Fashionably Wed

ILY COUTURE

Bree — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:31:34 +0000

We have a new line of veils and hair accessories that we are very excited about!

Introducing…

“I’m Christine, designer and creator of ILY COUTURE. I have a degree in Fine Arts and can honestly say I truly love to create. Whether it’s designing the perfect accessory, painting, restoring old furniture, or just figuring out a new way to color coordinate my closet. I believe there is art and inspiration in almost anything you do.”

“ILY COUTURE’s philosophy is to create a piece that makes you feel beautiful, glamorous, and in love. A timeless piece you can pass down to generations. All our pieces are made with the finest materials, and are meticulously hand crafted to perfection so you have the perfect accessory for your big day, or something chic and glam for a night out with the girls.”

Here are a few of ILY COUTURE’s creations!

Come check out this fun new line in our stores!

Call Avenia Bridal today: 373-0194

Tips: Shopping for a Designer Gown

Bree — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:01:39 +0000

We posted this in August of 2011 but thought it would be good to re-post and re-inform brides of what we do here at Avenia Bridal.

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!

Photoshoot: Winter

Bree — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 16:56:44 +0000

This gorgeous Winter shoot turned out amazing (even though they were hoping for snow and got rain instead.) The landscape is so unique and beautiful! We love the idea of adding a neutral scarf, it shows warmth without being over-bearing. They had to take the shoot inside because of rain, and again, what a wonderful location-the lighting is stunning. Another look we love is texture, this lace is so unique with a soft elegance that is captured so well in these photos.

This gown, veil, necklace, bracelet, and earrings are all available here at Avenia Bridal!

See more of this photoshoot here

Hair and Makeup: Versa Artistry

Photography: Elizabeth Taylor Frandsen Photography

Schedule your appointment today! 801-373-0194

Real Bride: Tiffany

Bree — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:53:35 +0000

We mentioned Tiffany last month (here) and now we are sharing her story and more gorgeous pictures. She and Nancy designed a custom dress which turned out perfect!

Tiffany has shared with us some fun facts about her wedding!

Colors were: Peacock Blue, Burnt Orange, Apple Green

Wedding took place on: 11/11/11 at 11am (literally we were sealed husband and wife at 11am on the dot!) in the LDS Los Angeles Temple in Santa Monica

Jared and I had been dating since last December 2010. We met through mutual friends about 3 years ago, we never saw each other as anything other than friends. When I moved back to UT last fall of 2010, there was a spark between us I couldn’t ignore.

We got engaged Sept. 12 up at Sundance. He surprised me by having my boss assign me an errand to bring some material to a client, but I didn’t find any clients there that day. Just Jared down on one knee in the “Bob’s Room” (Robert Redford’s private dining area up at the restaurant “Foundry Grill.”)

Wedding planning was fast. 2 1/2 months to plan.

Dress: Nancy w/ Avenia Bridal, going in about weekly to be measured! Everyone was so generous and supportive and most of all didn’t add to my stress with my short engagement period, (I was already feeling like a crazy head and mocked so many girls who married so quickly before me). The dress was inspired by a Monique Lullier that I couldn’t seem to get my hands on. However, I wanted it to also look like a fall wedding dress. Nancy had already had a dress in her shop that was similarly inspired by another Monique gown. It was perfect. I wanted something that was timeless, classy but was flattering and fit my figure well. I wanted my husband to be able to see me and my figure. Not about of foof! I went the more simple route with my dress. I added some bright peacock satin colored shoes, along with a beautiful crystal belt Nancy had just picked up at NY Fashion week, the week prior. It simply made the dress, it went from a beautiful simple white dress to a Wedding dress with a Bride wearing it.

Photographer: David Newkirk
Flowers: Celebrate, Newhall CA. By Myra Harbour
Hair: Linda Hahn
Make up: myself!
Location: Santa Monica, CA
Groom: Jared Beauchamp- 29 from Denver CO, Marketing Campaign Manager.
Venue/Reception: Tournament Players Club in Valencia CA.
Food: provided by venue
Cake: Chef Kelly Baker
Adorned with: Miniature Sprinkles Cupcakes
DJ: SOS Entertainment

Absolutely GORGEOUS!! (We will hopefully be getting pictures from their wedding day too and we’ll do a follow-up post)

To schedule your appointment with Avenia Bridal call: 801-373-0194

Real Bride: Carly

Bree — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:02:28 +0000

Remember Carly? She is the cover bride for BYU’s Bridal Guide magazine.

Check out the post we did on her last month!

Here is Carly and David’s story! “David and I met at a birthday party the summer before last that neither of us were invited to – we both just came for the food! It sounds cheesy, but he honestly says it was love at first sight for him – I wish I could say the same for me, but mostly I remember having a short conversation with him and then I having to go. He says he couldn’t stop thinking about me the whole night and ended up figuring out that we had some mutual friends. Once he knew my last name he sent me an email over Facebook and the rest is history ”

“Planning my wedding was so much fun and shopping for my gown was definitely one of the highlights. My gown was custom made my Avenia. It was definitely a collaboration between Nancy and myself. My inspirations came from other gowns I had tried on (that’s where I figured out I LOVED the idea of a blush gown) and A LOT of time spent scouring wedding blogs. Ultimately I found this blog post and fell in love with the lace and design of Elise’s dress. I brought those pictures to Nancy and we came up with exactly the right dress for me. Simple, but classic. I still can’t tell you how much I love my wedding dress. I take any chance I can to tell people how wonderful working with Avenia was and how happy I was with my result (even if the designing process can be a little more taxing – lots of fittings…).”

“David and I were married in the LDS Newport Beach Temple in Orange County, California on Wednesday August, 17th. It might sound weird to get married in the middle of the week, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. It was perfect timing for us. We held our reception at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Course with help from the absolutely fabulous help of Amorology wedding design. I had the most wonderful time collaborating with them to make wedding day a complete reflection of David and me.”

“One of my favorite things about our reception was our cake – oh goodness it was so delicious. It was made by Sweet Cheeks bakery out of Newport Beach and I wish we had thought to save a slice or two for later.”

Again Carly, you are gorgeous and your wedding was stunning!! Congratulations.

Call today to schedule an appointment: 801-373-0194

Photoshoot: Vintage Fall

Bree — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:21:38 +0000

Another fun, gorgeous shoot with two of our gowns! This shoot was done in the fall so it does not quite fit with the current winter season but we didn’t want to let that stop us from sharing these bright, stunning colors of autumn.

Dress: Kelly Chase available at Avenia Bridal

Dress: Liancarlo available at Avenia Bridal

VENDORS:

Photography: Photography by McKenzie
Flowers: Calie Rose Floral and Design
Event Design and Planning: McKenzie Deakins and Calie Williams
Location: Wadley Historical Farms
Invitations: Polka Dots and Daisies
Dresses: Avenia Bridal
Tux: Mens Warehouse
Caterer: La Jolla Groves
Hair and Makeup: Cara Williams
Antiques provided by: Jeanne Harrison
Bride Model: Teresa Belliard
Groom Model: Loren Peterson

This photo shoot was also featured on Utah Bride Blog

We still have sample gowns on sale along with new gowns which will continue to arrive through February!

Call to schedule an appointment: 801-373-0194

Real Bride: Jessica

Bree — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:52:57 +0000

Jessica was married in October, she chose the Maeve gown from the Priscilla of Boston-Vineyard collection. This dress was originally strapless but Jessica decided she wanted to make her gown a little more unique. She met with Nancy and designed a key hole back which was added to the gown!

“Dear Nancy and Staff,

Thank you for giving Jessica the dress of her dreams!

Jessica had looked so many places and really wanted something unique. She also had a fairly tight budget to work with. She didn’t find anything in local shops and initiated having one done she liked in a Wedding magazine via mail order, but that didn’t work out well. We then found a vintage pattern that she thought she would like and purchased fabric to sew one ourselves as I had sewn other dresses for her, and had done her older sisters wedding dress two years before. I got the dress sewn together and she tried it on, but tears began to fall. It just wasn’t right, not quite the right fit or the right fabric. We were 6 weeks away from the wedding and she was feeling discouraged. I knew it was time for a professional to get involved. The rest of the wedding plans could be DIY and were moving forward, but we had to get the dress right for her special day. On a previous unscheduled visit to the Avenia Bridal shop Jessica had seen a dress in the sale racks she couldn’t get out of her mind. An appointment was scheduled and dresses were pulled that she liked in addition to the favorite one she’d seen several weeks before. She was afraid it wouldn’t fit right and she’d be disappointed again, and there wouldn’t be enough time to order or alter one before the big day, so she saved it for last to try on. Well much to her delight, the dress that had caught her eye was a perfect fit! And the bonus was this wonderfully practical feature – hidden pockets! Nancy worked with her over several fittings to add some details to the top, uniquely requested by Jessica in the design over the next three weeks and had it ready in plenty of time. Nancy was wonderful to work with and listened to every detail Jessica wanted adjusted until it was perfect. She looked simply stunning! I heard so many compliments from family and friends and the dress design pulled all the other details of the wedding together.

Thank you again for your wonderful work. The whole process was great and I know Jessica feels it was worth it!

We know where we are going first for the next two daughters when it’s time!”

-Mother of the Bride

Thank you Jessica, you are stunning! We love being able to add custom details to make each gown exactly what the bride wants. Congratulations!!

To schedule an appointment with Avenia Bridal call us at 801-373-0194

Photoshoot: Holiday

Bree — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:52:59 +0000

We hope you all had a Happy Holiday!!

One of our Avenia Gowns was featured in a Holiday shoot up in Park City!

Here are the vendors from the shoot:

Florist – Blooms and Blossoms
Cake – Layers
Invitations – Polka Dots and Daisies
Photographer – CAKE photography
Venue – Sky Lodge
Makeup Artistist – Enizio
Dress and Cape- Avenia Bridal
Tuexdo- Kater Shop
Equipment Rental- Alpine Event Rental
Event Design and Planning – White Ginger Events

Dress and Cape available at Avenia Bridal

Call today for an appointment: 801-373-0194

FYI

New Year’s Eve we are closing early at 3 pm-Happy New Years!

Holiday Hours and Inspiration

Bree — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:42:20 +0000

HOLIDAY HOURS

Christmas Eve-Saturday the 24th: 10am-3pm

Monday (the day after Christmas) the 26th: closed

Call to schedule an appointment 801-373-0194

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas/Winter Wedding Inspiration (from GreenWeddingShoes.com and UtahBrideBlog)

(love the blankets and the gorgeous fur!)

Fur capes are available at Avenia Bridal to purchase or rent

(a tree on the beach, fur, presents, and gold make this so warm and cozy)

(the place setting is GORGEOUS, love the bare feet in the snow)

(Christmas tree and purple! Fun new take on Christmas)

(Nothing better than hot chocolate in the winter, love the short dress and tights)

Dress, veil and fur cape from Avenia Bridal

(fun pop of red)

(Happy Holidays!)

UPCOMING UTAH BRIDAL SHOWS

Winter Bridal Extravaganza

January 14th from 11-6 @ The Grand America

The Wedding Festival

January 27th from 4-8 and January 28th from 11-6 @ The South Towne Expo Center

(We will not be attending the show on January 21st)

Real Bride: Ansley

Bree — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 22:55:12 +0000

Gorgeous Ansley had this beautiful custom gown built for her! We’ll let the pictures do the talking!!

Here are some questions that Ansley answered for us.

-What is your husband’s name and how did you meet? My husband’s name is Jordan and we met at BYU. He was my brother’s roommate at the Jerusalem Center and when he got home from the study abroad we went on a blind date.

-How did you choose your gown? I spend a lot of time looking at dress all over Utah, but never found one that I was in love with. I saw a dress that I thought was pretty and decided that I would probably just buy that one. My last appointment of the day was with Nancy and I started telling her all the things I love in a dress. In no time she sketched a beautiful gown that was exactly what I was looking for. There was no way I could settle for another dress after that. We continued to make small adjustments to the design and it became the dress of my dreams!

Avenia made the whole experience of getting a wedding gown so exciting. Everyone that works there is extremely friendly and helpful. I had a lot of fittings for my dress and it was fun going to the shop because I felt so comfortable there and the atmosphere is perfect.

-When and where were you married? We were married at the Salt Lake Temple on August 19th and had a dinner reception that evening at Mill Creek Inn.

-How did you feel on your wedding day? My husband and I both thought our wedding day was absolutely perfect. There was no stress or worries, just excitement and enjoy.

GORGEOUS!!

Thank you Ansley and Congratulations!

Dress: Custom gown-Nancy Barrus Couture @ Avenia Bridal

Shoes: Avenia Bridal

Schedule your appointment with Avenia Bridal today: 801-373-0194