Color Corner: Blush Tones

At the boutique we often hear brides say that they love a certain color or color combo but they can’t incorporate it into their wedding because “it’s too summery for my winter wedding” or “it’s too dark for my date in June” or “my mother says its not a good shade for fall.” September’s Bride is pleased to introduce a new blog series called Color Corner where we will introduce some of the most popular color trends that we are currently seeing and then show you how to use them in any season.

This week’s color trend is lovely Blush Tones. From rosy pinks to soft champagnes, these hues are everywhere. Below we’ve put together four different ways to pull off the blush trend in any type of weather:

Spring: What could be easier to match than lovely pink gowns and the budding flowers of spring? Choose light airy shades like petunia and soft mauve. To mimic the  in-between stage of weather in this season mix up your fabric choices with flowing chiffon and thicker fabrics like taffeta or satin. Delicate necklaces and bright pops of color in your flowers will play into the sweet yet playful time of the year.

Summer: Blush tones are fabulous in the summertime with a palette of both soft and vibrant pinks. Mix up lighter hues with more citrusy tones for your maids. Groomsmen won’t shy away from a pale pink shade when its paired with neutral heather gray pants. Skip the jacket for the guys and choose chiffon for your girls and everyone will be thanking you on your warm weathered day.

Fall: Blush Tones can even work in the typically darker shaded Autumn season. Choose the purple side of the spectrum and opt for lilac  shades to lighten up the mood. Similar to Spring, mix up your fabrics in tribute to the “not yet cold, no longer warm” weather and consider choosing gowns with straps of some sort in case it is a nippy day.

Winter: Champagnes and rich purples are lovely against the background of winter white. Contrast the lightness of the colors with heavier necklaces, warm furs and thicker fabrics like lace, satin and taffeta. Winter accessories like boleros and elbow length gloves will make any color choice a snowy success.

Our consultants at September’s Bride are experts in making any color choice appropriate for the time and season of your wedding. Call the boutique today to schedule your own bridesmaid or mothers appointment and get advice on how to incorporate your favorite shades into your big day. 616-355-1433 or tami@septembersbride.com

Fancy Fray: Shabby Chic Wedding Rentals

The trends of vintage glam and shabby chic are still going strong in the wedding industry since they made their appearance a few years ago. While brides are still going crazy over mis-matched china and mason jars, it is both time consuming and exhausting to pull off these lovely trends on your own. From scouring flea markets to crafting your own DIY projects, a bride could wear herself out with trying to keep up with the thousands of vintage inspired ideas on pinterest.  September’s Bride is delighted to introduce a brand new company that offers you a world of vintage, shabby, eclectic rental items all in one location.

Fancy Fray was created from the minds of some of our favorite wedding vendors to work with at EVENTS by September’s Bride: Ben and Mindy Peterson. Photographers by trade, this husband and wife team are absolutely wonderful to work with. With their quirky style, vivacious personalities and fun-loving spirits they will give you everything you want for your wedding and also give you a wonderful example of what a successful marriage looks like.

Fancy Fray offers you a warehouse full of wedding rental items from mason jars and chandeliers to velvet couches and vintage bicycles. Inside their collection you will find the main staples of shabby chic style such as weathered windows and clusters of ivory vases and you will also be delighted to discover vintage typewriters and old street signs. One look at the fabulous possibilities and you will be hooked on Fancy Fray.

Rental items can be chosen a la carte as you need, but items can also be rented in packages starting at $500 for $750 worth of rental items and moving up to $1000 for $1750 worth of rental items. For the indecisive bride there’s even more. If you fall in love with it all at once or don’t have your vision quite nailed down then you have the opporutnity to book the “Fancy” package for $1500 and reserve the ENTIRE warehouse for your wedding. Reserve it now then choose which items you want to see at your wedding on a later date.

Go to www.fancyfray.com and get inspired now. Then come to September’s Bride and let our EVENTS coordinators pull it all together for you. You have fun selecting the retro lights, the floral armchairs, the vases vintage suitcases. We will hang them for you, arrange them for you, style them for you so that you can sit back on your wedding day and enjoy the wonderful decision you made in working with both Fancy Fray and September’s Bride.

For questions on coordinating services contact Rachel at rachel@septembersbride.com, Tiffany at tiffany@septembersbride.com or 616-355-1433.

Photos courtesy of Studio 6.23.

Formal Clothing in a Throw-Away World

(this blog post is dedicated to SB Consultant Jessica Cororan-Lacy, as our conversation a few days ago inspired me to research & write the following…)

Before the 1970′s, our moms and grandmas had much smaller closets.  A woman owned 1 or 2 Sunday dresses, 2 or 3 basic skirts that went nicely with a few blouses and a couple of finely knit sweater sets.  A pair or two of slacks and an old sweater were her work clothes.  Depending on her lifestyle, she probably rounded out her wardrobe with a formal dress, a suit, and a few day dresses, too.

Of course, all of these clothes were chosen with care and typically well-made of quality fabric.  If she didn’t make them herself to fit her body, she purchased them at a local store and had them “tailored”.  When she gained or lost weight, she had them altered.  In most cases, clothes lasted several seasons.  She never stepped out of her skirt or slacks and left them in a heap on the floor; dresses were hung on padded hangers to preserve their shape.

Beginning in the 1970′s and escalating especially in the 1990′s, ready-to-wear clothing took off in our department stores and eventually, in the discount retailers.  Today, you can walk into your nearby Target and buy an entire wardrobe with a designer’s name on it…from swimwear to jeans to “formal” dresses.

Now, I’ll be the first to admit to loving the convenience of running into Target or a similar retailer to grab a colorful scarf under $15 or a cute T-shirt that I can wear the very next day.  But, doing that on a regular basis leaves me with a closet full of clothes that show their wear after just a few weeks.  And it’s pretty painless to toss my $10 blouse in a corner when I am too tired to hang it up.

But, this has led to a generation that knows nothing more than “throw-away clothes”.  Our closets are stuffed with T-shirts in every color, blouses in every pattern, and yet we have “nothing to wear”.  And when it comes to shopping for a wedding gown, bridesmaid dress, or something to wear for a very special occasion, the price tags give us heart palpitations!  We don’t understand the fabrics and workmanship that go into crafting a dress that properly fits and flatters a woman’s figure…and then it’s very difficult to comprehend that we would spend more $ to have it fit our specific body properly.

Ever wonder why the stars, fashionistas, and TV personalities look great in everything they wear?  It’s not because they have perfect bodies…it’s because they have close-to-perfect clothes!  Everything from their jeans to their dresses is tailored and customized to flatter them.  Yes…it does cost a bit, but so worth it to look your best in everything you wear!

The point of this blog post is not to knock our ready-to-wear and discount retailer shopping fix, but to remind us that when we do have something where we truly want to look our best (like a wedding or special event), the money you spend on purchasing quality items and having them tailored to you is money well spent.  Then, invest in a few padded hangers and enjoy that piece later, too!  With the exception of your actual wedding gown, there’s absolutely no shame in wearing a gorgeous dress to more than one event.

New Designer :: Lauren Gabrielson

We are so excited to announce the arrival of our newest line of bridesmaid and mother’s dresses.

Bridesmaids often want to invest in a dress that they can wear again…

And mothers just don’t want to look frumpy…

These lovely little bridesmaid frocks are just a few of the styles and colors available with the bridesmaid line from Lauren Gabrielson.  There are dozens of colors that can be custom selected for your bridesmaid party.  Necklines and hemlines can be customized as well!  You’ll have the most stylish bridal party around in these dresses.

And for moms & others…

Look at these lovely lace dresses.  The one with the navy lace top and green taffeta skirt is actually mine…I plan to wear it to church on Mother’s Day and for my son’s 8th Grade Graduation this spring.  The other dress is a black lace sheath over a nude lining, but you can choose from three laces and dozens of lining colors.  Both of these dresses would be lovely for a Mom, for a bride’s rehearsal dinner dress, or for elegant bridesmaids, too.

We would love to have you stop in and see these wonderful dresses for yourself!  Call 616-355-1433 or email appointments@septembersbride.com.

May is for Moms!

At September’s Bride, we truly LOVE our Moms!  So, May is for Moms around here.

Each Mom (step-mom) who purchases a “Mother-of-the-Bride/Groom” gown during the month of May will have her name entered in a drawing for a very special Accessories Package to be given away at the end of the month.

The Accessories will include a beautiful bracelet from MEG Jewelry, a pair of SPANX (every woman’s secret weapon), a fabulous Sondra Roberts clutch, and a pretty hanky embroidered with “Mother”.

Any of our gown consultants are more than honored to help moms shop for these special gowns.  However, we have a “Mother’s Specialist” at September’s Bride.  Her name is Bernice and she just loves to help moms; and moms love to work with Bernice.

So, call the boutique to make an appointment, with Bernice or any of us, and be sure to choose your gown in May to get entered in our special “May is for Moms” drawing!

Can I take a picture?

We’ve all seen the bridal shows on TV.

The ones that give the future bride a glimpse into the many facets of the wedding industry from the extravagant, over the top bashes no one could ever afford, the bridesmaids-zillas who won’t wear chiffon, ruffles, yellow or anything for that matter, the snooty wedding gown consultant who refuses to allow you to try on what you like and shakes her head when a happy mom wants to snap a photo or two of her daughter in a wedding dress. It appears that Hollywood  & reality TV have conditioned brides to expect a “vendors vs. brides” attitude before the engaged woman or couple even steps foot into a bakery or bridal boutique.

That’s just sad.  Most bridal vendors just want to give you a lovely experience and their best!

What gets left out of the story on the screen are some reasons behind the basic guidelines that vendors may have when working with brides; why, for example, do some venues give you only a select few caterers to use at their site? Or why do bridal stores not allow you to snap photos of the gowns you like?

The latter question is much more complicated than the idea that bridal stores don’t want photos so you can’t leave the shop and have a seamstress re-create the gown or purchase a knock-off online.  (Technically, that’s unethical & illegal)  At September’s Bride we do, in fact, allow you to take pictures.  At your first appointment at September’s Bride you can expect your consultant to cover the following in regards to photos:

1.) We want you to be able to try on as many dresses as you need to today so that you can find your perfect gown. If you take a photo of each dress you put on, you won’t be using your appointment time to the fullest.

2.) Some of our gowns are not allowed to be photographed due to the desire of the designer. Once it is your gown and we are measuring you for the order you may take as many photos as you would like.

3.) When you have chosen your gown or have narrowed the options down to two or three choices then we will have you put them on again to take a few photos if you wish. Having three dress photos on your phone instead of ten will make it less confusing when you are flipping through and trying to make a decision.

The final reason (and most important) that gown consultants are wary of brides taking photos is simply because dresses look 1000 times better on you than on your phone or camera. We want you to remember the way you felt standing in the dress looking in the mirror, not skimming over the dress at lunch on a screen.  So when you do get to the stage where you may want to take a photo or two here are five tips to taking successful photos on your smart phone or point-and-shoot camera:

1. Don’t take the photo from down below. No girl likes this angle because of the nasty side affects of double chins, chubby features and the list goes on.  If you are on a pedestal either step down to ground level or have the photographer step as far back as possible so you are at least shoulder or chest level to the camera.

2. Don’t stand straight on. A girl will always appear wider if she is standing straight on, in a white gown with an unprofessional camera that can’t pick up every single detail of the gown. Angle your body so that the camera can pick up the curve of your hips, the shape of your chest and the smallest part of you, your waist. Angle one shoulder towards the camera, bend a knee or tilt your head.

3. If the gown’s details, lace, beading, texture etc. are not showing up with a full body shot, step forward and take several detail shots. Only having one full length photo of the gown to look back on later will only help you remember the shape. It won’t help you remember that the lace had a lovely floral pattern or that the beading had silver accents.

4. Lighting. There isn’t much you can do inside a bridal shop with a phone camera but try your best to get the dress under the best lighting possible, by a window, under the mirrored lights, etc. If your camera has a flash, use it to pick up as much detail as possible.

5. Smile. Sure the gown may look gorgeous in the picture but if you are  frowning or making a face at your sister it will drag the entire image down. It may feel uncomfortable to be center stage in your own photo shoot in front of friends and strangers but you will be glad you smiled later when you review your photos.

In the end we recommend not even taking photos. As hard as you may try a smart phone camera can not do a dress justice. Sometimes a bride will love a dress when she is standing in it but is less than impressed when she gets home. On the day of your wedding your dress will only be remembered by people seeing it in person or from the photos from the professional photographer that you hired. Trust your instincts when you are gown shopping. If you love the dress but can’t make a commitment that day, then take time to think it over for a few days and go back and try it on again. Seeing it in person once more versus seeing it on a phone is far more beneficial.

Shopping for and choosing your wedding gown is an experience…put the camera down, relax with your friends and family, and have a wonderful time!

SB Bride :: Crystal

Our mission statement calls us to “be a blessing”.  Nothing warms my heart more than a note from a customer that assures me that we have fulfilled that promise.  David and Crystal were married on June 15, 2012 in Traverse City.  Last spring, they were in Holland and paid us a visit in hopes that we could help Crystal with her wedding gown…here are Crystal’s comments.

Here are some belated photos from our June 15 wedding. We had called you shortly before closing one evening, after a gown mishap…with the wedding soon approaching and you and your staff stayed over to help me find a gown in stock. As it ended up, we took the risk and ordered my ‘dream dress’ .. keeping the purchased gown in possession just in case…and my dream dress arrived in time.

Your patience, helpfulness and beautiful shop make dress shopping what it ought to be. Other places made me feel like a number, herded toward buying whatever gown that fit…with unkept dressing rooms, not enough staff to help and horrible lighting.

Walking into Septembers Bride brought the “special” back into shopping for this dress. I felt like a princess and had to fight from tearing up in the dressing room, while the ladies bustled around trying to help me find the dress of my dreams.

I loved working with Crystal; she trusted us to give her honest information, and she was honest with us about what she wanted in a gown.  David was so sweet and supportive of her as she searched for her dream gown…and he even brought us chocolate as a “Thank You” gift!

David and Crystal, we wish you a life of happiness and blessings!

Bridal 101: How to deal with the MOB

Let’s face it, weddings are not all flowers and cake and hand holding with the ones you love. Along with the beautiful attire, romantic music and elegant food can come hurt feelings, heated arguments and angry tears. In the moment it may seem like the 20 minute debate over whether or not to have lemonade on the tables is worth it, after all, it is your wedding and you want it to be perfect. But keeping the peace between you, your fiance and your family and friends that will be with you far beyond the hours when the lemonade is drunk up and the dj plays his last song is a great way to start off your wedding day, and, more importantly, your future marriage. Below are some tips in dealing with (potentially) the most dramatic of them all: The Mother of the Bride.

The Do-it-all Mom- Is your mother driving you crazy with her need to be involved in every aspect of the wedding? Does she give her opinion on everything from color choices and wedding vows to how the napkins are folded on the table and what song you dance to with your future husband? Or does she insist on being the one to decorate the reception hall, address the invitations and taste test the menu before you approve? This can be one of the most overwhelming scenarios to deal with for a bride. You’ve imagined planning your wedding for years and now there is someone critiquing and judging your every bridal move. If you have this dilemma the first thing to remember is this: the root of the problem is not really a problem at all. Your mother most likely just wants to help, wants your day to be beautiful and wants to take away some of your stress. Unfortunately her dream of creating a beautiful day for her daughter is being clouded by the fact that you might want to be a part of the choices too. The best solution is to assign her one specific task that she is excited about. Whether it is arranging the flowers for you or being the one to set up the centerpieces at the reception. Let her know that you value her input and you would really like her to be the one to take over this task. Once she has a specific requirement from you she should back off from some of the other areas. If not, let her know kindly that you’ve got it under control and that you would like other family members to be involved. But remember, be loving, this is one day and your mom is there forever.

The Diva Mom-It’s unfortunate but some moms, rather than trying to do everything to focus on the bride’s wants, try to turn the attention all on themselves. Whether it is worrying more about their own attire than the wedding gown, complaining about the mother of the groom stealing attention or demanding a more significant role in the wedding ceremony, there are definitely momzillas out there. With these mothers the issue is usually self conciousness. Its hard for a woman to realize that she is at the age when her children are grown up and getting married and seeing the attention now on someone else may be painful. Instead of getting angry, try to sympathize. Even if it’s hard, pick a day and make it all about her. Take your mom to a bridal shop and fawn over her as she chooses her own dress, have her do her own trial hair and make up and treat her to a nice lunch as a thank you for her hard work. Then back off. If she gets attention seeking again, divert her drama by asking her opinion on some other wedding detail. “You are so good with color, mom, what do you think about blush toned flowers for the bouquets?” Complimenting her in other ways should get her off the “all about me” track.

The Emotional Mom-Does the sight of her little girl in a dress reduce your mom to a blubbering mess? Does a mere cake topper send her over the edge? Does she tear up in the checkout lane at the glimpse of a bridal magazine? Weddings are wonderful, sure, but they are a factory of emotions, good emotions, but not always welcome when you are in line at the grocery store. The bad news is that this mom may be the trickiest to deal with. After all, if she is ultra sensitive you can’t just tell her to turn off the water works when she sees your father getting measured for a tuxedo. But you can try to get the tears going ahead of time, when you are alone and not in the middle of a cake testing. On your way to a vendor meeting start talking about your plans and what is going to happen at the meeting so she is thinking about it before she is thrust into the scenario. She will probably cry when you begin to talk about your excitement for trying on gowns and how happy you are that she will be there. But then maybe you will only have to deal with a beautiful tear or two in front of the bridal consultant later and not a sniffling, balling mess. Is she still crying up a storm at every outing? Let it go. You don’t have to be embarrassed, wedding vendors have seen their fair share of tears.

And while we’re talking about that special lady…what should she wear to your wedding?  Click here for our advice!

Making Sense of it all!

It is very easy to get overwhelmed when shopping for your wedding gown!  Sweetheart, bateau, bustle, dupioni…what do all these terms mean?  Well, of course our team of consultants is always happy to guide you through all the choices.  But, what if it’s midnight and you’re wondering about the gorgeous gown description you just found online?

No worries…our friends at Storymix Media have put together this lovely guide just for our brides and blog readers!  Look it over and enjoy the easy descriptions of dress details… then hop on over to their website to learn about their awesome wedding video products!

Blessed to be a Blessing

Did you know that when you purchase something from our boutique you are directly impacting our community and ministries around the world?  September’s Bride actively and regularly shares our income with Compassion International, the Lakeshore Pregnancy Center, and Compassionate Heart Ministries.  This flows out of our mission statement…

To offer beautiful, quality special-occasion wear in a manner that delights, serves, and blesses our customers, our co-workers, and our community.

We will:

Operate our business in a God-honoring way

Bless our employees and community as we are blessed

Treat each customer as they want to be treated

We also encourage our customers to share their ministries or charities with us to consider including in our “Blessing Fund”.   Thank you for helping us show God’s love and compassion to hurting people…we can’t do it without you!