Important Advice For Brides On
Choosing Your Dress
The most common dilemma facing
brides when looking for their
wedding dress, is deciding what
style of dress they want and
where to get it from?. Unless
they have done their homework,
it can take considerable time to
figure this out.
Brides don't particularly want
to waste time going to the wrong
stores and the bridal boutiques
certainly do not want to waste
time on brides, who are not
really in their market. So the
following advice should help
brides decide on which stores to
make appointments to visit.
Q.
How much should I expect to pay
for my dress?
Wedding dresses vary
considerably in price from £500
to £50,000. (and also in terms
of what you get for your money).
For example, you can purchase a
perfectly adequate off the peg
dress, from bridal chains such
as Pronuptia or Berkertex
brides, for as little as £300.
But you have to accept, that at
this price, the dress is likely
to be mass produced (ie:
manufactured in the Far East),
and is unlikely to be in silk
fabrics or particularly unique.
On
the other hand you can also buy
famous New York designer dresses
for £3000 or more (which are
also manufactured in China and
then altered to fit you) from
top West end designer bridal
stores such as Selfridges and
Browns Bride. Admittedly the
service is better and you should
expect silk fabrics, but one
could argue that if you are
paying £3000 for an off the peg
dress, then you are simply
paying for the name.
If
the bride is prepared to pay
£3000 for her dress, it should
(at the very least), be made to
measure. For example, all
Johanna Hehir's dresses can be
made to measure for between
£1800 and £4000 . This means the
wedding
dress is
individually, hand made in
England, to fit you.
At
this point it is probably
helpful to understand the
difference between off the peg,
made to measure and couture
dresses.
The majority of UK bridal stores
buy in the dresses they sell,
from big bridal dress
manufacturers (most of whom
manufacture out of the Far
East). These dresses are usually
ordered for the customer in the
closest standard size and then
altered to fit the bride. This
is not ideal fit wise, but it is
the only way to keep prices low.
This is commonly known as "off
the peg" but unfortunately some
bridal stores attempt to pass
this off as "made to measure".
Don't forget to ask if the price
quoted includes alterations? As
these are usually extra and can
add several hundred pounds to
the price of the dress,
depending on what needs doing.
There are also a number of
designers who mistakenly
describe their dresses as
"couture" when in fact they are
made to measure. These are all
rather cynical attempts to take
advantage of the bride's lack of
understanding and to persuade
her that she is getting more for
her money than she actually is.
Made to measure is where the
bride chooses an existing
design, that is then made up to
fit her. The price quoted
normally includes a number of
fittings. Made to measure
dresses typically start from
£1500 upwards. In the ideal
world, all brides would have
their dresses made to measure,
to ensure a perfect fit.
Couture is where the customer
sits down with the designer and
the dress is designed from
scratch to the customer's
specification. With couture,
there is usually always a toile
fitting, (to check the fit of
the pattern), before the dress
is cut and made up. Couture
dresses typically start from
£3000 upwards, as they are very
time consuming and expensive to
manufacture.
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Q. Why do made
to measure
designer dresses
cost so much?
There is a
popular
misconception
that as with
anything to do
with weddings,
brides ordering
made to measure
designer dresses
are somehow
being over
charged. This is
simply not true
for the
following
reasons;
Firstly made to
measure dresses
are generally
hand made in the
UK and labour
costs and
overheads are
obviously a lot
higher than for
dresses
manufactured in
China. Designer
stores also
offer a much
higher level of
service and have
a major
investment in
sample dresses
for brides to
try.
Secondly brides
are paying for
the experience
and expertise
that designers
have acquired
over many years
in the business.
Dealing with
designers who
actually make
their own
dresses should
give brides
confidence that
the dress will
fit properly and
be ready in
time, which is
not always the
case with
imported
dresses.
Some brides
decide to use a
dress maker to
copy a designer
dress to save
money.
Dressmakers can
often under cut
designers on
price, because
they have much
lower overheads.
But brides
considering this
option would be
well advised get
references
because this can
often prove to
be a disaster.
NB: Not all
dressmakers have
the necessary
skills or
experience to
manufacture a
comparable dress
for less money.
Q. What happens
if I want to
lose weight?
Brides are
notorious for
wanting to lose
weight for their
weddings. This
is
understandable
and most stores
will make some
allowance for
this in the
fittings,
provided the
weight loss is
not after the
dress has
already been
altered to fit.
As most brides
will appreciate
it is very
difficult for
bridal stores to
hit a moving
target. During
the peak wedding
summer months
(June to August)
bridal workrooms
work to a very
tight schedule,
due to the
number of
dresses that
they have to
finish.
Q. What style of
dress will suit
me?
Once the
potential bride
has decided
which stores she
should make
appointments to
visit, the next
problem is
working out what
style of dress
will suit her
figure and the
type of wedding
she is having??
Looking through
bridal magazines
will help, but
the quickest way
is to go and try
dresses on. It
is also helpful
if the bride is
able to get some
professional
advice on what
styles suit her
figure, her
budget and her
venue.
Thankfully,
there are a
reasonable
number of
reputable west
end bridal
designer stores,
which offer a
good selection
of styles (at
prices from
£1500 to
£10,000) These
can often be off
the peg, made to
measure or
couture dresses,
depending on the
bride's budget.
Luckily for
brides looking
in London's West
end thereare a
number of
designer own
label bridal
stores, which
offer a personal
made to measure
service on many
of their
designs, unlike
the majority of
stores outside
London.
Bridal
etiquette:
Getting the best
from your
appointment.
Before
proceeding it is
worth noting
that most
reputable West
End bridal
establishments
are busy and
usually see
brides on an
appointment only
basis.
Ideally one
should make
appointments at
a number of
these more
reputable stores
to try on styles
and hopefully
get some
intelligent
advice of what
styles will suit
the bride's
figure, her
style of venue
and budget. It
is best to be
honest about how
much you are
prepared to
spend. There is
little point is
trying on £3000
dresses, if your
budget is £1500.
This advice is
normally given
for free, but
brides should be
aware that it is
extremely
frustrating for
the bridal
stores, (and
unfair on other
brides), when
brides fail to
show for their
appointments.
The best bridal
stores always
have a waiting
list for
appointments and
when brides do
not bother to
turn up or
cancel, this
effectively
deprives other
brides of that
appointment
slot. For this
reason, many of
the top designer
bridal boutiques
(including
Johanna Hehir)
charge a
cancellation fee
if you do NOT
give them 48hrs
notice of
cancellation in
writing.
Saturdays and
week day evening
appointments are
generally in
high demand for
obvious reasons,
so it pays to
book well in
advance.
Normally
customers are
asked to remove
their shoes so
as not to damage
the carpets and
request that
brides wear
gloves when
trying on
dresses, to help
minimise
soiling, from
being over
handled.
Otherwise
expensive
wedding dress
samples are
ruined within
weeks, by the
sheer number of
people trying
them on. Most
brides would
understandably
prefer not to
try on shop
soiled dresses.
Bearing in mind
these small
courtesies makes
for a memorable
and thoroughly
enjoyable
experience!
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Tips For Getting
Your Dream Wedding Dress
What is your once in a life-time
decision on the eve of your
marriage, except the selection
of your life-partner? It is your
wedding gown!
Many other important items such
as wedding ring, wedding jewelry
make the day special for you but
the wedding dress that envelops
your entire body is the most
important thing. It gives you
the appearance of an angel from
the celestial world--that will
be remembered, appreciated and
quoted by all those guests who
were present on the occasion.
No
doubt, you have a fairly good
knowledge about the wedding
gowns. But when you actually go
to finalize the purchase for
your own wedding gown, you will
be amazed and taken aback by the
vast number of designs, the
range of styles, shapes and
colors available.
Do
not have any pre-notions about
your wedding gown. Go to the
market with an open mind. The
fashion market and the textile
designs and qualities are
changing so fast that the one of
the most surprised and confused
persons to take any decision on
the wedding dress would turn out
to be you.
Doesn't matter! It is a
life-time opportunity! You are
going to be bride, the VVIP of
that auspicious day. The entire
stock, the designs of the
wedding gowns present at the
store, are your slaves today.
You can see and examine anything
and everything. You are the
monarch of all that you survey
at the departmental store. Have
patience. Select carefully,
very, very carefully indeed!
No
shopkeeper worth his profession
would persuade you to take a
hurried decision as far as
selection of the wedding gown is
concerned. He understands your
difficulty and internal
feelings!
Don't underestimate yourself.
Think, you are the number one
model of your country. Try
various combinations and do all
possible experiments. Match and
experiment with your hair style
particularly. Make generous use
of the mirror in front of you.
Before you venture upon the
adventure of the bridal
shopping, you need to make a
detailed and emphatic study of
articles and photographs of some
of the bridal magazines. Of
course, your friends, some of
them married would give you
generous doses of advice!
Understand the difference
between the genuine and
counterfeit advice and finally
take your decision. Let it be
your decision- no decision under
pressure from any quarter.
The dress-specialists, with the
first look at your figure and
personality are able to make out
what would be ideal for you.
Listen to their advice but let
the decision be yours. This is
an opportunity for you to learn
from him. But this is also the
special opportunity to learn
from your expectations. He may
be right in his measurements,
but you are not wrong in your
dreams.
Choosing Your
Wedding Gown:
Bridal Shops
Choosing the
right shop is a
crucial step
toward
purchasing your
wedding gown.
The reputation
of the store
owners and the
duration of the
time they have
been in business
usually prove to
be of great
significance.
For that, at
first asking
around and
visiting several
shops without
making an
impulsive
decision is a
must.
A positive sign
for any store is
when the shop
owner or a sales
person is
willing to tell
you the types of
policies they
have concerning
disasters like
fires, weather
mishaps, or
bankruptcy that
could shut down
the store and
force them not
to deliver the
dress on time.
Many a wedding
has been made
less than 100 %
perfect because
of a bridal
shop's failure
to deliver.
The location of
the store
matters. A
bride, with
everything she
has to do, does
not want to
travel long
distances for
the fittings,
and remember
that a bridal
gown may require
several
fittings, no
matter how
perfect the
torso of the
bride may be.
The average
price of the
bridal gowns
sold in a shop
should be the
first question
to ask, since
that will give
an idea up front
if that store is
for you. Then,
the next
question should
be if the
alterations or
wedding dress
preservation are
included in the
price. Some
establishments
offer reasonably
priced package
deals that
include
fittings,
alterations, dry
cleaning, and
preservation.
Bridal shops
come in many
sizes. Besides a
selection of
ready-made or
made-to-order
bridal gowns,
most of them
offer other
services as
well.
The expanse of
the inventory
and the quality
of the
merchandise
carry a weight
in giving the
bride several
options in sizes
and styles.
Whether the shop
has veils or not
is of essence.
There are some
high-end bridal
shops that only
sell the gown
but not the
veil. A bride
needs to have
her veil match
her dress.
The condition of
the shop is
another
consideration.
An efficient
bridal shop has
to be clean and
well-organized;
it needs to have
good lighting,
several
professionally
angled mirrors,
and lots space
to move around
for the bride to
see herself in a
gown from all
sides while
standing still
and while in
motion.
It is also
imperative that
the sales staff
are informed
enough to know
the answers to
the bride's
questions. A
pushy, rude, and
patronizing
sales person can
turn the
pleasant
experience of
choosing one's
bridal gown into
a nightmare.
Sales people
should respect
the bride and
her time. When
you are on time
for your
appointment and
they make you
wait for more
than ten
minutes, then it
is a good idea
to search for
another place.
When the sales
people steer the
bride toward a
style that
flatters her
figure the most,
that store will
be recommended
by many people
to others. When
my niece opted
for a slim-line
gown and her
mother insisted
on a full skirt,
the sales people
came to their
rescue with a
designer
slim-line gown
and a full-skirt
train that
looked like a
full skirt with
a flowing rich
train from the
back, while its
straight lines
up front favored
the bride's
youthful shape.
Since the train
was removable
for freer
movement and
dancing during
the reception,
the gown turned
out to be
practical as
well as being
elegant.
Searching for
the perfect
wedding gown is
fun and it
should be an
enjoyable
experience. A
wedding dress is
the most
important dress
you'll ever wear
in your life,
because in it,
you'll take an
oath to spend
the rest of your
life with the
person who will
be your mate.
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How To Match
Your
Hairstyle With
Your Dress
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Being a
bride
means
that you
want
everything
to be
just
right.
This
usually
takes a
great
deal of
planning
and
special
thought.
In
addition
to all
the
other
preparations,
you must
make
sure
that you
are
using
the
hairstyle
that
matches
your
wedding
dress.
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You want your
hairstyle, dress
and makeup to be
ideal and to all
go well
together.
One of the first
steps you can do
to find the
right hairstyle
for your wedding
day is to look
through numerous
hairstyle books.
You can take a
number of bridal
magazines and
check out the
fun hairstyles.
Try to find the
styles that will
match your
individuality
and your dress
type.
You should think
about your hair
type. You should
select something
that will work
for the style
and the length
of your hair.
Think about if
you have thick
or thin hair,
long or short
and curly or
straight.
If you have
straight hair
and you would
like to add some
volume and
height to it,
you need to set
it up in curlers
the night
before. If you
want to have
your hair
straight, you
need hair
straightener and
the right hair
gels to help
make it smooth
and not frizzy.
Think about the
weather as well.
If it is a hot
and humid day,
you will need
the right gel or
hairspray that
will make your
hair look and
feel better
against the
conditions. You
can bring along
a hair net or
plastic hair bag
if the weather
is going to be a
little wet.
You also need to
match your
hairstyle with
your wedding
dress. This is
crucial and the
two should
compliment each
other and not
making the other
look bad. For
example, if you
plan to wear an
off the shoulder
dress or any
style of dress
that has
delicate beading
on the top, you
need to make
sure that your
dress is up off
the material to
ensure that
everyone sees
the great detail
work on the
dress.
Any low cut
dress or
strapless is
better off with
the hair pulled
up with some
hair falling in
places. These
places are
around the ear
or the back of
the neck. You
can use some
soft and sweet
curls around
your face to
soften the look
up a little bit.
This romantic
and elegant look
will look
fantastic with
just about any
dress style.
You can always
put your hair in
the hands of a
professional for
your wedding
day. Make an
appointment with
a hairstylist
that you have
confidence in.
Spend a few days
before the
wedding and
discover the
hairstyle that
will look best
on your wedding
day. The
hairstylist will
help you make a
decision what
will look better
and you can try
a few first
before you make
your final
decision about
the hairstyle
that you want.
Keep in mind
that your
hairstyle needs
to go great with
your headpiece
as well. You
need something
that will allow
your headpiece
or veil to fit
comfortably on
your head and
still allow you
to move and
function in the
way that you
should. Make
sure that your
hair, headpiece
and dress all
coordinate and
look great when
they are all put
together. |
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