The dangers & cost of buying the most important dress of your life..... on the internet.

When planning a wedding, finding the best deal is often on a bride's priority list.  Therefore, it can be tempting to buy your "dream dress" online for only a fraction of the original cost. However, if you go this route, your so called "dream dress" could turn into a disaster.

Many online websites advertise designer gowns at extremely cheap prices. The websites look legitimate. You see the exact same designer photos of the dress you desire. They sometimes "say" they offer refunds. They may even guarantee quick turn around. Sounds too good to be true, right? Maybe that's because it is.

For the past few years, brides all over the country have been desperate to find their dream designer gown for only pennies, making them the bait of these fraudulent wedding dress designers. Too often, a bride will decide to buy online and when the dress arrives, she is left speechless. Not a good speechless, but a bad speechless, because the dress that showed up on her doorstep two weeks before her wedding was not the dress she ordered. This has become such a huge problem that major news stations have reported on this issue, including CBS and INSIDE EDITION.

These websites that offer designer gowns, often are designers of knockoff dresses that are made with cheap material and no resemblance of designer gowns. Legitimate wedding gown designers do not sell online, but only sale through retail. You are safer visiting bridal salons, instead of buying online. In fact, many designers include information on their websites about authenticity, as well as a list of retailers who sell their gowns.

  

CB Couture b075

When you come to our store, not only do you get to see and feel the dresses right in front of you, but you are also being served. Buying online eliminates the special process of finding your dream gown. Don't waste your time shopping online when we're here to help. Not only do we offer gorgeous designer dresses, we also offer advice ranging from accessories to undergarments and correct measurements. Although buying online may seem easier and cheaper, you get a full and better experience when you shop through retail. Don't become prey to these fraudulent designers! Rest assured that you will find a quality, designer wedding dress at The Princess Bridal.
We are a full service store. This means that we have an expert bridal consultant team to spend hours in finding your dress, offer hundreds of samples to try on, offer expert advice, and have customized fittings. First, we offer a one-stop-shop where you can also find headpieces, veils, jewelry, petticoats, shoes, bridesmaid, flowergirl dresses, invitations and accessories. Second, here you can find recommendations for local venues, restaurants, florists, limousines, wedding cakes and more. Third, the price you pay includes free shipping, all the time assisting try-on, all the different sample designs, all the newest samples from a wide range of manufactures, proper measuring, ordering, receiving, quality checking, making sure the dress received is made correctly, pre-fitting, post-fitting, steaming and more. Fourth, once we receive your dress, we can recommend further expert alteration, customizing, adding special details, bustling, temporary storage, and final fitting. Finally, after your wedding, we can assist in repairing a damaged gown, cleaning and gown preservation. Needless to say, the small saving in price does not add up to the true cost of being a full service store. This is why full service stores charge only slightly more than the internet stores. Today is the day you will make one of the most important decisions. Make sure it is done right. Don’t think you are saving some money now only to pay more later. A wedding can be stressful, what with organizing all the vendors; don't add issues by dealing with a company who doesn't care about you personally, whom you have never met and doesn't have a concept of personal service.

by Chelsea Maxwell & Denise Case

Haute Jewels

So you checked off the first thing on your wedding to-do list...buy wedding dress.
Congratulations! However, your quest for your wedding attire doesn't have to be over! You can now start your hunt for accessories.

Finding accessories are like the icing on the cake. They bring your whole look together.
They can make you stand out from all the other brides and what bride doesn't want that?

There are many different accessories that you can choose from that will finish off your beautiful bridal look.
Jewelry is usually the first thing that comes to mind when we think about accessories.

To wear a necklace or not to wear a necklace?

First, look at the neckline of your dress. Is it strapless? With sleeves? Sweetheart? Necklaces work great with strapless dresses because you have more skin showing leaving space for a beautiful pendant. However, it also depends on the beading.

If your dress is blinged out, you may not need a necklace.

A teardrop pendant necklace might emphasize your sweetheart neckline or V-neck.

via Haute Bride

Maybe you have a lace dress and a simple string of pearls would top it off. To have a stronger vintage effect, try a long strand of pearls.



Perhaps you want to make a bold statement with your jewelry!

You can also show off your back with a gorgeous bridal lariat necklace.

Love these fabulous pieces of jewelry by Haute Bride? Call to make an appointment with Denise to finish your bridal look!

Here at The Princess Bridal, Denise and the girls are dedicated to help you look your bridal best!

Bridal Sashes & Belts

One of the hot new trends in bridal fashion are belts and sashes.

Some dresses may come with a belt or sash, but a lot of them don't.  A simple elegant dress

can be changed by adding a little bit of sparkle to accentuate the waist & 

complete your wedding day look.

Brides like to add this fun accessory when they want to bling it up or make it more unique.

So you may be wondering what is the difference between a belt and sash?

A belt clips, while a sash ties. So if you're a bride that loves bows, a sash is the way to go. Our seamstress can also sew the belt or sash to the dress, so you don't have to worry about it moving around. Little things like that make a huge difference on your special day.

Some brides like to add a belt/sash to change up their look for the ceremony or reception. In fact, some brides even get 2 different styles. An option for you is to have one blingy sash and one fun belt with feathers or flowers or even a splash of color!

Even adding a plain, satin sash in a contrasting color can enhance the look of your dress.

Essence of Australia D1367

Essence of Australia #1154  has a sash included that adds color to the gown.

Allure #9000 (in store) is a beautiful lace gown  that looks great with an embellished belt or sash. Many brides love lace, but also want a touch of bling, too. Adding a belt is a great way to get the best of both worlds!

Essence of Australia #1463 is one of the many dresses that you can try on that comes with a belt.

At The Princess Bridal, we have a wide variety of different styles of belts and sashes that you can try on. Make an appointment today to start exploring the many options of belts and sashes! Remember, just like your wedding dress can take four to six months to arrive...a belt or sash can take as little as four weeks or as long as four months to arrive, so plan ahead.  We have a variety of price points to help with your budget, but keep in mind the more sparkle...the bolder the crystals; the bigger the rhinestones they become a little less budget friendly so be sure to include this perfect accessory into your budget. 

Curvaceous, Bodacious & Sassy!!!

So today I am going to talk to the curvaceous Bride, bootylicious, big boned, bodacious girls.

You are engaged & excited then you start dress shopping....let the frustration begin. Every magazine you look at has little tiny girls, how do you get a vision of what a real girl will look like?? First you hit the big ones DB & AA (I'm not talking about Dooney & Burke or Alcoholics Anonymous). All you find are dresses that look like every other Bride but not the confident beautiful woman you are or you find the tent dress that hides all the curves. So now you head to a boutique where they have a limited number of dress in your size, breathe in & stretch....we have the right shape, give yourself a chance, open your mind, (have faith in your consultant, she has seen ALL the dresses on a body)...TRY on dresses.

Ditch the flaws, compliment your assets! 

Your Honey loves your curves, he loves everything about you. Your wedding dress should compliment your assets, forget about your flaws. When we forget the flaws & highlight the assets...NO one will notice the rest, they will see what your Honey sees, a beautiful woman in love.
Remember that ruching is your friend, it will make your waist look tiny & your tummy disappear. Try on dresses that are outside your comfort zone, dresses that look like nothing on the Hanger may make your body look great. It's all about THE shape.

So let's talk about shapes.

A-line - This gown is going to compliment your bust & waist then float out at your hips. This shape is great for a curvy yet proportionate girl.

"Earlton" Blue by Enzoani

Ball - This gown is good for the Bride who wants to look like a Princess. The Bride who is pear shaped or the Bride who wants something more traditional.

 

"Delaware" Blue by Enzoani

 

Trumpet - This gown is fitted to the hip, Then flares out. This gown is for the Bride who doesn't want to hide her curves, she feels confident & sexy...& it shows.

 "Frisco" Blue by Enzoani

 

 

Straps or strapless...the designers have made that a little harder. Its hard to find a beautiful dress with straps, but fortunately we can customize so you can get the dress redesigned to meet your needs & your vision. The designers have heard that some Brides need jackets for their church or temple or maybe they just want a little more coverage (check out or new jackets by Enzoani).

Your Honey loves YOU...don't stress! Come to our trunk show!

Remember ladies this is the best time of your life, now is not the time to crash diet. Your Honey loves YOU, so don't stress yourself out trying to fit into a certain size. Wedding dresses are European sizing so it is totally different than ours. Once you have ordered your dress, ideally you want to stay the same or lose no more than ten to fifteen pounds otherwise your alterations cost will go up! You are going to look beautiful, because the wedding is about the commitment to each other & love makes us all beautiful.

Great news...The Princess Bridal will be hosting the Blue by Enzoani  Gorgeous with Curves Trunk Show during April 11-21! If you love the dresses that are pictured, you are in luck...these are just a few of the featured dresses in the trunk show. We also have our favorite, Dabra, in a size 10, but looks beautiful in plus sizes too Call or email for an appointment, as it is booking up quick! Dress sizes will range from 16 thru 26.

 Our trunk show dress Edson in a size 20

Our favorite dress Dabra in a size 10

Traditional White....or maybe something else

It's time to find your dream wedding dress, but the only problem is, you don't want to wear white. You're the type of gal that dares to be different. Maybe you want to make a statement...a bold statement. Perhaps you want to toss the white dress out, and wear your favorite color. Maybe white just doesn't look good on your skin tone. Good news...color wedding dresses are in!

In the past, brides hardly ever wore white, mainly because of practicality. Blue, surprisingly, was representative of purity instead of white, as well as eternal love and fidelity. In fact, white was the color of mourning, so it was often the last choice for brides. It wasn't until Queen Victoria debuted her white gown that white broke out into bridal fashion. However, when the Great Depression hit, most brides were unable to purchase a new dress so they often wore their

Sunday best. For instance, gray was a common wedding dress color, because that was a color often worn to church. Brides would be able to put their wedding dress to good use, by wearing it more than once. Red was also a common color during the Revolutionary War as a sign of support.

Although white is still the most popular color for wedding dresses today, color is becoming a popular trend, too. Colors like ice mint, red, light gold, and champagne are hot colors right now.

Jessica Biel wore a pink wedding dress when she married Justin Timberlake.

Amber Tamblyn broke out of the norm and wore a yellow wedding dress on her wedding day.

via

It's clear that color isn't just for remarried brides, but it can be for any bride. If you want something more than just a white wedding dress, don't be afraid to venture into the rainbow of wedding dresses. The Princess Bridal carries many designers that have a variety of colors to choose from, such as Kitty Chen, Mori Lee, and others.

If you would like an ice mint wedding dress, check out Kitty Chen's "Angie".

If you dream of a bold, red wedding dress, you may like Kitty Chen's "Autumn 1232".

If light gold is the color for you, check out Mori Lee 5104.

Lace, Lace and more lace!

When you come to The Princess Bridal in search of your dream wedding dress, one of the ways we learn about you and your special day is by filling out a "bridal profile". This handy sheet of paper tells us important information, like your wedding date (that's important, especially if you want your dress in time), budget (so you don't blow your wedding budget all on your dress...that wouldn't be good) and what you're looking for in a dress (style and fabric). Now that you've found your missing puzzle piece (your fiance), it's time to find the dress, and we're here to help! Fortunately, finding your dress is much easier than finding your special someone.

Maybe you have a very detailed idea of what your perfect dress would be, including the color, style, fabric, and each individual embellishment with specific placemen, if so, that's great! Maybe you have absolutely no clue what you're looking for, and when we hand you a bridal profile sheet, the different styles and fabrics leave you in a tizzy, and that's great too! Have no fear, Princess Bridal is here to find your perfect dress! In this series of "What's hot: 2013", we're going to discuss all of the hot trends in bridal fashion for this year.

One of the hottest trends in bridal fashion today is lace. Yep, you've seen it. It's the fabric that hangs as a window treatment in your grandma's house, and it's the fabric that adorns your favorite red bra. Now, lace hasn't just become hot, it's been hot for a long, long time. Did you know that the Sumerians were the first to add lace to fabric in 4000 B.C.? Bobbin lace and needle lace first made it's debut in the fifteenth century. Queen Victoria made an impressive statement with her lace wedding gown and veil in 1839. Let's not forget about the lace dress Grace Kelly wore on her wedding dress in 1956; and more recently, the lace gown that Kate Middleton wore when she married her Prince Charming. It is obvious that lace can give you an elegant and timeless look on your wedding day.

For such an intricate masterpiece, the creation of lace is far from simple. Bobbin lace is made by the twisting of thread around bobbins over a groups of pins that are connected to a pillow. Once finished, the pins are taken out and the lace is separated from the pillow and viola! Needle lace is created by needle and thread over a pattern that is drawn on a backing and then removed when finished to create an open lace pattern. Did you know that it took six months and one hundred workers to finish Queen Victoria's famous lace dress? It is clear that lace making is no easy task, therefore, making it a rather costly fabric. Royalty were most common to wear lace because of the high expense. It was often taken from one fabric and then added to another fabric to make it more cost effective. Just like in the 15th century, lace is still an expensive garment, which means it is more difficult to find a well-made lace dress for under a thousand dollars.

There are many different styles of lace, including the most common: Venise lace, Chantilly lace, and the Alencon lace. Venise lace usually has floral, foliage, and geomettric patterns with a thick needlepoint style. Chantilly lace is usually a soft, floral patten on a net background, while Alencon lace is more of a bold pattern and can be used as an applique or one continuous garment.

For such an intricate masterpiece, the creation of lace is far from simple. Bobbin lace is made by the twisting of thread around bobbins over a groups of pins that are connected to a pillow. Once finished, the pins are taken out and the lace is separated from the pillow and viola! Needle lace is created by needle and thread over a pattern that is drawn on a backing and then removed when finished to create an open lace pattern. Did you know that it took six months and one hundred workers to finish Queen Victoria's famous lace dress? It is clear that lace making is no easy task, therefore, making it a rather costly fabric. Royalty were most common to wear lace because of the high expense. It was often taken from one fabric and then added to another fabric to make it more cost effective. Just like in the 15th century, lace is still an expensive garment, which means it is more difficult to find a well-made lace dress for under a thousand dollars.

There are many different styles of lace, including the most common: Venise lace, Chantilly lace, and the Alencon lace. Venise lace usually has floral, foliage, and geomettric patterns with a thick needlepoint style. Chantilly lace is usually a soft, floral patten on a net background, while Alencon lace is more of a bold pattern and can be used as an applique or one continuous garment.

For such an intricate masterpiece, the creation of lace is far from simple. Bobbin lace is made by the twisting of thread around bobbins over a groups of pins that are connected to a pillow. Once finished, the pins are taken out and the lace is separated from the pillow and viola! Needle lace is created by needle and thread over a pattern that is drawn on a backing and then removed when finished to create an open lace pattern. Did you know that it took six months and one hundred workers to finish Queen Victoria's famous lace dress? It is clear that lace making is no easy task, therefore, making it a rather costly fabric. Royalty were most common to wear lace because of the high expense. It was often taken from one fabric and then added to another fabric to make it more cost effective. Just like in the 15th century, lace is still an expensive garment, which means it is more difficult to find a well-made lace dress for under a thousand dollars.

There are many different styles of lace, including the most common: Venise lace, Chantilly lace, and the Alencon lace. Venise lace usually has floral, foliage, and geomettric patterns with a thick needlepoint style. Chantilly lace is usually a soft, floral patten on a net background, while Alencon lace is more of a bold pattern and can be used as an applique or one continuous garment.

Venise lace

Alencon lace



Chantilly lace

Since lace made its debut to the fashion industry, it has been popular for lingerie, veils, and, of course, wedding gowns. Whether it be the Spanish flair or the sexiness of the open lace or the vintage aspect that you're longing for, lace can make you feel like the princess you deserve to be on your wedding day.

If you are a lace kind of gal, we have gorgeous lace gowns for you to try on! Here are a few lace gowns we have:

Tradition or Not....to Veil or not to Veil

Kristina Eaton Ltd.

A woman is likely to wear a veil on her wedding day, especially if she follows the traditions of a white wedding. Brides used to wear their hair flowing down their back at their wedding to symbolize their virginity, now the white diaphanous veil is often said to represent this.
There are many stories of the origin of a bride's veil. The definition of veil is to "obscure, shroud, mask or cover, so perhaps that is how the bridal "veil" got its name.

Back in medieval times, the veil was a symbol of purity, chastity, and modesty. Long ago, the Groom was making a promise to clothe and protect her, he recognizes that he was marrying the bride for her inner beauty; while looks will fade with time, his love will be everlasting. Some ultra-orthodox traditions have the bride wears an opaque veil as she is escorted down the aisle to meet her groom. This shows her complete willingness to enter into the marriage and her absolute trust that she is marrying the right man.
Some say the the origin of the bridal veil was due to the circumstances of an arranged marriage. In the past, men bargained with an eligible young girl's father for her hand in marriage. After the ceremony, the veil was lifted to reveal the brides face. This was to keep a groom from backing out of the deal if he didn't like what he saw.

Some say that the veil was used in days past as a symbol of a bride's submission and willingness to obey her husband. The veil is also said to be symbolic of the passing from girl to married woman&the Father of the Bride lifting the veil and giving her to her Husband is the beginning of their new life together or unveiling.

Cathedral Veils were only worn in wedding that took place in cathedrals, thus the name.

Traditions change, now wearing a bridal veil:

*

signifies joy&the beginning of life together
*

highlights the bride's appearance and features
*

is the ICING on the cake! Brides are transformed with the addition of a veil, yes even if you think you don't want one try it....you never know it might make you FEEL like the Bride.

The history of wearing a bridal veil has given way to new traditions. Over the last 20 years, traditions surrounding the bridal veil have changed even more. Veils were worn more frequently over the face, a blusher; Brides today are forgoing the veiling of their face. Brides are also returning to the 1950 style French net or bird cage veil for that vintage look.

Brides of today are making their own wedding veil history! It used to be that Brides marrying for the second time traditionally were not supposed to wear a veil, especially a white veil. Is this your LAST marriage then wear the color&accessories you want to! Don't let anyone try to tell you different. It's YOUR day!

Your wedding day is one of the most important days in a woman's life, you want to FEEL like the Bride!
Happy Planning

Denise Case

Resources:
http://www.veilubridal.com/history-bridal-veil.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veil

Monica's Floral tips!

Aside from the bouquet you spring for each Valentine's Day, chances are you’re a stranger when it comes to flowers. However, now you are a bride–to–be planning your dream wedding, and suddenly you must make decisions on bouquets, boutonnieres, reception centerpieces and ceremony arrangements. Overwhelming? I know! Fortunately, I ‘m here to guide you through this process so you can enjoy planning your wedding flowers without wilting from the stress.


Wedding flowers are one of the most important elements of your big day. Not only do they provide color and scent, but they symbolize life, growth, and rebirth. Good wedding flowers are also a conversation starter and after the food and dress, one of the one things that guests will remember the most.

Discover your Style:

Close your eyes and envision the perfect look to your wedding. Will it be formal or casual? Elaborate or simple? Bold or neutral colors? Are you a traditionalist in favor of roses or lilies, or do you favor a more contemporary floral theme incorporating grasses, fruits and herbs? Your wedding flowers are more than eye candy; they set the ambiance for the entire event. Knowing your wedding style is a start in the right direction, because you’ll want to choose blossoms that match the formality of your wedding day.





Pick Your Palette:

Your color scheme should flow directly from your desired style. Today’s floral trends embrace many aspects going from wedding flowers in traditional whites and pastels to modern and adventurous dark hues and citrus shades. Flowers in matching shades or cool contrasts are breathtaking, but make sure they coordinate with your overall wedding theme. Choose your wedding colors accordingly, and your wedding will express your spirit. Gone are the days of adhering to light pastels and muted shades in wedding decorations. Today's brides are opting for bold and interesting pairings of colors in their wedding flowers and floral schemes. Not afraid of mixing purples and orange's, the post-millennium color palette is expanding.




If you are still not sure where to begin, bring a bridesmaid dress fabric swatch when you meet with your florist and choose coordinating shades.

Seasonal Wedding Flowers:

You know your floral theme and you’ve chosen your color scheme. When deciding on the specific blooms your want in your arrangements, be sure to consider the season in which you are getting marrying.







Another option you might want to consider is mixing it up a bit by incorporating produce. One of the hot trends in wedding flowers is arrangements featuring fruits, herbs and even veggies as a playful and fun approach. Their naturally vibrant colors coincide with the daring color trend. Many brides are also turning to the woods for inspiration. Green grasses add dimension and structure and can elicit a warm, summery feeling.






Hiring a Florist:

Even the most creative and artistic bride will benefit from a florist’s professional capabilities. Your wedding day will be full of activity, and you won’t want to spend vital hours fumbling with the wiring of each bouquet. A florist is not necessarily a budget breaker; a good one should be able to work with any floral budget.

Floral Budget:
Let’s face it determining how much wedding flowers cost is probably not the aspect of your wedding you’ve been dreaming of since grade school. You may see your floral budget as the biggest nemesis between you and your wedding flowers. If you plan wisely, however, you should have enough money to create the floral theme of your desires. Expect to spend about 8-10% of your overall budget on wedding flowers.


What flowers are you planning to use for your wedding? I'd love to hear just email me at
Monica@theprincessbridal.com and give me your ideas of your wedding flowers so I can post them on the blog. Thanks Monica



Pictures by web site:
www.petalsbydesign.com
www.apps.facebook.com
thesavvyevent.blogspot.com

Bridesmaids Dresses Start with your Florist

You have found the Wedding dress & the venue...next bridesmaids dresses.

Lots of decisions.

First things first, it's your wedding..when it is your Bridesmaids wedding you will wear whatever crazy color or ugly dress they choose, you will spend too much money on a dress you will only wear once. You will do this because you love them, they WILL wear the dress you ask...don't stress out about whether they love it, They love you...enough said.

Now, being the loving friend that you are, You're going to consider price as the most important factor but in reality the right color choice will make your Bridesmaids willing to spend more because they will actually wear it again in the right color & style.

So how do you decide on the right color? Start with your florist. Yes, I said florist. Your floral will be in all the pictures so you want to Love it. You will not look back and say my Bridesmaids dresses were so cute but you will be happy in ten years that your favorite flowers were in your bouquet & in your decor. Look at what's in season to make your floral cost effective then choose your favorites. Now you have your color palette.

We love The Dessy Group, which has five diverse collections. Dessy Collection, Cynthia Rawley, Lela Rose, Alfred Sung, After Six. Yes, the price point is a little higher but the fabrics are better, silk dupioni, peau de soie, yes your bridesmaids will wear these beautiful dresses again. Another great designer is Bill Levkoff, super cute dresses with a body conscience fit available in satin, European satin & iridescent taffeta. A budget friendly designer is Mori Lee Bridesmaid, The Ava Collection & Affairs Collection. These three collections come in Chiffon, Taffeta Or Satin & offer shawls with most styles and optional jackets. These are just a few of our favorites but there are tons to choose from. Choose a style that compliments your wedding dress. Consider different styles for each Bridesmaid in the same fabric & color.

Yes it's great to get everyones opinion but remember this is your decision, so make it.