Saturday, 6. August 2011 6:57
Shopping for a wedding gown is a new, exciting, and sometimes overwhelming experience for most brides. Our goal here at Avenía Bridal is to help each bride live their fairytale and find a perfect dress! We have come up with a few pointers that should be helpful when preparing to shop for a designer wedding gown.
Once the decision to start shopping is made, call Avenia Bridal to set up an appointment: 801-373-0194. This is important because a bridal consultant will be ready to assist you when you arrive. If an appointment is not made there may not be the opportunity to try-on gowns at that time and therefore the bride may need to come back at a later time or day. Simply call with a day and time in mind and we will schedule you with one of our wedding gown specialists.
It is always helpful to research silhouettes and styles that best suit your body type and personality. If you’ve seen pictures online or in magazines of what you like, (and who doesn’t like looking through bridal magazines??) we would love to have you bring them in with you so we have a better understanding of how we can best help you find your dream gown.
The main silhouettes for gowns are; A-line, Basque Waist, Ball Gown, Empire, Mermaid, and Sheath. A great way to discover what you like is to simply look in your closet and see what you have. If you tend to pick a pencil skirt over a full/flared skirt then you might look into a mermaid or sheath style. If you choose fuller loose fitting clothes then the ball gown, empire or A-line would suit you best. The best advice we can give is to be open- minded and try on many options – you may be surprised what you find!
A-Line
LIANCARLO- 4868
This shape flares out from the waist to the floor creating an “A” shape. An A-Line silhouette is very popular because it is flattering on most body types. This shape looks great on petite brides because it can make them appear taller. It is also great for a full figured bride who wants to de-emphasize their hips.
Basque (Dropped) Waist
Lis Simon- Camilla
This style is characterized by a low waistline that begins a few inches below the actual waist line. This shape is great for taller brides who are hoping to create an hourglass appearance. Since the waist line is dropped it may not be best for petite brides because it will only make them appear shorter.
Ball Gown
Lis Simon- Constance
This silhouette is the most traditional and formal. The ball gown has a fitted bodice and a waistline that leads to a full skirt. This dress is a great choice for the taller bride and for a bride hoping to hide her hips. Since this full shape is overwhelming it may not be best for a petite bride, unless the proportions are balanced.
Empire
Junko Yoshioka- Mona
This style has a high waistline and a skirt that starts under the bust and falls to a straight or A-Line skirt. This style is best on brides with a small bust and slim figure. The shape can give the impression of longer legs and can de-emphasize the waist area.
Mermaid (Trumpet, Fit-and-Flare)
Tara Keely-2101 (with seam line)
This style fits closely to your body and then flares out at around the knees. It can either have a seam line at the flare point or it can be continuous. This dress is perfect for one wanting to accentuate her curves.
Sheath
Badgley Mischka- Coco
This style is very form fitting, following the body closely. A sheath dress has a straight skirt and no waist. This silhouette is recommended for brides who are tall and thin.
The Knot put out a great guide that explained what gowns look best on each body type. Click here to see what they suggest.
Our gowns at Avenía Bridal are “Sample” gowns. This means that we usually only have one of each style and when your perfect dress is found, we will take your measurements and order it for you in your correct size and color. This process takes a bit of time because once the order is placed the gown will be made and shipped back to us. This usually takes approximately 12-18 weeks. If you need the gown sooner, most designers can deliver it in 6-10 weeks with an added rush fee.
Since we work directly with our designers and because we have in-house seamstresses we are able to add sleeves and shoulders to almost every gown we carry. These “build-ups” are designed and executed so that the design of the gown is not compromised – not strips of fabric thrown on a strapless gown. The designers themselves will either add the changes in their factory or we will do it here at Avenia. Necklines, sleeve lengths, and minor design details can all be altered for an additional cost.
On our tags we have two prices. One is the original gown price and the other includes a build-up with sleeves and shoulders. Alterations are not included in those prices. Also, we are currently having a Sample Sale and many of our dresses are reduced 20-50% off. In those cases we would sell the actual sample as is for the reduced price.
What happens at your appointment? Once a few gowns are selected, you start trying them on!! The consultant will help you in and out of the gowns. This preserves our delicate gowns and ensures that all questions can be answered and that when you come out to show your friends and family, the gown will look and fit the way it should.
Many different headpieces, veils, shoes and jewelry can be worn to help complete your whole look. We are here to help make your wedding day everything you dreamed it would be.
Start the exciting process today by calling Avenia Bridal, 801-373-0194, to schedule your appointment!
