It was brought to my attention today that some local brides are finding a picture of a lovely wedding gown in Canada that they just love, and they are sourcing it in China because it carries a much cheaper price tag. A recent $2300 gown here in Ontario was found for a lot less in China and if this sounds too good to be true, it’s because it is!
 John Lyons Photography, Windsor, Ontario, will travel If you are trying to save on a gown’s price- be forewarned that this is not the way to do it. This is the difference between cost and price. You won’t wind up saving anything and you will be stressed and aggravated beyond belief.
The sage words of advice in a situation such as this one is- don’t even consider it. Budget expectation versus reality are two very different things. If you can only afford $999 for your gown, there are plenty of styles in the local marketplace with great service that you will be delighted with.
You won’t save any money by trying to bypass the conventional retail channels. What you will have is a headache trying to rectify a situation that needn’t have happened in the first place.
Trust in your local bridal salons to give you the best price for the budget you have available. These are your neighbours and friends and they want to see you happy and satisfied.
Remember, too, that if you do get that gown from China, who is going to alter it for you? Many shops are not comfortable handling something as special as your gown, if they haven’t sold it to you.
Your wedding day is a day of importance and it is always best to purchase what you know you are getting and that you have some control over the purchase.
Wedding Odyssey Bridal Show
Ciociaro Club: January 8 & 9
save $2 with coupon
present upon admission
 Steve Pomerleau Photography, Windsor, Ontario- will travel Most women began planning their wedding day when they were little girls; imagining the gown, the veil, the shoes and the glittery jewellery. So it’s also not surprising that brides-to-be start looking for their dream dress a week or two after they are engaged. Some searches take brides far and wide as they spend days trying them on, and thinking and rethinking the ones that they liked a lot!
Ideally, your wedding gown choice will be as close to your ideal look as possible. But it takes a long time to put on that special dress and know that it’s definitely the one!
You’ll never put more thought or money into an outfit ever again, as this is your ultimate opportunity for self expression.
Before you begin your shopping, page through bridal fashion magazines and clip out the pictures that catch your eye. Attend a couple bridal fashion shows and also determine your price range. Then, you have to decide on how formal your wedding is going to be. It’s now time to select the bridal shops you want to visit. Call ahead to check their hours and to set up an appointment. Service is very accommodating as they know that this is a time that you will always remember. Their mission is to ensure that when you make your final selection that you are ecstatic with your pick.
Ask someone that you trust to accompany you; someone that will be implicitly honest with you about what styles suit you best and flatter your figure and complexion. No matter how much you adore your bridesmaids leave them at home. Wedding gown shopping is more enjoyable and efficient when you don’t have a entourage with you. At each stop, describe your “dream” dress – or at least some of the details to the salesperson, but keep an open mind and let her suggest some styles that she thinks may work for you.
If you are in doubt about the type of gown that may be appropriate for you, consider these guidelines. Any woman can wear a long gown regardless of her age or if she has been previously married, although some styles are best suited for younger brides, while some look better on more mature figures. Gowns with a train are reserved for formal weddings. First time brides,only should wear a train and a veil- they represent innocence according to bridal tradition. Encore and mature first time brides might consider a tiara, a stunning hair accessory or fresh flowers instead. At an informal ceremony, a bride will likely choose a floor-length gown without a train, a knee length suit, or a cocktail dress. These styles also work for encore brides.
For a destination wedding, many bridal shops have short dresses that are terrific for your day, and because your site is far away, you can set the trend for yourself. Not every wedding calls for that formal look. Designers are creating dresses for a bride who wants a more relaxed look on their wedding day. There are looks available that are distinctive and dressy without a traditional bridal look.
Colour is another area that is not being driven by past attitudes. Although the most popular colours are still white and ivory; don’t shy away from a colour that is your favourite and makes you feel special while wearing it.
Try to avoid trendy looks if you are going for a non-traditional look. They will give away the era in which you are married so look instead for timeless designs and remember that your personality plays a big part in your selection. Comfort is another big factor to consider; you’ll want to be able to embrace, sit, move and dance with ease.
If you are certain and have always imagined that your fiancé’s attire is wearing a tuxedo, this is the time to make your vision known. You are investing a lot of time on your “look” for your special day, and it would be much better complemented by comparable attire worn by your groom. Wedding pictures mean a lot in future years,and when you are capturing all your moments- it would be great, if they look great! Life delivers but few milestones, so glitz it up together!
For a selection of the bridal shops in Windsor/Essex County please go to bridaltalk.theweddingguide.ca and search out Bridal Salons.
Your Look
“If there is no woman, there is no dress”- Coco Chanel
The childhood fantasy of that incredible gown is now a reality. It is time to choose the most important dress you will ever wear, and it is your look that will set the tone for your wedding: elegantly formal, culturally traditional, or alluringly whimsical. Bridal salons offer an array of colours and styles and will do alterations for that perfect dress with the not-so-perfect waistline.
The search should begin immediately for while the choices may seem endless, time is not.
And, if it seems that the elusive dress of your dreams is but a figment of your imagination, then bring it to life. Do not hesitate to look into custom gown designs, after all, it is your day and you should feel perfect in what you are wearing.
 Photo: Chalet Studio Photography The wedding gown tells something about the bride’s beliefs and feelings, her personality, and her general appearance.
Some brides are likely to try new styles. Others may be unconcerned about their gown. Some brides wear simple gowns becaue of their strong customs and beliefs.
Through the years, the wedding gown has been one of the most important parts of the wedding, associated with the hope and the celebration of love. Your gown is going to be the focal point of the ceremony, and you will remember it for the rest of your life.
Consider comfort and that all eyes will be on you. This may not be the best occasion to wear a gown in which you do not feel comfortable. Selecting a wedding gown is one of life’s precious moments. To get the right gown, however, takes some thinking. Your wedding gown gives you a chance to dress completely different from the way you do everyday; so feel free to select something unique. Experiment with many styles to see what suits you silhouette best.
If your wedding is a destination- there are now many short styles available for you to choose from. The rise of destination weddings has set the tone for a new look for a very treasured day. And, you’ll find gowns of all colours and styles with gorgeous detail- just for you!
Expert advice
Here at The Wedding Guide office, we live, eat and breathe weddings. If you have a specific question about protocol, etiquette or something that may be unclear to you, please go to “Ask the Editor” online for your private one-on-one conversation.
If you have a specific question about protocol, etiquette or something that may be unclear to you, please go to “Ask the Editor” online for your private one-on-one conversation. |
Facebook and The Wedding Guide Windsor/Essex County
As your local web portal for this area, www.theweddingguide.ca, we are constantly adding information to our Facebook site daily. Check in and see what’s new, what’s exciting and what’s cutting edge. These are tips that will make your wedding day go more smoothly.
Social Media Widgets We do these unique and innovative online social app tools for brides. Share with all your friends, family and wedding party, near and far. The cost is reasonable and the widget can be shared on all social media pages with your friends. (Facebook, Twitter and 50 more. For more information, contact us at dmscommunications.info or call us 519-252-8463.
Special Offers Online
Our wedding professionals have provided special money-saving offers to help you with your wedding cash flow. Check our online Special Offers, top right hand side to save money.
Planning Tools from us
Online under Planning, did you know that you can print out checklists, budgets, timetables and duties for your wedding day? Check out our handy organizational tools at www.theweddingguide.ca
Fabric Makes the Difference
Though you may fall in love with a particular style wedding dress, the fabric in which the dress is created can make it truly spectacular. Familiarize yourself with wedding dress fabrics, as certain ones are better suited to different weather and in creating a particular ambiance. For instance, tulle is often used as an overskirt in creating those fairytale gowns you may have dreamed of since you were a little girl. Different types of silks breathe better in the heat of summer while medium to heavy weight types of silks like Dupont or Peau de Soie, work well for dresses to be worn in the winter months. It truly pays to bone up on your fabric knowledge if you are having a custom-made gown of your own design.
Guy Wear
Though tuxedos are the typical choice for menswear for today’s modern weddings, they do come with many more choices than the typical white shirt, black bow tie, cummerbund, jacket, pants and suspenders. In fact, today’s tuxedos and accessories often incorporate more style and colour than the suits worn in past years past. Vests are often used with, or in place of, cummerbunds and come in various colours and fabrics. Bow ties, neck ties and ascots are often coordinated with the fabrics of the best or cummerbund as well. Cuff links and studs are not only functional, but are used as high-fashion accents to enhance the entire look of the tuxedo they are worn with.
Wedding Day Assistance
Maybe you couldn’t afford the services of a wedding consultant to plan your entire wedding. Or maybe you loved planning your own wedding but would prefer to have someone else take charge on your special day, so you can just relax and enjoy yourself. Hire a wedding consultant for the day! Provide clear, detailed notes and instructions for anyone that fills this special role for you. This could be the biggest luxury; or necessity- you give yourself!
Double check the details
Even though you may be a perfectionist, you’ll want to double (and maybe even triple_ check all your wedding day details. The perfect time to double check all the essentials is when you are getting ready to go to print with your invitations. Confirm the day of the week, date, time and location of your ceremony and reception. Go over the guest list to ensure there are enough invitations (including a few extra for addressing mishaps). Verify that you didn’t inadvertently miss putting someone on the list. You would be devastated if they weren’t a part of your wedding day. It’s a great idea to have your groom and someone else from both sides of the family review the list as well. Of course, carefully check the spelling of all the names and locations on your wedding invitation. If you haven’t ordered your invitations yet, check out our list of expert stationers. www.theweddingguide.ca
Keeping everyone happy
It would be great if there were an inside secret that would help make everyone happy on your wedding day, but unfortunately, there is no such thing. Keep in mind, while it is nice to be able to comply with other’s wishes, itis your wedding day. While considering any special needs of your family and friends, remember to be true to your feelings and values. Rest assured that those who love you will honour your choices. Take complaints with a grain of salt; there is always a perfectionist in every group that gathers together. Who knows, it may even be you! Whatever glitches may occur, make sure to relax, take it in stride and most of all, and enjoy your day.
Great new flavours
Though chocolate is still one of the most popular wedding cake flavours, new flavours always seem to make their way into today’s wedding cakes. The emergence of Latin cuisine into today’s mainstream culinary choices has brought the decadent flavours of dulce de leche (“sweet milk”, otherwise known as caramel), and trés leches (three milks- sweetened condensed, evaporated and regular) to super special wedding cakes, plated desserts, and even ice cream. Some popular and often unusual flavours today include: carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, Kahlua white Russian cake, cheesecake with strawberry filling, lemon with lemon curd filling, chocolate truffle, angel food with raspberry filling, banana chocolate chip, mocha cake and hazelnut filling, and even a cannoli cake. Make sure you schedule a tasting before selecting your wedding cake. Check out our article on wedding cakes so you can chose your dream cake and find your dream bakery.
Macarons are the new, hot pastry item and they can be served with sorbet, gelato, ice cream or just plain with a dollop of whipped cream Yummy!
Until next time,
Sheryl Davies
Publisher
The Wedding Guide Windsor/Essex County
Southwestern Ontario’s Official Bridal Magazine, planner & websiteServing brides for 17 years with local, expert advice.
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