Bridal Market took place in New York City this week, where designers showed off their Spring/Summer 2014 Bridal collections. I have to say, I wasn’t a huge fan of most of them. Everything ranged from a bit dull, to weird and ill-fitting and everything in between. Even the designers I normally love (like Carolina Herrera and Vera Wang) didn’t have anything I was wowed by. In fact, I actually thought Vera Wang’s collection was one of the weakest, with her introduction of black and white striped bodices that looked a bit out of place. I’m all for non-traditional wedding dress colors and shapes, but these dresses just didn’t hold a lot of interest for me one way or the other.
Vera Wang Spring 2014
And then this happened…
Rivini by Rita Vinieris Bridal Spring 2014
Seriously? I mean, this could be a beautiful dress, but who is going to go bare-breasted to their own wedding? This irritates me. And my grandma.
But, let’s not dwell on the negative. There were some highlights to Bridal Market, which included trends such as short skirts, dramatic backs, appliques, peplums (again), and capes and wraps. A few of my favorites are below. What are yours?
When I first got engaged and started thinking about THE DRESS, I really didn’t know where to start. Who were the designers? Where could I find them? While I started my search in New York City (I figured they had the best selection), I soon realized that it wasn’t really realistic to buy a dress in a city you don’t live in. Would I fly up for my fittings? That wasn’t going to happen. I looked at a couple nice stores in Nashville, but eventually ended up finding a boutique in Miami that had the dress I fell in love with. Considering I was getting married in Miami but living in Nashville, it worked out perfectly.
I wish I had a list like this when I was looking for local wedding boutiques, so I made one for you! Below is a compilation of the boutiques/salons across the country that I think have the best selection of couture wedding dress designers. Based on the designers these stores have listed, you can expect prices to range from $1800 all the way up to $10,000 and above! BUT! Don’t get scared if you don’t have a couture budget. All of these stores are bound to have sample sales (usually the sample dresses are in sizes 6-8, but this can vary widely. I’ve seen sizes 10 and 12 before) where you can get dresses up to half off or more. I got my Atelier Aimee dress from Chic Parisien, listed below. It was originally listed at $8,000, and I got it for $2,000 because it was a sample. So go and check out the selection! Not only will you get to know a bit more about which designers you like/don’t like, but you might score one of them with a major discount.
Designers: Lela Rose, Amsale, Jenny Packham, Lazaro, Junko Yoshioka, Adele Wechsler, Anna Maier, Carolina Herrera, Marchesa, Oscar de la Renta, Claire Pettibone, Rivini, Judd Waddell, Kenneth Pool, Liancarlo, Anne Barge
Designers: Karl Lagerfeld, Christian Lacroix, Angel Sanchez, Rivini, Valentino, Ines Di Santo, Anna Maier-Ulla Maija, Vivienne Westwood, Elizabeth Fillmore, Reem Acra, Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera
Address:
2977 McFarlane Road
Miami, FL 33133-6033
Phone: (305) 444-7300
Hours: Open Mon-Tue,Fri-Sat 10am-5pm; Wed-Thu 10am-7pm
Designers: Amsale, Amalia Carrara, Eve of Milady, Kenneth Pool, Jenny Lee, Lazaro, Liancarlo, James Clifford, Marisa, Monique Lhullier, Vera Wang, Rivini, Jenny Packham, Romona Keveza Collection, Romana Keveza Legends
Designers: Angel Sanchez, Badgley Mischka, Carolina Herrera, Jenny Packham, Junko Yoshioka, Kenneth Pool, Lela Rose, Monique Lhullier, Oscar de la Renta, Peter Langner, Rivini, Ulla Maija
Address:
106 E Oak St # 2
Chicago, IL 60611-1230
Phone: (312) 337-6300
Hours: Open Mon 11am-6pm; Tue-Wed,Fri 10am-6pm; Thu 11am-8pm; Sat 10am-5pm
Designers: Adele Wechsler, Rosa Clara, Bellantuono, Elen Paumere, Janet Nelson Kumar, Manale PARIS, Jenny Packham, Manuel Mota, TWO by Rosa Clara, A Hnna B, Kirstie Kelly, Paloma Blanca, Jessica Zamir, Youlin, Pronovias
Designers: Aire, Alma Novia, Amsale, Angel Sanchez, Anne Barge, Atelier Aimee, Badgley Mischka, Carolina Herrera, Christos, Claire Pettibone, David Fielden, Elie Saab, Elizabeth Fillmore, Enzoani, Eve of Milady, Farage Paris, Ian Stuart London, Jaehee Collection, Jenny Packham, Kenneth Pool, Kitty Chen, La Sposa, Lazaro, Lusan Mandongus, Maggie Sottero, Manuel Mota, Melissa Sweet, Nicole Miller, Paloma Blanca, Platinum, Priscilla of Boston, Pronovias, Reem Acra, Rosa Clara, San Patrick, Stephen Yearick, TWO by Rosa Clara, Vineyard, WToo
Address:
66 North Van Brunt Street
Englewood, NJ 07631
Phone: (201) 541-0077
Hours: Open Mon 12pm-4pm; Tue,Fri-Sat 10am-6pm; Wed-Thu 12pm-8pm
Designers: Alberta Ferretti, Angel Sanchez, Anne Barge, Anne Bowen, Carolina Herrera, Douglas Hannant, Elizabeth Fillmore, Jenny Lee, Jenny Packham, Junko Yoshioka, Le Spose Di Gio, Lela Rose, Marchesa, Monique Lhullier, Oscar de la Renta, Peter Langner, Rivini, Vera Wang
Designers: Rivini, Peter Langner, Anne Barge, Le Spose di Gio, Janell Berte, Simone Carvalli, Jenny Lee, Judd Waddell, Jenny Packham, Victoria Nicole, Elizabeth Fillmore, Two by Rosa Clara, Monique Lhuillier, Junko Yoshioka for Bonaparte
Designers: Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Reem ACra, Badgley Mischka, Romona Keveza Collection, Romana Keveza Legends, Alita Graham for Kleinfeld NY
Designers:Anne Barge, Bliss by Monique Lhullier, Eve of Milady, Ian Stuart, Ines Disanto, Jenny Packham, Lazaro, Martina Liana, Marisa, Monique Lhullier, Nicole Miller, Paloma Blanca, Peter Langner, Pronovias, Rivini, Rosa Clara, Rosa Clara Two, Romona Leveza Coutoure, Romana Keveza Legends, Suzanne Neville
Address:
106 North Lee Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: (703) 549-0387
Hours: Open Tue,Fri-Sat 10am-6pm; Wed-Thu 10am-8pm; Sun 12pm-5pm (call to make an appointment)
Vera Wang is, without a doubt, one of the few wedding dress designers who understands how to elegantly dress brides for their wedding day. I’ve been a fan of Vera’s designs ever since I walked the runway for one of her couture shows back in the day. She’s sexy while being still being subtle…she’s modern while still being timeless…she’s what 99.9% of brides-to-be would wear if they could afford it!
I think a lot of fashion insiders were skeptical when they heard she was going to be designing a line for David’s Bridal, questioning whether or not she was going to hurt her “brand image” by going to a chain store. But, after seeing a preview of her new White by Vera Wang line for the store, I don’t know how that’s possible. The dresses are gorgeous…and while I haven’t felt the materials yet, you can see A LOT of similarity between those designs and the gowns she sells for more than 8 times the price.
White by Vera Wang for David’s Bridal will go on sale February 11, and all the gowns will be priced between $600 and $1400. Her bridesmaids dresses are scheduled to hit David’s stores in June (and BTW, her bridesmaids dresses are amazing.)
As of last week, I was still searching for bridesmaid dresses. I knew what I wanted, but just wasn’t finding it. And if I did find it, it was either too expensive or took as long as 17 weeks to be made! Honestly, I think I could learn to make a dress in that time.
Since I wanted the bridesmaid dresses to be under $200, I didn’t even think of checking out Vera Wang. I assumed that if Nicole Miller and Monique Lhullier dresses were too expensive, Vera Wang was going to be outrageous. Well, you know what they say when you assume things. It has to do with an ass, you, and me.
After looking at the umpteenth bridesmaid dress late one night last week, I somehow found myself on VeraWang.com. And guess what? The dresses were amazing and UNDER $200. They also come in a great selection of colors, and only take 10 weeks to get to your bridesmaids. I gave my 6 bridesmaids the choice between two dresses, both in the same color, but two different styles and one was cheaper than the other. While I actually would have chosen to first one for myself, they all seem to love the strapless one, both pictured below. That one happened to be $220…still a great deal I think for Vera.
As a newly engaged writer, I had a hard time finding the practical information I needed to plan my wedding. While the wedding books, magazines, and websites I read had pretty pictures, they seemed to just skim the surface when it came to providing helpful ways for me to create the wedding of my dreams. Now that I'm married, I hope this blog serves as a resource for all you other bride-to-be's, with unique ideas for wedding venues, wedding decorations, wedding dresses, and more!
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