One of my brides {Diana} wore this dress recently at her wedding and I had the honour of attending her ceremony. This video by the very talented James Frodyma shows highlights of the wedding.

Diana you looked absolutely gorgeous and it’s no wonder you took our breath away when you walked down the aisle!  xx

This season, it is being used as never before. It is popping up as embellishments, overlays and edgings on day wear, shoes, handbags and even jewelry.

Jen, one of our brides is a lace person through and through. When she put on Genevieve, we all fell in love with this dress again! You look beautiful Jen!

1. When do I have to order my wedding dress?
2. What is the last possible date that I can order my wedding dress?

As I mentioned in previous blogs, wedding dress shopping is not like buying a pair of jeans off the rack. The dresses you try on are samples of which your dress is made from. Keep in mind that every designer is different when it comes to production time, however the average time it takes to receive your dress can range from 6 – 10 months. I personally recommend 10 –12 months, so you avoid the wedding dress nightmares – you know the ones where -  “ your dress is a preponderance of rainbow colours.”

Not every bride has the same reason for asking about committing to a dress.  Some brides want to alleviate the stress and know they have their dress in plenty of time before the wedding day, others feel they will miss out on a new style therefore, they are forever chasing “the something better dress syndrome”, some are financial reasons and finally, there are the brides that wants to be at the perfect weight.

The latter is the wrong reason to wait. No matter how big or small a bride may be, unless, you are on a very strict eating program, with boot camp or other exercise régime, most brides don’t lose enough weight to make a difference in the size of wedding dress she orders. I will tell you, most brides do lose weight a few weeks before the wedding because of nerves.

So as you begin your wedding dress search, be realistic.  It is better to get your dress in early, at least a couple of months in advance so you have peace of mind. Chances are your dress will need some form of alterations, so taking it in, is just part of the process.

For key stores, the “designer” will make a guest appearance and work directly with the brides. They will sometimes offer special incentives like custom measurements, or free custom changes, or even a percentage discount off purchases made during the show.
Before making an appointment ask the store what is being offered during the event.

Here are some tips to remember:

1. Appointments are always required for a trunk show event. Space is limited so remember to schedule appointments in advance to ensure a spot.

2.  A trunk show may give you the opportunity to personally meet the designer or sales rep if this is arranged.

3. Only schedule an appointment if you are interested in the “featured designer”. Since the designer will be the main focus during this date you may want to select a different day for an appointment if this designer does not carry what you are looking for.

4. Photos of dresses are not permitted during a trunk show unless you purchase an item. Designers do not want they work duplicated, so this protects the integrity of their work and the boutique is being respectful to the designer.

5. Most trunk shows offer a savings on your purchase during the event. These savings are not available on a regular basis. To take advantage of the sale price, you should bring a person you feel will help make your decision on that day.

6. At the end of the trunk show, all the new dresses must get packed up and shipped to the next store. This means if you want to try that gown on again you won’t be able to. If you are just starting to search for a dress and don’t have a clear vision of what you are looking for it might be a wise decision not to attend a trunk show.

7. If you are unable to keep your appointment, it is courteous to contact the salon right away so others can take advantage of the event. Since space is limited, many brides have to go on a waiting list.

Recently, during a photo shoot, I noticed my makeup artist had these incredibly long lashes. So naturally, I asked if she had extensions. When she replied she was using a product called “Nutraluxe Lash MD”, that little “hmmm” voice said “not a chance”. So I set out to prove her wrong. Now, I was not blessed with lush lashes, nor do I have the time or patience to be bothered with extensions, however, within 3 weeks I started to notice a huge difference. My lashes are now twice the length and much thicker. The best thing is, it is applied like liquid eyeliner on the upper and lower eyelids at the base of the eyelashes every night before going to bed. Super easy!

So as a result, I am now promoting “Nutraluxe Lash MD” for those of you that don’t want to opt for lash extensions for their wedding day. The product is now available for purchase in our Toronto boutique…call for details.

To save you time researching the ingredients here are the details.

* Physician formulated Eyelash Conditioner that improves the length, fullness, thickness, and the darkness of the lashes in just 4 to 8 weeks.
This product is marketed as one that can be used to attain lush brows too. It helps to prevent and even reverse adverse affects to the lashes and brows due to cosmetics and various environmental factors.

* Contains essential vitamins, peptides, and botanicals that replenish, and strengthen the lashes besides augmenting its shine and flexibility.

• Helps your lashes reach their full potential in LENGTH, FULLNESS, AND DARKNESS
• Natural antioxidant to protect hair and follicles from environmental damage
• Promotes hydration and helps lashes and brows to appear shiny and strong
• Promotes healthy follicles, softens brittle lashes and brows & improves elasticity
• Helps lashes and brows to stay longer by making lashes more flexible
• Increases micro-circulation, & repairs fragile hair damage caused by harsh cosmetics
• Gives your lashes and brows shine and a healthy looking glow
• Helps to reinforce and strengthen the lashes and brows
• Strong natural Antioxidant for skin repair and protection
• Establishes normal cell function of the sensitive skin around the eye

The theme for the shoot was called, “Owl Love You Forever” and was recently featured on Wedding Chicks. The gowns used were our silk ball gown called “River” and our one shoulder French lace dress called “Willow”.

Congrats to Lynzie, Elizabeth and the whole creative team for a fabulous shoot!

Leigh and Steven were married this year at a stately home, known as “Darlington Hall” in the south of England.

The photographer Sarah Lauren did an exceptional job in capturing the moment.
“Congratulations Leigh, you looked positively radiant!”

Looking for your wedding dress can be a very exciting and fun time for you as the bride. Wedding etiquette is associated with almost every aspect of your wedding, but what you may not be aware of is; “what is considered etiquette when it comes to shopping for your wedding gown?”

Appointments

Wedding Salons are not like most retail stores, the dresses you see are samples that are delicate and expensive. You will choose your dress from these samples. Unlike a regular retail store, the gown you purchase will be new and never worn by someone else.

Some brides think it is acceptable to waltz into a bridal salon and start pulling wedding gowns off the rack to try on. The majority of wedding gown boutiques, do not accept walk-ins, so you will most likely have to make an appointment with the store.

What you may not realize is that having an appointment is better for you and your bridal consultant because it means you will have all of her attention while you’re in the store looking for and trying on gowns.

If you are in from out of town and plan to go wedding dress shopping, book an appointment ahead of time. Just because you say you are not from the area, does not guarantee you an appointment. Often it is the opposite since brides many times use this tactic to try and get in without a pre-arranged appointment.  Here is a tip: If you politely ask if there are any cancellations for later in the day, you might be pleasantly surprised by the salons response.

Considerations

Before you call to make an appointment with a salon, consider the styles, look and budget restrictions you have. When you are greeted by your consultant she may ask you questions about your wedding, such as date, where it will be held, what dresses you have tried on if any, and whether did you had any favorites. These questions from the consultant are not meant to be disrespectful or prying. You may not realize, consultants love weddings and everything about them. They are truly interested in your wedding day, so try to be open and honest with them. Take advantage of their wealth of knowledge.  After all, it only benefits you in the long run.

The questions consultants ask will help them select dresses that fit your criteria. Withholding information and being secretive does not make your appointment productive. It is no secret to a seasoned consultant that you have likely tried on dresses at other stores. You may have found a dress that is a serious contender but is missing a little something. If you are up front with your consultant she may be able to find a dress that has everything you are looking for.

Most sales consultants spend a minimum of 3 hours of their time with you helping to select your dress, it is not like buying a pair of shoes in a local store. Be courteous and contact your consultant to tell them if you have found another dress elsewhere. Despite your thoughts you are not sparing their feelings.  If you are uncomfortable to call directly, an email is perfectly acceptable.

If you make an appointment with a salon, be courteous to call and cancel if you can’t attend.  Stores can only accommodate so many brides in a day. Many brides have to go on a waiting list if the store is booked.  By not cancelling your appointment it is disrespectful and unfair to other brides who have had to be on a waiting list.

What to bring to an appointment

Some bridal boutiques have shoes on hand that you can use when trying on wedding dresses. Others do not keep these items on hand. Even if the shop has these items, it may not be the size or style you intend on wearing. Bring your own accessories to your dress appointment so you are prepared with everything you need to make a dress decision. These accessories do not have to be the ones you intend to wear for your wedding, but they do need to be similar.

Most salons will make notes on the styles, prices and any special options that can be done on the dresses you liked.  If they don’t, you should  take notes and ask for a card so you can reference a website. It is rare that you find and buy a dress on the same day, so you’ll want to have this information on hand and ready when you return to the shop to order the dress.

Misconceptions

Some brides tend to think that their shopping excursion is their own personal photo shoot and time to spend quality time with their shopping buddies. One of the primary misconceptions brides have is that they can take a camera along to document their dress fashion show. Most bridal boutiques do not permit photos to be taken of the gowns in order to prohibit brides from copying styles and having their dress designs made elsewhere.

The majority of wedding gown boutiques are also small, which means that dressing room areas accommodate only one to three people at a time. Be prepared to have only one or two people with you as your entire bridal party will not fit in the dressing room with you (unless you only have one or two attendants).

When you make the appointment, ask if you are allowed to bring a camera and how many people may accompany you for the shopping trip.

This all lace embellished dress with a drapey cape is what I envision the glamorous Audrey Hepburn wearing. Since she was the inspiration for the dress, I thought it appropriate to pay tribute to this legendary actress and name it after her character in the movie “Sabrina”.

I particularly love this quote of hers and thought I would share it with you.