~by Cheryl

This was found recently in Annie’s Mailbox, and is something brides should consider when choosing a wedding gown:

Dear Annie:
I am a photographer who has done many weddings. The current trend of strapless dresses, however, has presented wedding dress horrors. Please tel all brides looking for dresses to consider the following:
Strapless dresses don’t look great on everyone, especially overweight or large-busted women. If you feel even remotely uncomfortable in the dress, you will look it. If the dress slips down at all when you walk, imagine spending your entire wedding adjusting it and pulling it up. These things are not attractive. More than once, I have seen a surprise appearance by “the girls,” especially when the bride lifts her arms while dancing or to throw the bouquet. Bending over to talk with children or kiss Grandma presents a whole new problem. I have spent hours Photo shopping out creases, dimples, stretch marks, and unattractive cleavage.
So try a dress with spaghetti straps or a halter, or wear something that shows off your back, but please, no more strapless gowns.
-K.R.

Dear K.R.:
Thanks for your words of wisdom. Brides, take note. Just because it looks good in a magazine doesn’t mean it’s right for you.

Although not every bride needs to say “no” to strapless gowns, it is important to make sure your strapless gown fits correctly! This is one area we know well. Nancy and her team work hard to get an excellent fit to make sure the gown doesn’t slip down. A well constructed gown will stay up better than many bargain dresses that don’t have a lot of structure in them –this is because each gown we alter or custom-make is formed to fit the bride’s unique body shape. As Nancy said, “If strapless is not for you, we are happy to add straps, halters, or an off-the-shoulder option to add ’security.’”

The whole point, as K.R. pointed out above, is to be comfortable in your gown. Comfort does not have to be compromised for beauty –nor should it!

{Gown by Liancarlo}

~by Cheryl

It is a common scene: the lights of the Christmas tree are glowing, Bing Crosby or Karen Carpenter sing quietly in the background, and he hands you a wrapped giftbox. A tiny giftbox! Nervously, you open the wrapping just as he drops to one knee…

(image courtesy of Sierra West jewelers)

Many brides have found themselves saying “Yes!” to the most important question amid mistletoe and snow. The nature of the holiday makes sense that there would be romance in the air.  With a brand new year just around the corner, Christmas creates the perfect time to plan for a new future –together.

Last month, we posted some great winter wedding ideas. However, since Christmas engagements usually mean a spring or summer wedding, here are some great gown ideas for warmer weather!

[Shoulders and sleeves can be added to each gown if desired.]

(Liancarlo)

(Vineyard Collection by Priscilla of Boston)

(Verde by Junko Yoshioka)

~by Cheryl

Winter is the time of year when we curl up under a blanket in front of the fireplace, read romantic novels, sip cocoa, and dream of spring. What a perfect time for a wedding! 

Gorgeous white lilies and red roses, snowflake and icicle decor, deep reds and light-blue whites –not to mention fabulous gowns! Winter is the perfect time to choose colored gowns, elegant cloaks, faux fur shrugs or wraps, and long sleeves. Here are a few stunning wedding gowns and some great ideas to get you excited about your winter wedding: 

(Gown Sarah K.by Nancy Barrus Couture; photography by Busath)

(Gown by Tara Keely; available through Avenía Bridal)

~by Nancy

Over the years, I have worked in a variety of bridal shops that had different ways of handling their alterations. Many shops outsourced their contract work, and in today’s market, it has become the norm for shops to rely on seamstresses who are willing to come into the store to pick up the alterations, take them home, and then return them. This is mostly due to cost; it is cheaper to outsource alterations. However, because of this, shops do not train their own staff and are not able to control the quality of the workmanship. 

I once worked in a bridal shop that practiced this idea of outsourcing. Bridal fittings were not as accurate, attention to detail was not executed, and the overall workmanship of alterations was poor. Although I needed the job, I decided that I could not work in an environment that paid such little attention to the customer –the bride.  

This is why at Avenía Bridal we have our own in-house alterations studio! It was of up-most importance to have a place where we could have a team of highly skilled and dedicated seamstresses who could work on site. We train our own people, and the shop provides all the machines and fabrics so that quality is never compromised. Because the studio is on-site, not only am I able to watch the work happen, and can assure that it happens beautifully, but I am able to sew many of the projects.

The ability to oversee the alteration work is very important because our overall goal is to create a memory for the bride that she will always treasure and not look back on with regret. In order to do this, the time must be taken to make sure the gown fits properly. This means alterations are often a necessity, and having an on-site alteration stuido gives us the sources to create a perfect fit for each individual bride.

 Next Friday:  Meet Avenía Bridal’s Seamstresses!

~by Nancy

Silk is a natural fiber made from the cocoons of the silk worm and can be woven into many varieties of fabrics, such as taffeta, dupioni, satin, mikado, voile, organza, chiffon and crepe. This is because different varieties of  silk worms  make different varieties of the silk thread.  One would be used for dupioni, for example, and the other would be used to make a satin.

Polyester, on the other hand, is man-made. It is created from a dirivitive of plastic, and although it can be woven to look like silk (in the same weave), it still has all the properties of a man-made product.

Wedding gowns are made from fabrics that come from both of these fibers, and although there are positives to both, silk is still my personal  favorite.

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Why choose a Polyester Gown?

*It is less expensive.

*It can usually be washed with water and is durable, whereas silk is more delicate and usually requires dry cleaning.

*It will last forever –literally!  Plastic does not decompose.

*Although it doesn’t shimmer in the sunlight as nicely as silk, it is still very pretty.

Why choose a Silk Gown?

*Silk is only a fraction of the weight of polyester.  The silk fibers are finer and less bulky on the body therefore it won’t weigh you down or exhaust  you as you wear it.  Polyester is 10 to 20 times heavier than silk!  

 *Silk has a natural shimmer which is enhanced in any lighting.

* I prefer to work with silk because it drapes more responsively, weighs less,  responds to the press and to the tailor’s hand far better than any man made fibers.

*Silk is delicate and may require delicate care, but it is softer to the skin and more breathable.   All of the natural fibers (including rayon, cotton,  or linen) are more breathable compared to polyester fabrics so  they are cooler and more comfortable. 

*Because of it’s natural origins silk has a positive energy and response to the body when worn.

*Silk will last a long time; they have found  beautiful silk fabrics in the pyramids of Egypt.

*When worn, silk will drape and form; it will not add bulk to the body.  Because of this, silk is  more flattering  to wear.

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This is why I prefer to work with natural silk fibers at Avenía Bridal.  The gowns breathe better, drape better, and weigh so little. Wearing a heavy gown is exhausting, but silk automatically rectifies this without effort because nothing flows more elegantly, shimmers more beautifully, yet weighs so little on the body as silk!

~by Nancy

One of the most recent and popular fabrics for wedding gowns is called silk voile, more commonly known as satin faced organza. Throughout the past year,  this light-weight fabric has become a favorite of top-name designers (including Badgley Mischka, Vineyard Collection, Liancarlo, Tara Keely, and Rivini). Many designers needed to find something – due to the recent economy– that was as elegant as more expensive fabrics (such as silk satin), but that would cost less. Satin faced organza was the solution! The fabric is so light, a breeze can easily pick it up; it flows and flutters with every movement of the bride.  The gossamer fabric is not as flamboyant as satin –the shimmer is soft and ethereal. When lined with taffeta, satin faced organza creates a very light and lovely noise. For brides who are looking for an elegant gown, but need to be prudent with cost, this fabric is a wonderful alternative! 

The following gowns (by Rivini and Tara Keely) are made with satin faced organza, and are available through Avenía Bridal.

Tara Keely

“Ambrosia” by Rivini

“Angel” by Rivini

~by Nancy

When it comes to beauty, balance is key. It doesn’t matter if the person is dressing formally or casually; it doesn’t matter if the entire ensemble is deconstructed (unfinished edges for a high fashion look), second-hand clothes, or separate pieces; when it’s all put together with balance in mind, it will be beautiful. Applying this to a bride is no different. Using different aspects of the ensemble (gown, veil, jewelry, shoes) in a collaborative way will enhance the bride’s beauty, and bring focus to the most important part of the bride: herself.

Veils:
Unfortunately, veils are a dying breed. The blusher has lost it’s significance because of advances in our modern society. Since this tradition of a veiled face in an aisled walk has been diminished, so too has the veil itself. In fact, the trend lately has been to do away with veils altogether. This may be the result of the desire to simplify, but the veil has another important feature when it comes to fashion, and that is the significance of balance! The wedding gown itself is white and draws the eye without effort. However, the focus is upon the gown, and not the bride. Adding a veil can change this. With a veil, the eyes are brought up to the face because the face is framed in white as well as the body. The balance helps complete the picture.

Jewelry:
Sparkle needs balance, too! Again, the current fads and trends are to simplify, and this tends to equate no jewelry. Necklaces, like the veil, are dying out. Of course, it will depend upon the neckline of the gown, but considering a necklace with the bridal ensemble is a good idea.

Shoes:
One of the most agreed upon pieces of advice when it comes to the bridal clothes is to wear classic shoes. Fads will fade and trends will change, but a classic perspective will be timeless. Shoes should not be chosen based on casual, flippant, or convenient trends. The sound the shoes make (flip-flops?) can distract from the beauty of the wedding day –as can discomfort. Of course, if the shoe has some important significance (evoking memories, ties to the groom, etc.), choices increase. But choosing a classic, comfortable, and timeless shoe will complete the beauty of the bridal clothing and keep the photos of the day timeless. Nothing dates a picture more quickly than the fads of the time!

Rule of Art:
The best art is designed to keep the eye moving around; the beauty is found all over the piece of art, not just in one place. When the balance is there, the observer sees everything in movement –it is fluid. The eye does not fixate on one piece; the observer can see many perspectives. In the best works of art, this is what is shown: a balance of beauty. Photographers love veils (and trains!) for this reason; it gives the photos more dimensions to work with. When ensembles are stilted with one piece of beauty (a great gown), it is harder to create those timeless and beautiful photos.

Proportions:
Proportion is everything for balance. If there is a big, full dress, then have a big veil (flowing, long, etc.). If the gown is small and simple, then simplify the veil (head pieces, shorter length, etc). Facial features are the same. Larger ones equate larger jewelry. Smaller features equate smaller jewelry.

When the bridal ensemble comes together with balance in mind, the result is visually stunning. It creates a work of art that enhances the already present beauty of the bride. After all, this is the desired result –to showcase a beautiful bride upon her wedding day!