E-Mail
Print
tool name
closeBrides should pick the dress they feel good in, not what their mother or friends want, says Elaine Wood, owner of Belle Bridal in Bellingham. While personal preference is most important, it’s fun to follow the latest trends in bridal wear.
Overall, the most crucial rule is to start early, says wedding consultant Tshombe Brown, owner of Bellingham’s Your Signature Coaching and Consulting. To avoid rush orders and to allow for time for alterations, shop early and try to shop during the week for more personal attention from sales associates.
“Educate yourself on what you like and what styles are out there,” he says.
-
TIPS FOR FINDING 'THE' DRESS
Steve Moore, a Bellingham couture dress designer, suggests:
- “Try on things that you would never think you’d want. You might surprise yourself.”
- Listen to the sales associates for ideas and advice, but don’t be pressured into buying something on your first trip. Let the ideas marinate for at least 24 hours.
- On the other hand, it sometimes takes four to six months for a dress to get in, so don’t wait until the last second.
- Know the right silhouette for your body shape and size, Moore says. Most brides have dreams of losing 20 pounds, but with all the stress of planning the wedding, it often doesn’t happen.
- Look for dresses of quality workmanship: finished seams, bound buttonholes, fine hems. Some lower-end dresses leave seams unfinished, based on the fact they are only worn once, Moore says.
Bellingham wedding consultant Steve Moore says strapless gowns continue in popularity. Most wedding trends come and go, he says, but this one has held on for many years.
Couture trends include layers of fabric, lace and intricate details. The dropped waist, or “mermaid” fit, is still in style, Moore says. The classic ball gown silhouette is coming back into style, along with more flowery designs.
Wood says the trends are still strong for strapless and for capped sleeves over the shoulder. The gentle flare is still popular along with full skirts.
She notes asymmetrical draping on the skirt is popular. Simple necklines or princess-cut necklines are common with simple lines and little crystals or beading. She adds that it’s important to get quotes on alterations, since sometimes the fees can be more than the dress.
Accessories tend to match with sprinkled crystals, and veils are more often worn separate from the tiara to keep the added sparkles in the hair after removing the veil.
THE MOST FLATTERING STYLE
Wedding consultant Brown agrees strapless dresses are by far the most popular still, but he says it is not necessarily the most flattering style for all body types.
Halter tops are coming into fashion, Brown says, along with accenting a white dress with a color that ties into the theme or color for the rest of the wedding. For example, an orange sash could match an orange flower in the bouquet or orange accents on the cake.
Clean dress lines and flattering figures are always in style, Brown says. “Any dress will look good if it has proper fit and emphasizes the good parts and de-emphasizes the bad parts.”
Capped sleeves, an emerging trend along with spaghetti straps, show off well-toned arms.
Owned by Pam Needham and in her family for the past 49 years, Alicia’s Bridal and The Formal House Tuxedos is another Bellingham stop for brides.
“When you go to different shops, you see the same types of gowns,” Needham says. “Local stores tend to be cheaper, because they have lower overhead costs.”
Local stores also tend to have better service, she says. For example, Alicia’s offers free storage for the dress until the day of the wedding.
Needham says to make sure you feel comfortable at the store where you shop for your dress. Ask family and friends for recommendations about stores since you will have to work with that store for a long time.
Store consultants know what dresses look good on certain body types. Needham says more than 60 percent of dresses brides pick are at the suggestion of consultants who know their products. Being open to suggestions can lead to finding “the” dress. If not, the few extra minutes to try on a dress are still time well spent.
As long as you’re in the mood for dress shopping, don’t overlook the bridesmaids’ gowns. Jessica Nelson, co-owner of Ooh La La in Fairhaven, advises brides to set aside enough time to shop and order attendants’ dresses. Plan on 10 to 12 weeks to order in bridesmaid dresses and allow for alterations.
Nelson and her partner Toni Cross were both married recently, and Nelson says she remembers how hard it was to find bridesmaid dresses. Inspired to start a store that offers special bridesmaid dress lines such as Bari Jay, Vineyard Collection and Eden Maids, they opened Ooh La La in October 2007. The store also sells cocktail and prom dresses.
Shopping local, shopping smart and shopping early will help make finding the right dress less stressful for everyone in your wedding.
-
All L.P.N.s and Caregivers
Click job title for more info -
Drivers Wanted!
BROWN LINE, LLC -
COLLECTIONS
SB&C, Ltd -
Caregivers Wanted
Click job title for more info -
Warehouse Manager
HeathTecna
@Nyx.CommentBody@