Again, find me on twitter at thevelvetcouch!!! Have a great weekend, brides!

in all things bridal,
V

Introducing Carvalli & Lhuillier Bridesmaids' Collections

2011-04-08T15:21:00.000-04:00

This week, Bijou Bridal has introduced two new lines of bridesmaids’ dresses into our arsenal of designers – Monique Lhuillier and Simone Carvalli by Impressions. You will find dresses from both designers averaging anywhere between $200-$300, which is typical for bridesmaids’ dresses, and styles ranging from young & flirty to sophisticated & chic. There is a style and shape for everyone in your wedding party! Let’s take a look at each respective designer’s collections this year.

Simone Carvalli

If you’re looking for a whimsical, fun bridal party – Simone Carvalli is your go to designer. Mixing bright, vibrant colors with a multitude of patterns and styles, Carvalli’s dresses are unique amongst styles of many plain Jane designers of bridesmaid’s dresses. Showcasing mostly knee length party dresses, most of the dresses are presented in taffeta with a few choices of satin and chiffon here and there. With one simple look at Carvalli’s collection, you immediately get the vibe of the young, partying Hollywood crowd. The dresses are sexy, fitted, and bright! For those of you who have worked with Impressions before, you’ll know that the one aspect of their company that really outshines the others is the variety of colors they offer in each fabric. With over 60 colors to choose from, you are sure to find a great match to your wedding colors!

Monique Lhuillier

The esteemed Monique Lhuillier has finally come out with a bridesmaid’s line: it’s about time! The bridesmaid’s collection features 16 dresses of mostly chiffon and taffeta with a few sprinkles of silk Dupioni for good measure. In keeping with Monique’s brand persona, the colors available for these dresses are limited to soft, pastel shades of a handful of colors – typical of her style. The overall look of the collection is Lhuillier to a T, oh-so-sweet and simple and the silhouettes are what you’d expect from her, classically understated with clean, precise lines, minimal fuss, and no beading (though there are some bows and ties here and there.) Overall, if you’re looking for an uncomplicated, fresh look and a dress that your bridesmaids would be likely to wear again, this is your go-to designer!

in all things bridal,

FAQ's: Bridesmaids' Dresses

2011-04-05T15:32:00.004-04:00

How should I go about choosing a dress? The first time you go dress shopping for them, ONLY go with 1-2 people; they don’t even have to be bridesmaids! You could bring your mom or grandma, or even come alone. When brides bring in all 20 people from the party, it can turn into -chaos and usually, especially with appointment’s time constraints, you will leave with nothing! The point in coming alone or with a small party is that you’re able to look through the selection and find dresses you would like the girls to have and get a better sense of what you’re doing – you can even try them on yourself to get a better idea of fit. This is one step in doing your research before involving everybody else. Have the sales consultant write these styles down, and come back for a second appointment with your girls, so they can try on what you’ve picked out. At least by the second appointment, you’ll be more familiar with what you like, what designers you want to use, what styles you’d like to go for, etc. You can get the girls involved by picking out a few more dresses during this second appointment, so they feel like they have choices that they agreed to. The only exception to this is if you’re a very decisive bride, you know exactly what you like and don’t like, and just want to get this over with in one shot – then just go by yourself, pick the dress, and be done with it! More often than not, however, brides will be overwhelmed by their friends (I mean what, it’s going to be 7 versus 1) and there will be a lot of confusion and disorder.

Will designers make changes to the dresses? Typically, no, it really depends on what you need done to the dress. For the most part, changes and alterations will have to be done with your tailor or seamstress. Bridesmaids’ designers are very inflexible – the dresses don’t retail for very much (in comparison to wedding costs as a whole) and it is not in their best financial interest to cater orders specifically to each and every account, unfortunately. If you have thoughts on changes you’d like made to your gown, discuss with your salesperson, they would know best what can and cannot be done.

Are there discounts for large bridal parties? Yes, most bridal boutiques should offer a discount for large wedding parties. The percentage may vary from business to business, so if price is of concern to you – call and ask in advance about their policy.

What do the bridesmaids have to do? Now, each girl will need to either come in the store to get measured (bust/waist/hip), go over the contract, and put their deposits down. If they are from out of town, they can get measured at a local tailor or a professional, and call in the measurements to the store you are ordering from. The store will then send them an electronic contract and deal with payment over the phone by credit card.

When will my order be placed with the designer? What makes this part hard is that a store will not send in bridesmaids’ dress orders until the last girl in the party has put down her deposit. This is because we want to order all the dresses at one time so each dress is cut from the same “dye lot” or piece of fabric. If you order each dress at a separate time or from different stores, there may be variations in shade – no two pieces of material will ever be exactly identical. This is not something that sometimes happens, it will definitely happen – how noticeable it will be will depend on the dye lot variations and how picky you are. Think about when you buy black clothes, the darkness and shade of black can really vary! So that’s why it’s important to get in all the orders at one time.

Will everyone be contacted once the dresses are in? Once the dresses are in and the store contacts you (the bride), it will be your responsibility to call your bridesmaids to let them know they can come in to try on their dresses.

Why do they need to come in to try on their dress? The reason you want each girl to come in and try on their dress is to make sure that there are no problems with the dress (tears, snags, etc.), and if there is an issue, it can be resolved promptly in your presence. If the dresses are shipped out or if somebody picks it up without inspection or trying it on, the boutique will not be responsible for anything once the dress leaves the store. It is more beneficial to you, the purchaser, to do this prior to taking it out.

When should they get alterations done on the dress? Your bridesmaids should make appointments to have their dresses altered and fitted approximately one month before the wedding. The dress won’t need to be picked up until the day before the wedding, that way it’s steamed and pressed to perfection.

in all things bridal,
V

Bridesmaids Shopping (Post 2 of 3)

2011-04-01T10:30:00.002-04:00

Okay, so now that that’s settled let’s go into the details of the actual shopping. Here are some decisions you should try to make prior to shopping – it will make your life (and ours) a LOT easier. Brides who come in without having made these decisions are usually unproductive. When making these decisions, you really want to think about: The time of year your wedding is in, the body shapes of your girls, and the overall look (casual, formal, etc.) of your wedding.

Then with that in mind, you want to answer the following five questions:

1. What color(s) do you want your girls to be in? Keep in mind that if you are very specific about the shade, you will have a harder time finding a designer that you can choose dresses from. While every designer carries dresses in many different colors, that doesn’t mean it comes in every shade of each color. Usually, there will only be 2-3 variations in shade per color under a designer’s collection.

2. Length of the dress: Knee length, tea length, or full length? Many designers don’t make dresses in a variety of lengths; the length the sample comes in is the way it is manufactured. So if you have a specific length in mind, bring it up prior to shopping because it will help to eliminate dresses in your search.

3. What material do you want: Chiffon, Satin, Taffeta, Dupioni, Shantung, or Charmeuse? You want to specifically think about your party’s body shapes and the time of year you’re getting married in. For instance, satin is not an ideal material for the summertime since it’s usually thicker and heavier than say, chiffon. If you want the satin look and sheen, without the weight, you would opt for something in Charmeuse. The downside of Charmeuse, however, is that it will show every lump and bump in someone’s body shape, so you’d have to make sure all of the girls in your party would be comfortable with that - most people have to wear Spanx underneath Charmeuse to give the look a clean finish.

4. Will all of your girls be wearing the same dress? Do you want something that will set apart your maid/matron of honor(s)?

5. Do you have a budget or price range in mind?

The rest of the process is honestly trial and error – but answering the four questions above will really help to weed out dresses and designers. Bridesmaids' shopping can be even more overwhelming than finding your wedding gown because you have many different people and bodies to work with, so finding something that will suite everyone and making them happy can be a challenge. Stay strong, brides, all of this CAN be done :)

in all things bridal,
V

You're Done, Now What About Your Bridesmaids?!?!

2011-03-30T13:19:00.003-04:00

Recently, we’ve been having a crazy influx of bridesmaid’s appointments and so I thought I would write about the best ways to go about choosing your wedding party’s dresses, some things to take into consideration, and how to make the most of your time. This will be a very straight forward post, but filled with information and answers to questions we get around the clock. This topic will be posted in three sections – this particular post focusing on timeline, the second on your research and what to do before your appointment, and the third on answers to frequent questions we get from brides.

Let’s start off with timeline:

It takes approximately 4-5 months (depending on the designer – each company has different timelines) to order and receive a bridesmaid’s dress and another month allotted for alterations giving you a total of 6 months before your wedding day for the whole process.
3 weeks before that 6 month mark is when your decision should be made on the dresses so that you give your wedding party enough time to go in to get measured, put down deposits, sign contracts, etc. So start shopping for the dresses with enough time to keep that in mind.
Tell your wedding party the deadline is actually ONE WEEK before the real deadline of 6 months before your wedding day because no matter how good of a friend they are, you’ll always have that one procrastinator in your wedding party who will ignore the deadline, push everything back, and cause your entire party to pay an extra rush shipping fee on the dresses because the order wasn’t in on time (and some companies don’t even offer that! So you’d have to pick another dress, if that’s the case.) This extra one week will allow you to take care of any of those problems, and if everything goes well – then at least the order was in early! Better early than late.

Side note: This is not to say that if you are 5 months to your wedding date, you can’t get your bridesmaids dresses – but it might limit you to the companies you can pick from. While a majority fall into the 3-4 month range, some of the more popular designers will require up to 5 months for delivery. So to really have your pick from any designer, it’s better to be safe than sorry and use this timeline as your guide.

And, to recap all of that:

7+ months before your wedding date: Start shopping and doing research on your bridesmaids’ dresses
6 months and 3 weeks before your wedding date: You’ve decided which bridesmaids dress you want
6 months and 1 week before your wedding date: Deadline that you give your bridesmaids to get their contracts and deposits in
6 months before your wedding date: REAL DEADLINE AND NO PLAYING AROUND – everything must be in

If you are cutting it close to your wedding date and have not yet chosen bridesmaids dresses, make sure to call the boutiques ahead of time to see if you can get any dresses on time with the designers that they carry. They’ll be sure to let you know which ones will be options for you, and whether or not any of the designers offer rush or super-rush options (usually an additional $20-$50 fee).

Lastly, I would just like to take a quick moment to say thank you, all, for continuing to read and check back on my blog! We reached 10,000 views yesterday afternoon :) Please feel free to message me or comment on a post with any questions or topics you'd like to see covered!

in all things bridal,
V

Food for Thought: The WOW Factor

2011-03-22T13:00:00.002-04:00

This is a phrase that I hear every day at Bijou Bridal from brides on a mission as well as moms, sisters, friends, grandmothers, and even little nieces and nephews who come here to help shop for a wedding dress. Everyone is looking for it, but what is the WOW factor, exactly? According to Urbandictionary.com, the WOW factor “… refers to an impressive and impactful element of the design which is used by the designer to reinforce particular aspects of the attendant's experience, usually resulting in particular sensory stimulation (visual, auditory, etc.)…” Blah. Blah. Blah. Simply put? It’s the gasp of the audience and the tears flowing down their cheeks as those double doors open and they watch you walk down the aisle towards your happily ever after.

However, there is a difference between the WOW for now and the forever WOW. The WOW for now is something that changes with time. Last year, brides were searching for the W. factor in bling and glitz galore – gowns adorned in Swarovski crystals and pearls. This year? They’re looking for it in the romance, construction, and the foundational design elements of the dress. This is the phrase that we’ve been hearing recently, “I want something different; something unique. I want the dress to speak for itself. I don’t want the beading or accessories on the dress to define the dress.” And so, this has become the new 2011 bridal trend. The thing is, every year the phrase changes and the old WOW is out and the new WOW is in. So how do you find one that will last a lifetime- the forever WOW? Unfortunately, it’s nothing tangible – what it really comes down to is finding the dress that is… well, you.

Easier said than done, you say, and you’re absolutely right. The forever WOW will be just like finding a husband – trying on dresses until you put on the one that screams, “JENNIFER!” “LINDSEY!” “CANDICE!” “MARIA!” “AMY!” or whatever you name may be, because ultimately when you walk down the aisle you want your guests to breathe, “That looks like a (insert your name here) dress.” THAT is the WOW factor of a lifetime and the ultimate compliment on your big day. Once a client of ours puts on a dress and says “This is me,” I automatically know she will be back for that because no matter how hard she searches or wherever else she may go, she will never find something that speaks to her soul more than this one. This is exactly why I say that once you’ve found the dress, STOP. Don’t go looking anywhere else – it will only confuse you more. After all, once you’ve found your perfect man, would you leave him to see what else is out there?

So my one piece of advice, should you choose to take any, is to stay true to your personality and taste. Ultimately, when you walk down the aisle, you still want to look like yourself – and in choosing a dress, accessories, theme, etc. , what will set you apart from other brides is your personality coming through in all the aspects of the wedding, starting with your dress. To show you what I mean about personality and dresses being a perfect fit, here are some examples of celebrity wedding dresses from the past few years.

Sarah Jessica Parker's character, Carrie Bradshaw, in Sex and the City: The Movie

Heidi Montag, of MTV's The Hills, at her ceremony to wed husband, Spencer Pratt

Ivanka Trump, daughter of real estate mogul, Donald Trump

Singer-Song writer, Gwen Stefani, at her wedding with husband, Gavin Rossdale (Left)

in all things bridal,
V

Shutterbooth.com

2011-03-16T12:55:00.003-04:00

Last Wednesday evening, Bijou Bridal was asked to be the premiere wedding boutique at the New Jersey Bride & the Association of Bridal Consultant’s second annual “Say Yes to the Best” event held at The Castle at Skyland Manor in Ringwood, NJ. With over 200 attendees at the event, we were able to meet all of you future brides, as well as other industry professionals in the greater New York and New Jersey area. One of the great things about events like these is the networking opportunities it brings to a company like ours, so that we can share our wealth of knowledge and information to our brides!

Incidentally, the table next to us that night was a company known as Shutterbooth who has a branch in Pennsylvania and recently extended their business into New Jersey. Now, we’ve seen plenty of photo booths before at these events, but why did this particular one stand out in our mind – or at least enough to write about it in our blog? Not only did they have the booth at the event, like every other company we’ve seen, but they were also showcasing a whole table of ways to make this a creative addition to your wedding, a nice keepsake for yourself and a souvenir for your guests!

At this event, anyone who was taking photographs was given a plastic sleeve cover with an attached ribbon to turn the pictures into a bookmark! They were so creative (I certainly wouldn’t have thought of that myself) and all of us in attendance couldn’t get over what a unique and interesting favor this was. I also saw little picture frames that you can insert the photo into to stand up on the table – another great and inventive way to turn your photo booth into favors for your guests! For you, the bride and groom, you can turn these photos into a keepsake guest book! Each copy is pasted into a photo album with enough space for your guests to write their messages of love and congratulations.

The booth can take both black and white pictures and color shots, and features 4 photos in a row. It’s actually very easy to use (unlike those you see down at the shore, where you have no idea when it’ll take your next picture) and it counts down every single time (with a few seconds in between to give you a chance to think of your next pose), then shows you a picture of what you took a split second afterwards. At the bottom of each row of pictures, you can customize the wording to depict your name and wedding date, or whatever you may choose! Prices start at $1350 for 4 hours and include unlimited photographs, as well as someone to direct people in using the booth.

Shutterbooth has other endeavors that go above and beyond for your wedding as well; products such as Shuttervideo – where your guests can record heartfelt wishes and greetings to you, Shuttervision will let your guests outside the photobooth see what’s going on inside and Live from Shutterbooth will capture your event and photo booth on a DVD for you as a keepsake or stream the event in real time on a website address! You’ll find a description of all these services on the “Experiences” tab on the top of their website. Also check out: Shutter Essentials, under that same tab for ideas on how to utilize these photos as favors for your guests and a keepsake for yourself.

Check out their website at: http://shutterbooth.com/

First Photo Courtesy of: Alex Rodrigues of W8 Photography
Other Photos Courtesy of: Shutterbooth website

in all things bridal,
V

Kellie Pickler’s Bridal Look

2011-03-09T12:40:00.002-05:00

Punky country singer, Kellie Pickler, an American Idol contestant from season six – recently interviewed with Ellen Degeneres on her choice to elope, rather than host a big star-studded event. Pickler and husband, Kyle Jacobs, chose to elope in the Caribbeans on the island of Antigua, this past January.

She donned an ivory satin and tulle dress designed by Badgley Mischka, very simple with buttons down the zipper in the back and a line of crystal clear beading along the train. Extremely understated, elegant, and with a no-fuss attitude (very descriptive of the star’s style), the dress she chose was light and airy for her beach wedding – and with a surprise feature: the tulle ball gown skirt is removable to show a mini satin dress underneath, perfect for her after-ceremony celebration with her husband.

If you like Kellie Pickler’s bridal look – here are some other options to take into consideration!

Romona Keveza: Style RK224

This Keveza dress from the Spring 2011 collection is a little more of a drop-waist than Kellie’s dress, but still features the soft, flowy movement that made Pickler’s dress the perfect choice for her destination wedding. The simple beaded band around the natural waistline will help to bring in your waist and the sweetheart cut top helps to accentuate and create curves in the chest. You can see from this model, mid-walk, that the dress has great dimension and dynamic. If you’re looking for a modern take on Kellie Pickler’s dress, this is a great choice!

Watter's: Style Austin

Another option is Austin from the Watters’ Bridal collection, photographed here in ivory (but also available in white.) Made of luxurious silk organza, this ball gown style has the same natural waistline and belt design as Pickler’s dress, with the added bonus of an enlarged flower detail on the belt. How sweet! The waistline, featured here, has criss-cross ruching which helps to accentuate the smallness of the bride’s waist very nicely. The organza is flowy, yet structured, and extremely light and comfortable for any wedding location.

Justin Alexander: Style 8483 (full) or 8465 (tea)

This tulle and lace dress features a natural waistline, pearl and crystal clear embroidery, and a very full ball gown skirt. It is a terrific dress for any figure – whether you’re petite or plus-size, the ruched and naturally cinched waist can create curves or help to hide it! How, you may ask? While the waistline will bring in a small figure – the 3 dimensional appliqués in the chest and the fullness of the skirt will create the illusion of having curves. Alternately, if you have a fuller figure, the ruched waist will help to cinch the smallest part of your build and the fullness of the skirt will serve to hide the hips. It’s a win-win situation for any body type! This dress also comes in a very sweet tea length style, perfect for a garden or park wedding – show off some brightly colored, fun shoes at your wedding with the tea length version! A great idea that some of our brides have utilized is to purchase both the full and tea length styles – so you can wear the long dress for your ceremony, first dance, and the beginning of your reception – and change into the shorter version once you’re ready to party with your guests for the remainder of the night!

in all things bridal,

Friend us on Facebook!

2011-03-04T11:41:00.004-05:00

Instead of following us by signing up through the blog, friend us on Facebook and get updates when blogs are posted, we host events, or new dresses arrive at our locations. It’s the perfect way to stay in touch and get the latest updates. As long as you’re on Facebook (let’s not lie, everyone is), you might as well be productive! Spread the word to your friends and family so they can also be “in the know” on the latest fashion trends, planning tips, and wedding advice. You never know when it might come in handy – especially if there are some good tips or pieces of information that will help your wedding party better support you.

Also, since I started writing this blog, some guy friends have been following along and they love how easy everything is to read and how much they are learning – so why not get your significant other involved, as well? They might be more interested in this than you think and it won’t hurt for them to get to know the process, what you’re going through, and how to assist you as you continue through the steps of planning your dream day. It would be much easier to get them to read a paragraph or two once or twice a week, than to read a whole book on wedding planning that you bought!

You can find either stores page by searching “Bijou Bridal” under people – and you will find two locations: Paramus, NJ and Ardmore, PA. Friend whichever is closest to you! =)

Have a great weekend, brides!

in all things bridal,
V

Spring 2011 Collections

2011-03-03T12:22:00.007-05:00

Many brides are under the impression that the new Spring 2011 gown collections roll out at the start of the new year. I’m here to put that myth to rest. For most companies, while the products may show up online (and you are able to order them for the most part), they slowly send out the samples to boutiques who order them . The gowns roll in starting at the end of January and may arrive as late as March to April. If you are waiting to look at the gowns from a specific designer for the new season, it’s always a good idea to give the boutique a call to ask, prior to making an appointment, to ensure that you’ll find the collections you’re looking for.

With that said, I’ve enjoyed seeing many of the new dresses that have come into our stores and the trend seems to be a little more of a minimalist, understated romance and elegance approach, with a greater attention to detail in regards to the flow and spread of the silhouette. You can see an example of this in the three dresses below, all new additions to the store from the respective designer’s Spring 2011 collection!

The Watter’s Sydney dress from their 2011 collection features a structured, sweetheart lace dress with a tulle overlay. In addition to the unfinished, scalloped neckline, the gown also cinches the waist with a grosgrain ribbon in ivory. While tulle is not my favorite material, this dress is so unique it really grabbed my attention. Very rarely do you see tulle and lace done in this fashion – what a breath of fresh air to see something original! The dress does not have a long train, and represents the very ethereal, flowing design that I mentioned previously. The waistline ribbon also ties into a bow in the back, giving Sydney the girly feature that the dress calls for. The back of the dress also dips low into a V shape, and continues with the unfinished lace work.

Paloma Blanca's Style 4111 is a gorgeous trumpet style dress made of silk satin, with a corset-tied back. Fitted through the body with large, distanced ruching and a skirt with pick-ups, 4111 is the essence of modern beauty. While many of the trumpet or mermaid styles tend to be too modern, Paloma Blanca has always been more on the traditional side – and they’ve brought that same personality here to 4111. You can see this especially with the addition of the pick-ups in the skirt, since most fitted dresses don’t include that type of design element.

Lastly is this Enzoani Fabi – for those of you who follow my blog, you’ll know that I’m quite partial to Enzoani’s designs, and Fabi is no exception to this. At first glance, it seems like a heavy dress – there is a lot of pleating and folds built into the design, but because the dress is made of gaza, and the top is structured so well, the bride won’t actually feel the weight of the dress too much. Like they say, it’s not the weight of the object, but how you carry it, that makes all the difference. On the hangar, it’s hard to tell what the dress fits like – but when the first client tried it on, I was pleasantly surprised! It is actually a drop waist (though not as low as some of Enzoani’s other designs) with the typical fit-and-flare or modified A-line figure. It’s extremely dreamy and flows beautifully as you walk.

As an added bonus for reading this blog, I’m here to let you know that if you go to www.enzoani.com right now, you have the chance to enter their sweepstakes. The company will fly out you (the bride) and a special guest to their Fashion Event taking place July 18-21st where they will be showcasing their 2012 collection in Newport Beach, California! All you have to do is “like” Enzoani via Facebook to be entered. Think that’s it? Not at all! You will also win a FREE BRIDAL GOWN courtesy of Enzoani! Facebook away, brides!

in all things bridal,
V

I LOVE GOOGLE!!!

2011-02-22T15:28:00.000-05:00

If you weren’t already a huge fan of Google’s many business endeavors and applications, here’s another reason to fall in love with the conglomerate. Recently I discovered the newest addition to the Google Family: Simplify Wedding Planning, the perfect way to help you get organized for your wedding! You can keep your guests up to date on what’s happening with your wedding by making a website and designing electronic save the date cards, create a budget, music list, seating chart, and more using Google templates, and allow your guests to share in the memories of your unforgettable day. All this and so much more are available on Google’s Wedding Planning!

And... doesn’t everybody needs a little extra cash on their wedding day?! Well, Google Wedding Planning is hosting a sweepstakes for the chance to win $25,000 towards your dream wedding and a 25 hour consultation with Michelle Rago and team of Michelle Rago Destinations, Inc. The contest will end on March 28, 2011 – so check it out and enter the sweepstakes!

Sharing

Create your own website using Google Wedding Planning! They have ready-made templates, and an easy step-by-step guide to creating an interesting and informative website for your guests to peruse. You can post information about the bride and groom, the wedding party, location of the event, your registry, and even a RSVP section for those more tech savvy (plus, it saves you time and stamps!)

You can also add music to your website, post your “couple” song or something upbeat to get your guests excited about the upcoming nuptials. Below are two of the background themes from the Google Wedding Website that I really liked, the first is called “Elegant” and the second “Lily” – they have a total of 12 themes to choose from, so there’s something for everyone!

Planning

Ahh what technology can do for us these days! That probably made me sound older than I really am, but nonetheless, it amazes me what we can accomplish as brands start creating more products geared towards making our life easier. For instance, the Google Wedding Planning has a section that will allow your guests to fill out an address form for you to compile for invitations.

Also included in this new product is a template for your guest list to keep track of who has responded, what their preferences were, and their address information for future reference. The wedding budget guide is also very thorough and will help you keep track of any aspects that you haven’t thought to consider yet – this is especially important when you first start planning and need to get an idea of how much you’ll be spending. We all know it’s so easy to overspend when you don’t have set guidelines for yourself! Especially for a moment and an event as big as this! There are more templates, all designed by Michelle Rago and company, to help you in your planning and organizing! All of the documents include little tips and notes to help you along your way.

Memories

Lastly is the memories – all of the pictures and videos you’ve accumulated throughout your special day. Share them through Picasa and edit them using Picnik! It’s a great way to not only share the pictures that were taken by the photographer, but it will also give guests the opportunity to share with YOU the pictures taken from their perspective. It’s a really nice way to share in moments that you may have missed during the craziness that was your wedding day.

Happy Planning, brides!

in all things bridal,
V

Variations on Hair Accessories

2011-02-15T13:42:00.001-05:00

OVER HAIR

The first, and most popular, location the veil can be situated is over your up do or on top of your head.

This is the most traditional way seen on brides and should not affect the length of the veil too much.

UNDER HAIR

The second location the veil can be placed is underneath the up do. This is useful especially if you have an elaborate hairdo and would like it to be showcased, rather than hidden underneath the veil as you walk down the veil. Make sure you take note of the length of your veil when ordering, as placing is underneath your hair do will make it longer (elbow will likely become fingertip length, so on and so forth.)

VEIL WITH COMB

Whether you have an up do, will sweep one side of your hair up, or will have a side ponytail

with cascading curls, comb accessories add a little interest to your hair and veil. They come in a

variety of sizes, textures, and fabrics – anything from feathers, flowers, and netting to sparkle

and rhinestone encrusted hair pieces, the possibilities are endless.

Also this way, after your veil comes off for your reception, you’ll still have a

little something interesting in your hair as you dance the night away!

VEIL WITH HAIRBAND

A common trend these days, the Swarovski or jewel lined hair bands have made their way into the hearts of brides everywhere and add a little sweetness to the overall look of the day. These too can come in a variety of sizes and materials – some are placed on traditional metal hair bands and others on a strand of ribbon to be tied underneath the hair. Brides tend to go towards this look if they like the look of the tiara, but find the height and thickness too much for their personality. The hair band is an elegant and sophisticated way to modernize the look of the traditional princess tiaras.

While the actual hair band look has evolved – the idea is as old as… Disney!

Cinderella wore one before she became an official Princess!

Remember the blue hair ribbon she wore in her hair at the ball the night she lost her slipper?

The same goes for Belle – she wore one in her bun when she had her

infamous date with the Beast and they danced in his ballroom.

VEIL WITH TIARA

A glitzy and glamorous tradition, the tiara boasts the “fairy-tale princess” feeling

and can really add a lot of POW to a bride’s wedding day attire.

Even the tiara has become a bit more modern in design these days –

but still, you can find them in a variety of heights, detail, and material.

If you liked the look of Princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty

or Ariel on her wedding day with Prince Eric, this is the look for you!

And remember, with either the tiara or hair band, you have the added bonus of

keeping something in your hair even after your take the veil out for the reception.

Happy accessorizing!

in all things bridal,

Veils, Veils, & More Veils: So Many Choices!!!

2011-02-08T12:30:00.002-05:00

Welcome back, brides and brides-to-be! Thanks for returning to read the second blog of this series on veils. This post will focus on the various lengths, and what silhouette matches them best. Of course, always use your best judgment – play around with the different lengths, and pay close attention the style and detail on your dress. You don’t want to cover up any intricate beading or any aspect that makes your dress special!

Birdcage (length not shown above)

Seen on celebrities like Katherine Heigl and Jessica Alba, the birdcage veil is today’s hottest wedding trend. Worn over the head, usually asymmetrically on one side of the face, the birdcage veil exudes an essence of the vintage pill box hat seen in the 1960’s on the likes of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, with a modern flair.

Popularly worn with lace dresses or gowns of a simpler design, the birdcage

can add the right touch of both a contemporary and antiquated element to your wedding attire.

Don’t be fooled though, just because the birdcage is far less material does not make it less pricey.

Birdcage veils can still run up as high as $300-$400.

An alternative way to attain the same spirit as a birdcage veil, without the hefty price, is to purchase a hair comb with a combination of feather and netting. Sweep your hair to one side and pin the comb in place. TA-DA! A very similar style and vintage feel, with a modern twist, for half the price.

Shoulder Length (a.k.a. fly-away)

Shoulder length veils are a fun, laid-back way to stick with tradition while eliminating all of the fuss of a veil. It is a much more casual look than any of the other veils, and because of the shorter length (less weight pulling down the veil) and the netting material used, they appear to have more volume than the other lengths.

Elbow Length

This is probably the third most popular length for a veil seen on brides today. True to its name, the longest layer of the veil should hit just about where your elbow lies with your arms down by your side. This length is especially good for any dress which flairs out from the top of your hip bone, either A-line or ball gown style, because the veil will hit your dress at the top of the skirt without hiding the silhouette. The elbow length veil is also great for any wedding gown with intricate detail on the back of the skirt, as you don’t want to cover any of that up with another layer of fabric.

Fingertip Length

The fingertip length is the most popular length, and a great style for almost any dress! As seen here on Alyson Hannigan, the fingertip length veil is the perfect combination of length and comfort, it’s long enough to add some pizzazz to your ensemble, but not obtrusive enough to be bothersome. The fingertip length should typically sit just below your tush, thus making it perfect for any fit-and-flare, modified A-line, trumpet, mermaid, or drop waist dress. The end of the longest piece should hit right where the dress flares out, which will help to showcase the fit, as well as highlight the focal point of the silhouette.

Waltz Length

A more formal style of the fingertip length, the waltz length (which falls approximately 65 inches from the comb), is great for those who have a much more dramatic, low-starting mermaid or trumpet dress, or an A-line – if you want more drama than a fingertip, but less than a chapel or cathedral.

Chapel Length

Chapel length veils may either simply grace the floor with material or drop down a few inches to the end of your train, rather than running past the length of your train like the cathedral veils tend to do. This is a great veil choice for a dress with a rather short train, or a simple style gown that needs a little something extra to give it a punch, without overwhelming its minimalism. I would not recommend this length if your dress has a substantial train – either go very long, or short. An in-between length, like the chapel, on a gown with a long train will seem disproportionate.

Cathedral Length

Think, Maria from the Sound of Music… except maybe not as drastic.

The cathedral veil is the most traditional style of all the veils.
(Seen here on Marcia Cross, and below on Kate Hudson in Bride Wars.)

Runner-up in popularity, simply because many brides don't care for the fuss of having a longer veil, it can add major drama to any gown or ceremony, given its span of material.
Cathedral length veils can look amazing with any dress.

An added bonus is using it as a “prop” in your photos; photographers can utilize veils in this length to a great extent – letting it blow in the mind or wrapping it around your groom.

I’ve seen many wedding photographs of fun things photographers have done with cathedral veils.
It's an easy prop to play around and have fun with!

As previously posted, it’s always a good idea to shop for veils once you’ve had your hair trial, so you can consider where the comb for the veil, or any hair accessory you choose, will lie. Ultimately, where you position the comb in your hairdo will ultimately determine the length of the veil - so these are just guidelines to lengths manufacturers make when you place the comb on top of your hairdo. Obviously, if you plan on putting the comb underneath your up-do - the lengths will change and the elbow length may become a fingertip length. The various options to consider will be discussed in the next post – so stay tuned, and thanks again for checking back on these series of Veil blogs!

in all things bridal,
V

Veil Basics

2011-02-03T16:20:00.001-05:00

So, let me go over some veil basics before we delve into the different types and how to wear them. There are a few things you should know when shopping for a veil and hair pieces. First and foremost, it’s always a good idea to make an appointment on the same day as your hair trial with your stylist. This way, you can try on hair accessories while you have your hair done in the same manner as you would the day of the wedding. It makes it much easier to envision what you’ll look like, and gives you ideas as to how you will position everything in your hairstyle.

TIMELINE

Veils typically take about 3-4 months to come in from the day that you order it. But this doesn’t mean that you should wait last minute. I would suggest ordering the veil so that it coincides with the estimated time of arrival of your wedding dress. This way, at your first fitting, you can have everything together for the seamstress to look at. Believe it or not, it’s important that we check that the length of the veil matches your dress proportion, so that alterations can be made accordingly.

COST

Veils can range anywhere from $100-$500. Why the cost difference? The length you choose (obviously more material = higher cost), the type of trimming you have along the edge of the veil, as well as the material of the veil, will dictate the overall cost. Expect to pay about $250-$300 for your average veil. It is possible to buy veils off the internet, but I would not recommend a bride do this because there is a big difference between veils that may look exactly the same but are not at all when it comes to the material used or the way that the netting is sewn onto the comb. A bad veil could make or break the way you look on your wedding day and in your photos.

LENGTH

Tomorrow’s post will focus on the different veil lengths and when to wear them. For now, just keep in mind that any sample veil you try on can come in any length. So if you tried on a pearl edged fingertip-length veil that you loved, the company will be able to do the exact same edging for a chapel length.

COLOR

Though the sample in the store may be in just one color, every veil comes in all shades of white to match your dress – so whether your dress is white, diamond white, ivory, natural, or champagne – more than likely, every veil you see can be done to suit your color choice.

TIERS

What are your choices? Your choices are between one or two tiers. With one tier, you will not have a blusher to throw over your face as you walk down the aisle. It will simply be placed behind you or over your shoulders, whichever you prefer, as an additional accessory to your bridal look. With two tiers, you have the option of having a traditional blusher – but it is not required that you use it as a blusher. Many brides like the additional volume and formality of a second tier, without wanting to throw the blusher over. This is perfectly acceptable and very popular for brides to do. A third option is to purchase two lengths on separate combs. Brides love this idea, as it gives them the option of having either some extra volume or something simpler when taking their photographs after the ceremony. They can throw both on as they walk down the aisle, and then leave only the shorter one in for the reception. (As a side note, samples will be shown in either one or two tiers, but rest assured that the veil that you love in one tier - can most likely be ordered in two tiers and vice versa.)

PERSONALITY

You can literally get anything your little heart desires! Veil edges can match your dress to the T – anything from pearls to clear crystal beading, rainbow Swarovski jewels to a plain Jane with no edge or a veil with a simple satin trim. Pay close attention to the type of beading you have on your dress, and match your veil accordingly! You’d be surprised at the number of choices you have nowadays.

Now that you’ve got the basic information down when it comes to veil shopping, we can start looking at the different lengths and styles. Check back tomorrow for this new post!

in all things bridal,
V

Out With the Old & In With the New!!!

2011-02-02T14:32:00.002-05:00

The use of a veil in a wedding’s ceremony goes back thousands of years to the ancient Greek and Roman periods. It was used to symbolize a variety of ideas in regards to the union between a man and a woman, first and foremost that the bride’s looks are for the groom alone and nobody else. The veil provided a screen of intimacy and modesty for the bride. Secondly, it served as an unveiling of a woman to her future husband by a family member, typically the bride’s father, as a gesture of acceptance and acknowledgement that she is beginning a new life and her family is letting her go. Lastly, and far less sentimental, when girls would have arranged marriages, the family did not want the future husband to see her face before making the commitment in fear that he would not find her attractive, so they would cover her face with a veil. (Romantic, I know.)

Nowadays, though some women still follow the tradition of wearing a blusher (the piece of the veil that falls down over the face) down the aisle, there are many new and modern ways to wear it.

Long gone are the days of:

This is what many women imagine when they think of a veil! But this isn’t true when it comes to the fabulous, contemporary bride. I mean, have you seen Sex and the City 1 yet? The Pied Piper bird feather on Carrie’s head rang in a new era of bridal hair accessories and veils. So for those of you who thought of discounting the veil because of what your stereotype is, don’t! They’re a beautiful, traditional addition to any ceremony, and more importantly, they’ve changed with the times. The biggest difference is that modern veils have less poof. Veils are softer, thinner, and lay flatter than those in the past. Good riddance!

I say, out with the old and in with the new:

The posts over the next few days will concentrate on everything veil related. You should be an expert by the end of the week! Happy reading!

in all things bridal,
V

Using Artificial Flowers in Your Wedding

2011-01-26T12:28:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, I dropped by an AC Moore for the first time in many years. I thought I’d just be in and out to grab one thing that I needed, and left with eight items instead. It’s amazing how much time you can spend in that store, perusing the aisles – even in areas you have no interest or skill in. T-shirt design, jewelry making, crocheting – no, no, and no – I can’t do any of those, and yet I spent over an hour and a half among those aisles and the rest of the store just looking at what knick-knacks companies sell for the everyday Martha Stewart. Then I came across the silk flower section in the middle of the store - two humongous aisles of every flower imaginable in every color imaginable. And of course, being me, I started playing around with flower arrangements (much to their employees’ dismay, I’m sure.)

I had always been the type of girl who disliked getting flowers as gifts – I always say, “If you’re going to get me flowers – one will mean the same as a dozen.” And I’ve always meant it - they’re expensive and they die in a week or two – talk about a waste of money! But, let’s face it – flowers are one of the biggest elements in a wedding – they’re everywhere! Bouquets, jacket lapels, wrists, table settings, card/gift table, along the aisle you will walk down, and on and on and on – there’s no way to avoid it. Watching Platinum Weddings, I’m sometimes astounded at how much people think is appropriate to spend on flowers! So seeing these silk flowers at AC Moore and combining that with my dismay at the use of real flowers, led me to wonder about using artificial flowers in a wedding. Think about it, artificial flowers would cut costs, your type will never be out of season, and you can keep them FOREVER!

In lieu of my brilliant revelation, I decided to make friends with the floral consultant at the AC Moore to see what her thoughts were on this. Turns out, my idea was not as one-of-a-kind as I led myself to believe - bummer. The idea has been very popular amongst brides and they have terrific feedback on quality and especially, guests not knowing the difference – perhaps the last weddings you attended were adorned with silk flower arrangements! Brides especially love the fact that they could have their bouquets encased and displayed in their home for years to come. It also makes an amazing heirloom to pass down to your future daughter(s) or daughter(s) in law!

Price can really range depending on the same factors as a real bouquet – quality of the flowers, how big it is, any additional elements you’d like, etc. Luckily, AC Moore has complimentary flower arranging – so you can utilize their staff to help you put together all of your bouquets and display pieces that nobody will really see up close or touch. Websites that sell these artificial flower bouquets are often expensive – almost more so than a bouquet of real flowers - because they're premade for you! But it doesn’t have to be that way - you can absolutely achieve the same look yourself.

This gorgeous bouquet of ivory and cream showcases rhinestones, crystals, and freshwater pearls. Found on http://www.emicibridal.com/, this bouquet retails for $900.00. OUCH! The same bouquet at your local crafts store could be made for a mere $30-50, the biggest difference being that you might need to put in some of your own time to make it so, but what’s the harm in a half hours worth of work to save $850? Make it a girl’s night with your bridesmaids by purchasing all of the materials, and have them come over to spend a night creating their own gorgeous bouquet of flowers. The rhinestones really spice up the bouquet and draw guest’s attention to something other than the flowers themselves – bling is quite distracting! The cost of the flowers, a few yards of matching ribbon, and a baggie of rhinestones and crystals – and voila! You’ve got your own bouquet.

in all things bridal,
V

Enzoani Spring 11 Fabulous-ness!

2011-01-22T10:55:00.004-05:00

Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting an Enzoani Trunk show for the 2011 Bridal Collection. When I first saw them coming out of the grey boxes they were delivered in, I was almost appalled at some of the dresses we were hanging up on the racks – and so disappointed because Enzoani is one of my favorite designers! Little did I know, I fell victim to the very things I wrote about in my last few blogs, which was that bridal gowns look entirely different on the body than on the hangar. I should’ve known better than to doubt Enzoani, shame on me! I definitely ate my words the next day when clients began trying them on. So in light of the trunk show, I wanted to give some quick thoughts on the Enzoani Spring 2011 bridal gowns and go through some of my favorites in this new collection of 22 dresses.

As aforementioned, Enzoani is one of my favorite designers, so I suppose you can say I’m partial to his gowns. All of Enzoani’s designs aim to highlight the figure – to celebrate the curves of your waist and hips – and accentuate what makes us … well, women! One excellent example of this is the use of the corset inside of Enzoani’s dresses. He really knows what we want! The corset inside looks like the hooks on the back of a bra, but there are about 10-15 of them going down and attached to the inside of the dress, holding brides securely and giving them a flawless, svelte shape. Amazing, right? Not only that, but what really draws me to his designs are the way he mixes modern elements of couture to the traditional, bridal look we’ve dreamed of since we first held Bridal Barbie in our hands. Sometimes I feel like so many designers either move one way or the other – either very traditional, Princess-like gowns – or very modern, chic, Metropolitan Wedding-type designs. What’s wrong with having a little of each? The answer is absolutely nothing, and Enzoani does a spectacular job of molding the two ideas together. Brilliant!

If you didn’t already know, each of Enzoani’s gowns is named after a girl’s name (though some of them make me shudder in fear that somebody would really name their daughter that, but to each their own) and he does them in alphabetical order. So the 2009 collection were all D’s, 2010 were all E’s, and this new 2011 collection are all names beginning with F – 22 names in total. You can find all of the following pictures, as well as the collections from 2009 and 2010, at http://www.enzoani.com/.

Fatima
At first, I have to admit that I was a little put off by all of the tulle on Fatima. Tulle is probably one of the least structured materials used in wedding gowns, and can be very unsightly when designed incorrectly. But once Fatima was steamed and all the layers had been ironed out – the tulle lay beautifully in a very full A-line skirt. Fatima is a classic example of Enzoani’s play on the traditional, modern bride. With the top portion falling as a mid-range drop waist (right in the middle of your hip bone), it gives brides that hourglass figure that makes modern women sexy and sleek, and combines it with the very popular velvet ribbon* (which is something Enzoani is known for) around the natural waistline in either black or white. The traditional look is seen in Fatima’s skirt, showcasing the traditional A-line silhouette with enough volume for the tulle to be structured, and the use of lace appliqués for a little more feminity and softness amongst the tulle. Place Fatima in your local, family church, walking down the aisle and then dancing the night away at your venue of choice.

Ferryn

First, I had to Facebook this name to see if anybody in the world was named Ferryn, since it’s so unique – and there was! We have 7 friends in common (ah, the wonders of Facebook)! So after this discovery, I had to look it up in a baby book and found out that Ferryn means “adventurous.” What a perfect name for this dress. The silky organza that they use in this dress is dreamy – movable, yet structured enough to hold its shape. The asymmetrical pull onto the left side of the gown with the peek-a-boo flowers and lace mix is so romantic. In Ferryn’s case, as opposed to Fatima, we have a modern skirt and traditional top. Ferryn’s top is organza folded into large, ruched pleats, much more conservative in the neckline. The ruching is done in a manner that slims the waistline and hugs the curves (they say ruching, done well, can make a bride look 10 pounds lighter.) The drop waist is higher than Fatima’s, sitting right at the top of your hip bone, but below your natural waistline – still giving the wearer an hourglass, feminine figure. Ferryn includes a jacket** (seen here as the lace netting) with a high collar that has the feel of a vintage dress, but when paired with Ferryn’s fit, it has a high-class, couture look, as well. Also included is a belt with black beading, meant to give a pop of color onto the back of the dress. While it is included, the belt is not sewn on and can come off of the dress (as all Enzoani belts can.) Imagine Ferryn walking down the aisle at a magnificent, cathedral church, followed by a reception in an elegant and classic ballroom.

Flora
Talk about romantic. Flora gives off an essence of fluid movement, softness, and grace in the tulle falling over the lace underlay. But her beauty lies in the pattern of the dress fit - slim, unobtrusive, and effortlessly ethereal. The Swarovski crystal embellishment in the middle of the chest is Enzoani’s signature modern touch (the shape of a ribbon), but the size and placement is done in such a way, that it doesn’t take away or distract from the natural lines of the gown. Notice the way that the tulle allows for an extension to the dress, without the weight of material. The minimalism of Flora’s design helps to display a woman’s beauty in the neck, collarbone, shoulders, and arms – gorgeous. This empire waist dress is perfect for a beach, park, or outdoor wedding!

Finley
This was probably one of the more popular dresses tried on during Bijou’s trunk show. Like Ferryn, Finley features a modern skirt and traditional top, which works with the design because with a skirt like that, you wouldn’t want anything to detract from it. The Mikado skirt features a floral skirt (starting with large rosettes at the bottom to small near the hips), showcasing a very couture mermaid/trumpet-like style. This drop waist is the lowest of the ones I’ve talked about, and comes down below the butt to really display the hourglass shape from chest and waist, to hips and top thighs, of a woman’s body. Again, we have some pleating at the chest, which is similar to Ferryn, but the whole bodice from the chest down is a plain Silk Dupioni (one of my favorite materials.) What would this Enzoani dress be without the signature black (or ivory or white) ribbon? Sitting at the natural waist line, it will pull the eyes into the narrowness of the waist and accentuate your figure by splitting up the top of the hourglass from the bottom. Finley can be spotted at your upscale Manhattan rooftop wedding, or before a backdrop of the glowing lights at a museum.

Fifi
Last but not least, Fifi. If you haven’t noticed by now, Enzoani is entranced by lace and the romantic, vintage look (thus making his style ½ traditional). Fifi is no exception – with an emphasized mermaid silhouette, Fifi is the epitome of the WOW factor. If you love drama, a slim fit, and lace – this is your dress! Fitted to the top of your kneecap before flaring out, Fifi is the ultimate combination of tradition (lace) and the contemporary style (mermaid.) She features a scalloped neckline and a hip-hugging, curve-loving shape. Though beautiful on its own, I often suggest that we spice up the gown with a colored flower belt (one of Enzoani’s design) or a simple velvet belt of pearls and crystal clear beads. Just like Flora, the lay of the dress is elegant in its simplicity, and showcases the above-the-chest beauty of the female profile. Breathtaking and vintage, Fifi can be seen at a country club, garden, or outdoor wedding.

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* Idea: Enzoani ribbons can be sold separately, so why not get both and wear the white ribbon for your ceremony, and the black one for your reception! Small details like this can really add to the wedding.
** Note: Ferryn’s jacket can be sold separately and looks great paired with Fifi, or any of Enzoani’s lace dresses for a more conservative ceremony.
** Idea: Leave the jacket on for your ceremony, and take it off for your reception!

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in all things bridal,
V

GENIUS Website for your Wedding Playlist

2011-01-19T12:21:00.003-05:00

Greetings, lovely brides! I’d like to share with you a new find that I came across this week. One of the biggest factors in creating a good atmosphere at your reception is the music. Brides make decisions everyday about whether they’ll go for a DJ or band, the genre of music they’d like to hear, and what their guests would enjoy. Why not get your guests involved so you can ensure that everybody has a stellar time at your wedding? We all know how hard it is to approach the DJ as a guest and request a song. For starters, they can barely hear what you’re saying, and chances are if I do hear my song, it won’t be for another hour and a half by which time I’ve moved on to bigger and better things (the most obviously being the cute groomsmen and the open bar.)

The website, http://www.songvote.com/, is a free service for couples – and allows you to post a list of songs that you wanted to play, and find out which are the most popular. You can also allow your guests to nominate songs they’d like to hear, so you have an idea as to what will get your guests on the dance floor. Nothing is worse than an empty dance floor and the sound of crickets at your wedding reception. Bride’s. Worst. Nightmare.

Sign-up online, register your event, add a deadline (so your DJ/band has some time to make sure they have everything in their repertoire), and let your guests know they can contribute to the song selections! Poll away, ladies!

in all things bridal,
V

Your Dream Dress (Part 3 of 3): Buying the Dress

2011-01-18T13:21:00.004-05:00

So you made it back for your second appointment to see the dresses you love. Congratulations! You’re one step closer to making the big decision. There’s very little I can say to help you make that decision. The only advice I can give you is: when you know it's the one, you will feel it. And don’t doubt yourself, don’t second guess your thoughts because someone else made a comment – do you feel beautiful? If the answer is yes, then that’s the only answer you need. So, what happens now and what should you prepare for?

Measurements

The consultant will take your measurements – depending on the designer, they may take different types of measurement to accommodate proportion and such - but generally speaking, they will measure your bust, waist, and hip. For those who are “number conscious,” prepare yourself for the size category you are about to be placed in. Bridal gowns run about one to two sizes higher than your normal department store dress. For instance, if you are typically a 0, you will most likely be a 4 in a bridal gown; size 2 will be a 6, so on and so forth. DON’T LET THE NUMBER BOTHER YOU. Even if you think you are 300% sure you can fit into the smaller size, you will be getting alterations no matter what and it is much easier to take in a gown then it is to let it out. Your consultants are professionals and they know what they’re doing. They measure and size girls every day, trust them. I know the number can be scary, but you need to let it go just this once. You will certainly regret the decision to go smaller when your $5,000 purchase comes in and the dress is puckering around your waist and hips. Think of it this way, it is the job of your seamstress to make the dress fit perfectly to you – and if going up a size means that she can take it in just the way you like it, then why not?

Undergarments

It’s important to let your consultant know if you plan on wearing a slip to give the dress skirt more volume, or a thick bra. This will affect the measurements taken. If you plan to wear a slip for more volume, then the length of the skirt will change, since the added volume will lift the skirt up. So if you are tall, want to wear a slip, and plan on wearing high heels – they may need to order your dress with extra length to accommodate that. Likewise, if you plan to wear a thick corset top underneath to give yourself better shape in your wedding dress, you should mention that as well. Corset tops can add an extra inch of material, which might make your consultant consider going one size up to accommodate the extra material. In any case, it is important to fill your consultant in on any thoughts you have or decisions you’ve made regarding the dress.

Larger Sizes or Extra Length

This is just a side note, because brides are often taken aback by this information. Many designers charge an extra fee for larger dress sizes or if a bride needs extra length to accommodate height (typically if you’re 5’8”+ and will be wearing a heel.) So if you fall into either of those categories, make sure to find out how much you’ll be tacking onto the price of the dress.

The Contract

Every bridal boutique has a customized contract for your order stating their policies on everything from the payment plan to policies on picking up your dress. Read it thoroughly. Make sure you know when you need to pay the remainder of your dress by (if you’re just making a deposit), how much interest accrues if you do not, and what is and is not included in their alterations package – all of the small details count. Ask any questions if you don’t understand something, and always make sure you have a copy of whatever you’re signing. They should also go over the entire order with you from the style number, color, and size to any special notes about how the dress fit on you and why they are recommending the size they are. You should walk away feeling confident and comfortable that everything was taken care of and your order is being placed exactly as you like.

Estimated Time of Arrival

Your bridal boutique won’t be able to give you an exact date for the arrival of the dress until they put the order in to the company. If you’d like to find out so you can be on the lookout for a phone call, ask the sales manager to give you a call when they place the order and get an ETA. The company will usually give an estimate about a week long (i.e. it was will arrive sometime between February 22-29th), but keep in mind that it’s possible it could come even earlier OR later than that. It is exactly what it's called: an estimate.

Then after you’re done, you’ll be moving onto every other aspect of your wedding! Not comforting at all, I know, but at least you got one BIG check mark next to a major item on your list of things to get done. So, congratulations on your purchase! Now, on to the next one…

Your Dream Dress (Part 2 of 3): The Appointment

2011-01-12T12:23:00.000-05:00

So you made your appointment, did your research, and now you're standing on a gorgeous sales floor surrounded by a sea of white, diamond white, off white, ivory, natural, and champagne wedding gowns. (Yes, there are that many variations of white.) Your head spins in a blur of rhinestones, poof, satin, crinoline, and sweetheart necklines and you start to wonder, "Did Cinderella have such a daunting task ahead of her when she married Prince Charming? Maybe I should rent some mice to make mine for me instead." Lucky for you, the designers took on the role of the mice and have already done most of the work - you have the easy part, playing dress up like we used to do when we were young. Except, well, this time, the dresses are couture and worth thousands of dollars, but… you know. No pressure :) This post is about what to expect when you’re at the appointment and some key points to get the most out of your time there.

Bride-Consultant Relationship

Be completely honest. If you are keeping something from your sales person, don’t. It will only serve to make your appointment unproductive. There is nothing… let me repeat, NOTHING… that we haven’t heard, seen, or dealt with. Don’t be embarrassed. If you already put a deposit on another dress and just wanted to look, no problem. Need a tattoo concealed because your mom doesn’t know about? We can help you. Are you extremely money conscious? We’ll find you a dress in your price range. As long as you’re upfront, we can deal with any situation that comes our way. No matter what, your sales consultant is on your side.

Trust your consultant. This is their job. They’ve seen every body type imaginable and know the store’s stock like the back of their hand. The dress may not be everything you’ve ever dreamed of, but they’ll lead you in the right direction and, at the very least, help to better define what you’re looking for. A lot of dress shopping is just trial and error – as you try on gowns, you begin to realize what you like/don’t like and what does/does not look good on you. Let your consultant help you on your path to discovery. The partnership is key in your search. If I had a penny for every time a bride said “Mmm… I don’t know…,” but then loved it when it once it was on… well, you know how the saying goes.

The Dresses

In the first post of this series, I advised you to do research and bring in pictures. I cannot stress how helpful this will be to your sales consultant. Being able to verbalize what you like/dislike about each dress will allow your sales consultant to make better use of your time. You don’t even have to be very specific about silhouette or neckline – all you need to do is to give him/her an idea of the style/theme of your wedding: modern, traditional, fun, classic? What are your concerns? Answers to these simple questions will help your consultant in weeding out the better choices for you amongst hundreds of dresses.
There are thousands of things I could say about material, silhouettes, necklines, trains, and dress styles – but let’s leave that for another post. Here are some key points to keep in mind when at your appointment, and you’re scouring the inventory:

Stay open minded. Dresses look VERY different on the hangar than they will on you. I can’t tell you how many times brides come in wanting one thing and leaving with something completely different (one client last week came in for a mermaid and left with a ball gown.) “I didn’t think I would like this” and “Wow, this doesn’t bother me as much as I thought,” is something consultants hear every day. Dresses look different on the hangar than they do on person, and something you thought you’d love in a magazine could fall incorrectly on your body type or have horrendous proportions in person. This happens more often than naught. You’d be surprised.
The possibilities are endless. Many high end designers will make pattern changes to the dress, include more beadwork, change the neckline, etc. and anything the designer can’t do, your seamstress might be able to. Of course, it will cost you extra – but a few hundred to make your dress perfect will be worth it when you look back on your pictures. So, always ask your consultant (do you see a theme?) if you want certain changes to be made, and if they can be done – worry about cost later once you have the dress on and even decide if it’s a contender or not. Looking for a sweetheart neckline? Most designers can change theirs. Different fabric? Also do-able. Straps? Absolutely. Want to add buttons onto the zipper? YUP! You always want to ask, don’t pass up the opportunity to make something perfect, and one of a kind.
Ask your consultant. Yes, I’m saying it again. I cannot stress how important the consultant-client relationship is. UTILIZE HIM/HER! Ask about how a dress will fit, if they think it will be good for your body type, if they’ve seen it on other people. There are some dresses that, hands-down, do not look good on anybody and we wonder what the designer was thinking or who he/she was designing for! But if you don’t ask, your consultant most likely won’t want to offend you by telling you it’s a bad choice, and they’ll wait for you to see for yourself. And ladies, what will that do? In unison? “WASTE MY TIME."
Sample dresses come in one size (though there are certain popular dresses the store may carry in larger sizes for larger brides) and one color. The store manager… your sales consultant… none of us has anything to do with what type of sample we get. The designer chooses what size and color stores receive. Don’t be embarrassed if you don’t zip perfectly into the dress – less than 5% of brides will. But don’t worry; your sales consultant has a bag of tricks that he/she will use to give you the best idea of fit. We can clip the back of the dress to your bra, if the dress is too small, or pin back extra material if the dress is too big. Your sales consultant will also help to hold in the dress at your waist and bust, if you need it to see it with a better fit. Whatever the case may be, enter your appointment with an open mind – you WILL have to use your imagination. Whether it’s something major, like wanting to change the design of a dress – or something minor, like the sample comes in white but you want to buy it in ivory.
Designer Collections. While stores may carry a designer, they don’t necessarily carry the whole collection – boutiques will choose gowns according to their clientele and what they think will sell. If you have a specific dress in mind, call to ask if they carry that specific style number. If they don’t and you want to see it, your other option is to request a sample loan from the company – it will cost you (usually around $50, which varies with designer), but if you purchase a gown from that designer later on, they’ll usually deduct it from the price of the dress.

The Dressing Room

Let’s start with some thoughts about dressing room etiquette. If I wrote a book, boy, would I have stories to tell about brides that have come in. For most high end salons, consultants will be assisting you in putting the dress on. This is to prevent tears or damage to the dresses, since they are very expensive and also to make it easier for you – some of the dresses can be very heavy and difficult to put on alone.

Please wear underwear. Even if it's just a thong! It’s disrespectful to your consultant to go commando at your appointment, not to mention unsanitary for other brides trying on dresses after you. I don’t think I need to elaborate on this.
Bring a strapless bra. Unless you’d like to go topless (which is perfectly fine), the bras in salons are usually corset tops so they also fit you down to your waistline and can add an extra inch of material to your body – making it harder to fit into some of the smaller size gowns. While going topless, as aforementioned, is fine – it’s usually not recommended because one of the purposes of having on a strapless bra is that we have something to clip the dress to should it not fit correctly. With nothing there, it makes it harder to get the best fit for you.
If you are uncomfortable being naked, which happens, and it’s no problem. I would suggest wearing leggings or a tight tube top, to your appointment. This will keep you covered up, and the bulk in material is minimal.
We’ve seen it all. Don’t be embarrassed if you didn’t shave your legs, or if you have a thong on. We could care less. We’re like your doctor, been there and seen that! No need to be embarrassed or want to cover yourself up between each dress. Don’t worry, we’re not looking. To avoid making clients uncomfortable, we keep our eyes on the dress or other points in the room while we assist you. Really, we’re masters at it :)

The Bride in the Mirror

Take your time. You want to maximize your time there, and that won’t happen if you’re saying yes to every dress OR if you’re not giving any dress a chance to win you over. Turn around in the mirror, stare at yourself, give yourself time to look at all aspects of the dress because it’s important that you like how you look in it from every angle. Ask to see what the bustle will look like, and if you want to make changes – what can be done.
Move around. It’s important to almost every bride that they be comfortable in their wedding dress. You’ll have it on for hours, and you’ll want to sit, eat, and dance with all of your guests. Don’t be scared to move around, shake your booty, or sit on a chair to see how it feels. You should do all of this. I mean, you never buy shoes before walking around the store in them, do you?
Compare. The best way to eliminate dresses, other than saying that you completely abhor it, is to compare it with the ones you’ve liked previously. What does this dress do for you that others don’t? What did another one have that this one doesn’t? Do you like this better or worse than the ones before? Doing this will help you rank, in your head, the dresses you’ve tried on so far so that you can keep track of how many you’re considering. I would suggest not keeping more than your top three because once you’ve reached four, why is it even in running anymore? Would you really buy the fourth best dress on your list?

Before You Leave

It’s okay not to buy a dress on your first appointment there. Consultants will understand that it’s an important decision that requires time and thought. Go home and sleep on it.

Review the dresses on your list. Take one last look at each; ask about the prices and who the designers are so that you can keep them in mind. It’s the worst scenario to go home and completely forget what your choices were.
Make another appointment. Come back in a few days and try them on again, once you’re refreshed and have a clear head – and now only 2-3 to choose from – you’ll be able to be more decisive.

Your Dream Dress (Part 1 of 3): Pre-Appointment

2011-01-07T18:06:00.001-05:00

Before you begin dress shopping, there are five things you should know that will help you in having a smooth and enjoyable experience. This is one of the most important aspects of your wedding, and a very big purchase – you want to make sure you get the most from your appointment and these five points will help you prior to your shopping day.

1. Make an appointment. Most, if not all, of the wedding dress shops (no matter how big or small) require an appointment, even if you call 30 minutes before showing up. If they can’t accommodate you, you’ll have made the trip for nothing and will leave annoyed. That’s no way to begin your shopping experience! Plan ahead and schedule accordingly, especially on the weekends when appointments are booked a week or two in advance. This not only applies to bridal gown shopping, but also bridesmaid’s dresses and mother-of-the bride/groom evening gowns, as well.

Side note: This may seem “well, duh” to many of you, but you’d be surprised at how often this happens. Cancel or change your appointment if you can’t make it! You’re actually doing a disservice to your fellow brides if you don’t. The slot that you filled with your appointment could be a slot another bride needs to make hers. This is especially important on the weekends, as it’s the busiest time of the week for any wedding business.

2. Educate yourself on the designers the store carries - it will help you immensely if you’ve seen some of their work beforehand. And more generally, do research on styles, cuts, and silhouettes you can see yourself wearing on the day of your wedding. It helps if you bring in pictures of dresses. The more information you give your sales consultant, the better they can assist you in finding the perfect dress. A few questions to think about:

What silhouette am I looking for?
What part of my body would I like to enhance and what would I like to downplay?
Is there a specific color I have in mind? (White, Ivory, Offwhite, Champagne, Natural, etc.) Surprisingly, this is a very important question because many designers don’t make dresses in white anymore.
How do I feel about lace and/or beading? If you like beading, do you want obvious, silver beading (which tends to give the “bling” affect) or do you lean more towards subtler, crystal clear beading?
Am I partial to or against any material? (Satin, silk, taffeta, organza, chiffon, or tulle) Think about the month of your wedding, the setting [outdoors, indoors, both], and the theme [black tie, white tie, semi-formal, etc.].

3. If you have a special situation (rush wedding, you need sleeves or dresses to be built up to cover you), it’s always good to let the receptionist know when you’re making your appointment. Unfortunately, any of the aforementioned situations (along with others) limit your choice of designers and possibilities. Find out what your choices are so you can do some research!

Special note for rush weddings (6 months and under): You really have two choices, some designers carry stock in their warehouse and if they have your size [or something close to it that can be altered to your size] you can purchase it right away and have it by the end of the week. The second choice is to pay for rush shipping (average is about $150-$200 extra), but every designer has different rules as to how soon they can get you a custom made gown, even with a rush order. This is why it’s important to tell the receptionist what your situation is. Depending on your timeframe, they will know exactly which designers you will be able to work with and which ones are out of the picture.

Dresses in stock: If you are, in fact, lucky and find a dress you love and they have in stock, you NEED to purchase the dress ASAP. Boutiques from all across the country are calling for brides in a situation similar to yours, and a dress that could be available at 1:00 pm will no longer be there half an hour later. If you are in the position where you need to buy a dress soon, be prepared to make quick decisions when you go shopping.

Enzoani Trunk Show in Paramus, NJ

2011-01-07T17:16:00.002-05:00

TRUNK SHOW
(Paramus, NJ)Event
Enzoani & Love by Enzoani Trunk Show
(Bridal, Bridesmaid, and Evening)

DateThursday, 1/13/11 - Saturday, 1/15/11

Event for Paramus, NJ location ONLY
(By Appointment)

Come view the newest gowns from the Spring 2011 Enzoani, Love, and Gorgeous with Curves (plus size gowns) Collections. Purchase your gown during the Trunk Show and receive 15% off. To view the gowns online go to http://www.enzoani.com/ and http://www.lovebyenzoani.com/.

**Please call 201-262-8889 to set up your appointment

Veils... Romantic or Antiquated?

2011-01-07T15:45:00.000-05:00

The reason and history behind veils was to hide the bride from the groom until they said their vows. Some believe it should be worn with a blusher to protect her from any harm or bad luck. However, as times have changed, so have rules. Brides don't have to wear veils anymore and some brides even see their groom before the wedding.

Lately, we have had brides asking us what to do about veils and hair accessories. Veils come in all different lengths, trims, blushers, colors, etc. Adding a flower, tiara, headband, or pin can complete your look with or without the veil. All options are appropriate; it just depends on how you want to look on your special day.

Since there are so many options, it just comes down to the role you want to play on your wedding day. For example, some girls want to be a traditional bride and wear a cathedral veil and add a tiara. Now, there are other options. Instead of a tiara, a flat headband can give the same look but a bit more modern (and much more comfortable against your head). Or are you looking to be a more simply elegant bride? Instead of the long veil... go short veil, bird cage or no veil at all. Adding a flower or pin will give your hair something special as well as keeping it simple.

So... what kind of bride do you want to be? Whatever you decide regarding a veil or hairstyle, make sure it complements your gown and jewelery. The veil and hair accessories are just the finishing touches to give you that glow of a blushing bride on your wedding day!!!

Bijou Bridal Ardmore Upcoming Events

2010-10-20T15:17:00.006-04:00

Bijou Bridal & Special Occasion Ardmore
Upcoming Events for November

Learn How to Ballroom Dance...Free!

2010-10-05T12:20:00.005-04:00

Bijou Bridal Hosts:

“An Unforgettable Evening”

Thursday November 4, 2010

7:30 P.M.

Learn To Ballroom Dance For Your Wedding Day

By Dance Sport Academy Professionals

(Enjoy a Complimentary 1^st Lesson)

Wedding Dance

Mother & Son Dance

Father & Daughter Dance

Five Lovely Couples Will Win A $50 Certificate

Towards The Purchase of A Gown

(Excludes sale items)

Enjoy Hors D’Oeuvres Provided By Cooper Market

And Champagne Throughout The Evening

Gift Bags Provided By Blue Mercury

** Please call if you'd like to join us for this event.
#(610) 642-3888
Or you may comment on this blog to make your reservation. Just be sure to leave your name, your partner's name, and a contact telephone number.
We look forward to seeing you on November 4th!!!

2010-08-20T16:00:00.001-04:00

Genevieve de Manio

What Does Everyone Think: Was Chelsea Clinton's Dress A Hit or Miss?!?

New Gowns!

2010-07-29T16:52:00.003-04:00

We just received our newest collection of Martina Liana Dresses! Mention that you saw this on here and receive 10% off your Martina Liana Gown this weekend ONLY! Call today and make an appointment for this weekend 610-642-3888!

2010-07-07T15:35:00.013-04:00

Don't forget about alterations, ladies! Altering your bridal or evening gown could take one month or longer. Sure, sometimes if time is an issue, seamstresses can rush the process, but if possible, spare yourself the stress and plan accordingly.

Almost no one is a perfect size. That's why everyone needs alterations. You may have noticed during the shopping process that bridal sizes run differently. Think "really small"! Generally, bridal and special occasion gowns run about two sizes smaller than ready to wear clothes. So don't freak out if your gown is a size 16 and you normally wear a 12...or a 10 for that matter. It's important to remember that because your measurements may not all fall into the same size, we need to accomodate the largest body measurement and take in the rest, which may mean ordering a larger size.

You should schedule your first fitting about one month before your event. Now is the time to discuss any changes you may wish to make to your gown. This may include adding sleeves, straps, beading, or trim. Maybe you would like to remove or add layers of crinoline, and you need to discuss bustle options.

P.S. Don't forget to bring the undergarments and shoes you will be wearing with you to your fitting!

A simple change like adding crinoline (or a trumpet slip) can make a big impression!

Bustle Options: Unbustled Reem Acra gown, Regular bustle, and French bustle

Reem Acra gown- With and Without Straps

Romona Keveza gown can be changed dramatically just by adding a wide beaded belt. Or if you prefer a more subtle amount of sparkle, you could try wearing a brooch, or as seen in the bottom pic, a necklace or headband sewn onto the dress works well too.

You could dramatically change the look of this Romona Keveza gown by adding this wide beaded belt. Or if you prefer a more subtle amount of sparkle, you could try adding a brooch or like in the bottom picture, a necklace or headband too.

Trunk Show!

2010-06-15T17:11:00.021-04:00

We're so excited! Bijou is having our very first trunk show next weekend Friday, Saturday, and Sunday June 25-27! The show will feature bridal gowns by Martina Liana and Stephen Yearick, and couture evening gowns by Stephen Yearick. This will be a great opportunity for brides, moms, and more to see a great selection of gorgeous designer gowns and to order at exclusively discounted prices.

Trunk Show!!! How exciting! Wait...what is a trunk show anyway? A trunk show is held in bridal salons and similar boutiques to showcase a certain designer's work, or collections. Sometimes, the actual designer is present to represent the collection(s). This is a chance to see more of the designer's dresses than you normally could at one store. Of course, the best part is the discount you receive for ordering one of the featured designer's gowns during the trunk show. For instance, if you come to our show next weekend and buy one of Martina Liana's or Stephen Yearick's dresses, you can take 15% off the price. Who doesn't love saving money?

Here are some photos from the designers:

Martina Liana

Stephen Yearick

So, if you're shopping for a bridal gown, mother of bride/groom gown, or a couture evening gown, don't miss our trunk show. We'd love to see you here!

Five Shopping Tips!

2010-06-10T12:37:00.007-04:00

This week we thought we would share some advice about shopping for bridal gowns and other special occasion attire. Some of this may seem obvious, but if you keep these tips in mind, your shopping experience will be easier and much less stressful!

TIMING!!! When shopping for your bridal gown, it is never too early to buy, but it may be too late. We want to help you find the perfect dress, so please allow time for its delivery. After all, what good is finding the dress of your dreams if you cant get it in time?
Don't forget about Alterations! The alteration process should begin at least one month before your wedding, so plan accordingly.
When shopping for your bridal gown, it can be distracting to have an entourage of friends and relatives offering advice. Try to limit the guests to those whose opinions are most valuable to you.
Bridesmaids- Remember that you don't need to bring all your bridesmaids with you when picking their dresses. If everyone has a different idea about the style of dress to choose, it can get a little crazy. Once you have picked the right dress, they can come at their convenience to be measured and ordered. This way, you don't need to coordinate everyone's schedules and you can cross one more thing off your "to do " list!
A tip for Moms- before you shop, ask the bride what her preferences are regarding your dress. Does she prefer you to wear long or short? Do you need to wear a certain color? The better prepared you are when you come in, the better we will be able to serve you.

Bridal Gowns Can Take Up To 6 Months To Order and Maybe Even Longer!

Mothers, Bridesmaids, and Special Occasions Can Take Between 3-4 Months

This is a fun and exciting time for you so have fun and enjoy shopping for your dream dress!

2010-06-02T14:27:00.009-04:00

Colors...so many colors! How's a girl to choose? Wedding colors can be reflected in the bridesmaids' dresses, bouquets, centerpieces, and other decorations. The amount of thought and effort that goes into choosing and incorporating your colors is entirely up to you. Do you consider your venue, the season, current fashion trends, or do you just pick your favorite colors?

Just for fun, we asked each other to choose our own wedding colors. The results were interesting and each completely different. That's not surprising, because we have different personalities and styles, and we also have different approaches to choosing the colors. For example, here are some color combinations we love and why:

Gina- Black, White, and Hot Pink

"My favorite wedding colors are black, white, and a touch of hot pink. I think black and white are very classic colors together and the hot pink gives it a modern twist. I am getting married on 11-11-11 and these will be the colors I am using. My bridesmaids will be in black gowns, my flowers will all be hot pink, my cake will have a black and white damask look with hot pink roses on it to match my invitations, and to top it off pink lighting will turn the reception room into a modern lounge feel. I wanted something that is me and these colors best fit my personality."

Katie- Yellow, Orange, and Green

"I picked these colors for my wedding someday because they make me happy! I saw tiger lillies last summer and noticed how beautiful they really are, and that's when I decided I wanted them in my wedding. So, I started with the orange and next I thought of green because of the grass and the plants next to them. And finally, I decided on the yellow because it's my favorite color and because I love the summer sun. These colors are light and summery and when I think of them together it suits me. I love the summer and bright colors, which is why these colors would work for my wedding someday."

Monica- Purple and Green

"When I picture my dream wedding, I usually envision shades of purple and green. It's really no mystery why I imagine I'd choose these colors- They're my favorties, plain and simple. I've always had a passion for purple, because it's fun and youthful, and I love bright greens, which can be earthy or funky, and they complement purple tones too. I see my bridal party wearing lilac or eggplant dresses, and I'd like the bouquets and centerpieces to be a mix of lilacs, deep purples, and bold chartreuse greens. These colors seem to fit best in a spring or summer wedding, but I would probably use them regardless of the season or venue, because I know I'll always love them!"

When it comes to colors, these's a whole spectrum you can choose from. You can pick a subdued set or colors that are bold and make a statement. In the end, as long as you are picking colors that represent you (and your fiance...maybe) that's all that matters. Be bold, be quiet, be understated or over the top, as long as you love them, you've picked the right colors!

~All of the beautiful photos are from our friends at Capone Photography!

White vs. Ivory

2010-05-26T15:02:00.021-04:00

So, is white "right"? Traditionally, a bride wears a white wedding gown on her wedding day, but we've been seeing more and more creamy ivorys and naturals coming down the runways. In fact, when brides come in looking for white gowns, we have less samples to show them in classic white, even though most gowns are available to order in both ivory and white. We are even seeing some other colors like champagne or blush pink as an emerging trend. We often see splashes of color on gowns, like on sashes and lace...

In fact, one of our brides is wearing a black sash on her ivory gown to coordinate with her bridesmaids, andit really puts a modern spin on the traditional wedding dress. As overheard from the brides, some reasons for this trend toward ivory are:

Ivory compliments all skin tones.

Ivory may coordinate more easily with other colors in your wedding theme (bridesmaids dresses, centerpieces, etc.) to create a softer more natural palette

Brides are breaking away from tradition

So, is white "right"? Who's to say? Have Fun! Be creative with your wedding. Don't worry about the rules. Choose a color you love, that looks great on you, be it white, ivory, or even pink. Wear it with style!

The Velvet Couch

Track your RSVP Cards!!!

Choosing Colors for your Wedding

Bridal Emergency Kit

Top 5 (Easiest) Ways to Cut Costs on your Wedding Day

An Editorial on Modern Weddings

How to Choose a Photo Booth Company

BE ON BIJOU BRIDAL'S NEW REALITY SHOW

Re-Post From January 7, 2011: DRESS SHOPPING 411

What To Bring To Your Appt.

Dress Buying Timeline

Inspiration Board: Destination Wedding

Floral Inspiration Board

Inspiration Board: Modern Wedding

Rock and Roll Inspiration Board

Vintage Inspiration Board

What’s the deal with corsets?

The Groomzilla

Thanking your Guests with a Favor!

Looking for Wedding Colors? Look no Further!

TOP 10 MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED ETIQUETTE QUESTIONS

Inspiring Ideas from Brides Across the Nation!

Wedding Proposal: "Making the Movies Jealous"

Too Good to be True? Trade in your Bridesmaids/Prom/Mom’s Evening Dress for a New LBD!

Follow Me on Twitter! & Notes on Flower Girl Dresses

To Slip or Not To Slip

Destination Weddings: The Nitty Gritty

A Royal Success!

The Royal Wedding

Introducing Carvalli & Lhuillier Bridesmaids' Collections

FAQ's: Bridesmaids' Dresses

Bridesmaids Shopping (Post 2 of 3)

You're Done, Now What About Your Bridesmaids?!?!

Food for Thought: The WOW Factor

Shutterbooth.com

Kellie Pickler’s Bridal Look

Friend us on Facebook!

Spring 2011 Collections

I LOVE GOOGLE!!!

Variations on Hair Accessories

Veils, Veils, & More Veils: So Many Choices!!!

Veil Basics

Out With the Old & In With the New!!!

Using Artificial Flowers in Your Wedding

Enzoani Spring 11 Fabulous-ness!

GENIUS Website for your Wedding Playlist

Your Dream Dress (Part 3 of 3): Buying the Dress

Your Dream Dress (Part 2 of 3): The Appointment

Your Dream Dress (Part 1 of 3): Pre-Appointment

Enzoani Trunk Show in Paramus, NJ

Veils... Romantic or Antiquated?

Bijou Bridal Ardmore Upcoming Events

Learn How to Ballroom Dance...Free!

New Gowns!

Trunk Show!

Five Shopping Tips!

White vs. Ivory