Prom 2011: New Arrivals

This week we were excited to see big boxes come in from all of our designers and inside were a bunch of colorful prom dresses with sparkle, beading and so much more....

We are eager and ready for our Prom 2011 season! The Bridal House will be hosting various activities at local high schools throughout the Charlotte Metro area, as well as a midnight event at our boutique.

Here’s a sneak peak at a few designs by...

Shimmer by Bari Jay

Riva Designs

Paparazzi & Flaunt by Mori Lee

• Those are just a few of the designs we have gotten in, they're are many more on the way...so stay tuned. To view all of the dresses we will be getting in for Prom 2011 please visit our facebook page by searching: Prom Night Madness (click on link)

December's New Arrivals!!!

CALLING ALL....Mother-of-the-Bride & Mother-of-the-Grooms out there!!!

We have been getting in some amazing Mom dresses from Jade and Jade Couture by Jasmine Bridal. The dresses are short, sassy and great for the all those spring weddings.... Make sure you moms out there keep in mind those tips of the trade I spoke about in my earlier post...here they are again :)

• Choose your mother-of-the-bride/groom dress ASAP because it takes 10-12 weeks not including time you WILL need to alter it.

• Choose a dress that fits your body type and also accommodates your fashion sense.
  ---FORMAL DRESS WEAR IS USUALLY 2 sizes bigger than your normal dress size. (for example: if I wear a size 10 dress, I would most likely wear a size 14 formal wear dress!)
  

• Pick a color that looks good with your skin tone and can play with the bridesmaid colors. (CAUTION: STAY AWAY from pastels; choose darker jewel tones or neutral colors!!!)

• Let the other mother-of-the-bride/groom know what designer, color and style dress you chose and if possible send her a swatch of the fabrics and/or pictures of you in it so she can find a dress that will be similar to yours.

NOTE: Jasmine Bridal has a MOB’s collection that has so many different pieces within it. The Jade & Jade Couture Collections have a large selection of dresses with shawls/jackets/shrugs, flattering materials, wide variety of sizes from 2-26 and colors that will make any MOB feel like a million bucks!

Ladies, please keep those in mind when scavenging for your dresses. Here's some of the new dresses we have recently got in. For more of our collection, call for an appointment!

Jade #J4419




Jade #J1161




Jade #J4418

Customer Service in the Bridal Industry

(Photo by North Coast Photography)

Every bride imagines her wedding day similar to something along the lines of a pearly white, sparkling, Cinderella, horse drawn carriage something or other. This idea of a ‘storybook character’ is basically what every girl hopes to experience throughout this stressful…I mean exciting time in her life. When the man proposes a woman’s bodies morph’s into an unstoppable bride zombie. They're fixated on achieving that ‘storybook character’ seen on the wedding shows like; David Tutera’s: My Fair Wedding, Bridezilla, and Say Yes to the Dress.

Since customer service in the Bridal industry can vary from one extreme to another. It's vital that a bridal gown consultant isn't judgmental or too aggressive. Consultants can be rude, obnoxious, pushy, pressuring OR they can be nice, helpful, excited and willing to make any bride happy. It takes a certain person who loves this industry to work in it.

Since I help brides on a daily, they love to pour their hearts out telling me what their dreams and hopes are for their wedding day. Even though many people might find that too much information, I personally love to find out all the juicy details because it will allow me to help them find a dress that they may not have ordinarily tried on.

(Photo by Planning Elegance)

All brides start looking for gowns online, whether it’s goggling different things like “wedding dresses under $____”, or “popular affordable dresses 2010” etc. If their not spending hours online weeding out what they hate and what they love, they’re immediately asking fellow family members or girlfriends what designers they looked at and where to go look for dresses. We have woman come from all over the state and even out of state. They usually hear about us off of the designer’s websites, Google, or word of mouth.

After narrowing it down to a few different designers’, brides try to find stores in their area that may either carry a particular dress or a designer they liked. Many girls are in “LOVE” with a dress they find online. But in my experience MOST if not all girls end up hating the dress they found online and love the dress that we help find for them. Now that’s not saying The Bridal House consultants are fairy wedding dress god mothers, but…we know the necessary questions that we need to formulate an idea for a dress. I can usually find a gown for a girl based on her answers to those simple questions. Many brides haven’t tried on dresses before so the experience is a whirlwind of emotions varying from stressful, upsetting, happy and even sometimes mad. We try to make your experience enjoyable. My belief is that any bride that comes through our doors should be treated like they are the most important bride…not to put prejudgments on their budget, time frame, style or insecurities. It’s crucial for the consultant to be a good listener because if not; a bride usually feels pressured or that they might not be happy with the dresses being chosen and not only is that a waste of the brides time but the lackluster consultants as well.

I always ask my brides a few simple questions....

• What is your budget?
  

• What type of wedding dress do you see yourself wearing?

• What don’t you like about wedding dresses? (ie; tulle, lace, strapless, beads, etc.)

• Where is the wedding being held? (ie; church, temple, outside, ballroom, etc.)

• What things do you think your fiancé’s will like about your dress?

• Where else have you shopped for a dress?

(Photo by Charlotte Wedding Photographer; Tim Hines)

After the initial consultation brides can often become overwhelmed with those simple questions. But the thing I keep in mind is make them feel important, find out as many details about their wedding, life and fiancé as possible, and be honest. A consultant could very well tell you that every dress on you is amazing or they could be honest and narrow down your “LIST” of must-have’s and see if they compare to the dress. To me and my co-workers it’s more than just the sale of the dress it’s making sure the bride, mother of the bride, bridesmaid or whoever else is getting the dress is confident that they love their gown.

In summary, The Bridal House strives to repeat outstanding customer service while making your wedding dress shopping experience enjoyable. If you want your time here to be productive, we suggest making an appointment in advance. Often enough we are pretty busy on Saturday’s and many brides and their families walk-in and have to wait awhile which in turn could make them not want one of our gowns. So making an appointment is essential to a good bridal visit.

Always remember that your budget for your bridal gown should not be something that is discouraging to you. If you can only spend $300 or under there are many options for you to chose whether it's a dress off the rack, discontinued dress or even and upscale bridesmaid dress. You have many different options. Now on the other hand if you budget is $1000 and your dream dress is $1200, move your budget around. See if you could invite one less person, or have one less table or maybe even not get as many flowers. All this stress is completely un-needed!!!! This is why a wedding planner is such a great idea. SJB Weddings & Events is a division of The Bridal House and has many different planning packages that could work with a 'Bride on a Budget'.

November's New Arrivals!!!

Allure Bridals #8763

This Allure design is a gorgeous ball gown with a fitted bodice. It’s constructed with a silky smooth taffeta which molds and shapes the figure with ruching and shimmery Swarovski crystals at the neckline. The fuller skirt has these flowing pickup details and near the left hip area are 3-dimensional flower and crystal accents.

Allure Bridals has really made this dress with an eye for fashion. Since this gown would be suitable for any body type it comes in sizes 2-32. It can come in either white with silver accents or diamond white & silver (as shown above).

Mori Lee# 1609

This gown by Mori Lee is from the Spring 2011 Collection and happens to be one of my absolute favorites. It’s shown in ivory with silver embellishments. Made from “Lustrous Satin” it just really feels good when you have it on. The jeweled beading just gives you a little sparkle without going over board. The colors it can come in are white/silver, ivory/silver and champagne/silver. The sizes vary from 2-28.

Here at The Bridal House can remove that large flower if that detail isn’t one that suites your personality. But in my opinion this dress will definitely be a hot item this spring. No one has tried on this dress at our store YET…I wonder who will be the first?

Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Breast cancer awareness is something that everyone pays tribute to throughout the month of October and with the sea of pink everywhere how could you not! It’s important to know the facts!
(This information according to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer website.)

Remember...Early Detection Helps Save Lives!!!

Be sure you and your loved ones follow the recommended guidelines from the American Cancer Society for early detection of breast cancer. If there is a history of breast cancer in your family consult your doctor on the need to begin these steps at an earlier age.

• Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health.
• Clinical breast exam (CBE) should be part of a periodic health exam, about every 3 years for women in their 20s and 30s and every year for women 40 and over.
• Women should know how their breasts normally feel and report any breast change promptly to their health care providers. Breast self-exam (BSE) is an option for women starting in their 20s.
• Women at high risk (greater than 20% lifetime risk) should get an MRI and a mammogram every year. Women at moderately increased risk (15% to 20% lifetime risk) should talk with their doctors about the benefits and limitations of adding MRI screening to their yearly mammogram. Yearly MRI screening is not recommended for women whose lifetime risk of breast cancer is less than 15%.
  
  

For more information regarding ways to help, support and give guidance please visit the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Website.

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ALSO...

Charlotte, NC is having a AVON Walk Charlotte on October 23-24, 2010.

Please REGISTER today!!!

For more information on that walk please visit the link below…
http://www.avonwalk.org/charlotte

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ANY BRIDE IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA AREA PLEASE CHECK OUT BRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER! They could really use your donations!!!

How-To: Mother-of-the-Brides

(picture provided by Sheila Glazov)

Your daughter is getting married, Congrats! Start the lists there’s so many things to do. Questions for you like…Can you help me mom? How much is that? It’s something borrowed, something blue…and what else? But being the mother of the bride (MOB) is not just being an ATM or encyclopedia on weddings it’s an intricate piece of the “wedding puzzle”, which now…you have to play. These days a bride usually has their own visions and ideals for their big day but every now and again the mother has to be there for the 32654016 dress fittings and cake tastings and place setting choices.

I should create a list and publish it on “How to be a Mother of The Bride”…although I’m sure there’s one somewhere out there! Here are a few things I’ve learned on my adventures with brides and their moms.

1. Be the cheerleader. Don’t be too opinionated; just give enough advice to seem like you’re the wise momma guru.
   
   
2. Discuss the budget. In order to plan a wedding a budget must be set in place before you can do anything else.
   
   
3. Go with your daughter to all of those bridal boutiques and try on as many dresses until she finds the one that she loves, if she’s lucky…you might pay for it too! (Note: if the dress she loves is over the budget you set, try to see if the budget can be moved around. Spend less on something not as important)
   
   
4. If she wants you to help research venues, florists, caterers, hotels. Do it with a smile :)
   
   
5. MOST IMPORTANTLY....MOMS:
   

• Choose your mother-of-the-bride dress because it takes 10-12 weeks not including time you WILL need to alter it.

• Choose a dress that fits your body type and also accommodates your fashion sense.
  ---FORMAL DRESS WEAR IS USUALLY 2 sizes bigger than your normal dress size. (for example: if I wear a size 10 dress, I would most likely wear a size 14 formal wear dress!)
  

• Pick a color that looks good with your skin tone and can play with the bridesmaid colors. (CAUTION: STAY AWAY from pastels; choose darker jewel tones or neutral colors!!!)

• Let the mother-of-the-groom know what designer, color and style dress you chose and if possible send her a swatch of the fabrics and/or pictures of you in it so she can find a dress that will be similar to yours.

• NOTE: Jasmine Bridal has a MOB’s collection that has so many different pieces within it. The Jade & Jade Couture Collections have a large selection of dresses with shawls/jackets/shrugs, flattering materials, wide variety of sizes from 2-26 and colors that will make any MOB feel like a million bucks!
  
  
  (we carry these Jade designs along with many others)
  

Jade Couture# K3348 & K3338

Jade Couture# K3379 & Jade#J3302

So keep this in mind…Mom’s are a valuable piece to a bride’s puzzle and if you pay heed to those tips I listed you should enjoy your experience as that important role. Your daughters' know how important you are and even though they might get “the bridal complex” A.K.A “Bride-zilla syndrome” they are lucky to have such amazing mothers! REMEMBER: Always stay encouraging and positive!!

Wedding Gowns 101: Sheath Silhouettes

SHEATH
Jasmine Bridal#F379

A sheath dress is one that is slim and/or form fitting; which is straight from head to toe. According to TheKnot.com “It’s the perfect look for a casual intimate wedding.” This in-house favorite displayed above is a sheath silhouette made from silky chiffon from Jasmine Bridal's Fall 2010 Collection. So if you’re the bride who wants a dress that isn’t going to be too full or over beaded this romantic style might be best for you.

You may ask…What is the best body type for this style of gown? Well after all my research I found that any confident woman whether full-figured or slender could pull this silhouette off. Also if you’re on the extreme height spectrum meaning: if your height is on the tall side or even on the petite side look to the sheath fashions to sculpt your body! My suggestion is to ALWAYS try it on, if you don’t get that emotional attachment feeling then your best bet is to stand clear of sheath silhouettes.

So ladies, this concludes the week of gowns 101. I know that you all have your prince charming now all you need is your glass slippers and your gown. I hope you feel educated and confident to find the wedding gown that you have been pondering over your whole life. Just remember it is most important to find a dress that’s a perfect fit. After my 101 you should be able to not only find a dress that best flatters your amazing figure but one that you can dance the night away with your family, friends and new hubby! If you have any questions don’t hesitate to come into The Bridal House and make an appointment with myself or anyone on our staff. We will find that dress for you!

Wedding Gowns 101: Bridal Ball Gowns

Jasmine Bridal #F361


Mori Lee #2501

Both of these ball gowns are similar yet different. The gown by Jasmine Bridal is more constructed with simple lines, pleating and elegant flowers. Whereas the Mori Lee gown is romantic with beading, tulle and sparkle! Nevertheless both gowns are true princess ball gowns and can truly make your day that fairytale you’ve always dreamed of!

Have you ever dreamed of a sparkling white fairy tale wedding gown that just exudes elegance? To me, ball gowns are symbolic of a romantic fantasy full of stories I was told as a child. But, princess or not you’re bound to be the center of attention.

According to Austin Scarlett from Project Runway “ball gowns enhance small waistlines, while hiding those last ten pounds you've wanted to lose from your butt or thighs.” So, since the bodice is tailored and the skirt is very full it fools the mind to pay closer attention to the upper half of the dress. Since ball gowns are so luxurious they can be worn with or without a train depending on the bride’s personal style. Along with options on the train different necklines vary with ball gowns like sweetheart, strapless, halters, one shoulders and spaghetti straps. Just make sure you choose a neckline that best suites the top half of your body as well as the bottom half.

Wedding Gowns 101: Mermaid vs. Trumpet

This age old question: Mermaid vs. Trumpet...has brides confused and lost when wanting to know what style of dress to ask for when they go shopping... Here's what I've experienced and let's see if it could help you choose what style fits you!

MERMAID

Allure Bridals #8700

This mermaid design by Allure Bridals is romantic, classic and sassy. It has a detailed sweetheart neckline covered in crystals and beading. In this stunning ivory color you can make a bold yet elegant statement. Ladies can opt to remove the flowers around the knees if they choose to. The surprise about this dress is that the skirt can be removed to become a fun little cocktail dress for your reception. We carry this any many other Allure Bridal gowns at The Bridal House! (pictures of this gown can be see on Allure Bridals website by clicking on the links given)

I often have brides ask me “what if any difference is there between a mermaid and a trumpet wedding gown?” Brides automatically think that if the dress hugs the body it’s a mermaid gown. Yes, to a certain degree this is true. A mermaid style does hug your body, BUT it flairs out at the knee. Whereas, a trumpet or fit and flair designed wedding dress is shaped through the hips to about mid thigh and then flairs slightly. These specific styles might be best worn on smaller more petite brides, although if you want to show off your curves either of these silhouettes would be benefit you greatly.
Both of these silhouettes seem to be scary to some brides, but personally I believe that these dresses allow a woman to feel bold and beautiful!

TRUMPET

Allure Bridals #8750

This trumpet style gown by Allure Bridals is very distinctive with its jeweled neckline. Not quite a strapless yet a subtle beaded one shoulder gives a it modern twist. The dress has a wrapped bodice which will accentuate the body in a stunning way. The little bow florets are just enough to give this dress some detail but not making it over the top. This dress can be ordered in various colors as well as the bow florets can be removed.

So ladies if your looking for a Trumpet or Mermaid style wedding dress come into The Bridal House and try on a few of our dresses. I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised what you will find...and remember all of our designer dresses are $1800 and under!

Wedding Gowns 101: A-Line vs. Empire

It’s our job here at The Bridal House to make sure brides find one of the most important pieces of clothing that they'll wear in their lives. We not only are a bridal boutique but a group of individuals who want to educate women on the different types of wedding gowns and their styles, shapes, colors, etc. Most women can pull off either the A-Line or Empire waist gowns but, here are a few tips of the trade that will help you figure out what design best suites your body type.

A-LINE

Mori Lee#4530
The A-Line design is a very popular style amongst brides because it clinches at the torso and has a more flared skirt giving an “A” type contour. Which can gives any bride a desired figure! Again this design can work with a thicker waist, broader shoulders, bigger busts, hourglass, bottom heavy, or even shorter petite woman.

EMPIRE WAIST

Mori Lee#2401

The empire-waist style is one where the skirt is from the bust line to the floor. This silhouette fits a bride who may have a thicker waist, broader shoulders or bigger busted woman. The knot says “It’s a great choice for pear-shaped brides because it disguises the hips”.

Empire Waist with A-Line Shape

Jasmine Bridal#T383

Now with the two different styles clearly explained, I can show you that designers mix and play on the two of these designs which results in a much adored shape. Below is a dress constructed by Jasmine Bridal, the gown has the Empire Waist and the A-Line shape. If you are a bride looking for a less full skirt and empire waist this dress might be for you!

Week of the new arrivals: Day 4- Jasmine T399

Jasmine T399

What words come to mind when seeing this dress? Goddess, Ethereal, Princess…many of these words are used when ladies try on this gown from the Jasmine Bridal Couture Collection 2010. With the high empire waist the dress flows from top to bottom with several wispy layers giving the bride a graceful and picturesque silhouette. Made from the finest silk crinkle chiffon you would think you were floating when wearing this gown. Brides who don’t want a large cathedral train could opt for this dress, giving them both an empire waist and delicate appearance. The trendy strapless sweat heart neckline can just draw attention to the brides face without any heavy detailing. A few different features this dress has are the subtle beading embellishments underneath the bust as well as buttons going down the back of the dress.

A bride who typically would want this understated elegant design would be one who was having an intimate sunset romantic destination wedding. With the skirt being so flirty it could also be a reception dress. Often brides are using dresses similar to this one, with smaller trains with fewer details as their party dresses. This dress is one of our newest in The Bridal House and I know it will be popular in the months to come since many brides are getting married during the summer and spring months.

Ladies remember if you are getting married and are looking for dresses make sure you give yourself at the very least 6 months to order a dress because you never know what alterations or add-ons you would want to do to your wedding gown. If you are a bride who is getting married in August and September, come stop in The Bridal House and try on a few dresses and figure out what style best suits you!

Stay tuned to next weeks blogs:

Wedding Gowns [101]

Woman and their bodies…

what gown silhouette style fits your body type?

Week of the arrivals: Day 3-Jasmine T394

Jasmine T394

This Trumpet style dress from Jasmine Bridal Couture has a pointed strapless sweetheart neckline that frames the brides face. Made from lux organza the gown is light weight yet still has a glamorous fashion design look to it. The bodice completely wraps the entire body giving not only a pleasing figure but couture runway look. This design again is featured in the Fall 2010 edition of The Knot magazine, so it will be seen by all “Brides-to-be”. Flowers are incredibly popular this season and any bride who’s following fashion knows it. A feature that this dress has is a faux diamond and pearl belt that just highlights the bride's waist who wears it. Besides the detailed belt that the dress has it also has a traditional feel with the buttons down the back of the dress.

Although this dress looks like it stepped off the catwalk it is completely affordable for most brides. We all know the economy has hurt everyone’s budget within the past couple years and when it comes to the bridal market we see that situation often. But no need to worry girls because we understand that every bride wants that designer looking dress for less.

At The Bridal House we have gowns that make a bride look extravagant and give the impression that they've paid a lot more then expected. We focus on the Bride and family's finances first! Similar to the dress featured in DAY 2’s blog this dress is under $1800! Who could have thought a dress that looks so fashion forward could be that easy on the pocket? So call us and make an appointment to try this dress on and show your guests that sassy, fashion diva that you are!!!

Week of new arrivals: Day 2- Jasmine Bridal T388

Jasmine T388

This dress from Jasmine Bridal is from their Fall 2010 Couture Collection. Clearly this gown will have everyone talking. The design is a full ball gown with a beautiful strapless sweetheart neckline. Made with silk taffeta and tulle this dress screams “the dress of your dreams!” The fitted bodice slims down your torso and gives you that hourglass shape. The belt just accentuates the waist perfectly. The designers did not forget the details in the back with this beautiful large taffeta bow. Throughout the entire bodice are flowers and little faux diamonds that twinkle and sparkle.

A bride who wants this dress would probably be one who is very fashion forward and wants to be the center of attention. At The Bridal House we call this dress the “show stopper” because it clearly makes a bold statement. When everyone walks in our store they see this dress and can often be discouraged until they find out that all of our dresses are $1800 and under. Since this Jasmine Bridal Couture dress is displayed on our mannequin in the front window everyone has to stop and look at it. Since this dress is displayed in the Fall 2010 issue of The Knot, it will be a hot commodity. On average I would say this gown would be for a more formal wedding but, it could easily act at a destination dress too. As a rule, my suggestion to brides who want the ‘WOW’ factor is to at least try this beauty on.

Week of the new arrivals: Day 1-Jasmine T381

Jasmine T381

This dress by Jasmine Bridal is one from their Fall 2010 Collection. It is an A-Line silhouette with a sweetheart strapless neckline. The fabric is a soft and beautiful sheer netting with couture matte taffeta. It comes with a Tiffany train which is covered in lace, sparkle and flowers. Often this dress is tried on by a bride who is having an intimate wedding on the beach or in a destination area. Since the dress is covered in lace it is very romantic. The intricate beading just gives the dress enough sparkle to shine in the moonlight. The dress has a traditional feel with the lace and beading but has a modern hip twist with the sheer netting and flowers. Brides are given the customizing option to remove the small flowers covering the skirt on the dress, as well as moving the larger flower to where they prefer. The dress comes in sizes ranging from 4-28.