Who should come to my bridal appointment?

It's the big day, the one where the bride says her second most important "I do."  She is engaged, but choosing a dress will be one of the most timeless decisions (besides accepting the proposal) because her dress will be in every wedding picture and truly evokes an emotion.

It can be a challenge deciding who to bring to a bridal appointment because you want everyone to feel involved, but who should get to come wedding dress shopping?  Would you invite your best friend to your cake tasting?  Would your mom come with you to pick out your fiancé's ring?  Did grandma have a say in your wedding vision when you met with your wedding planner?

Julie Vino, Michaela

Chances are, those details were reserved for you and your fiancé and your opinions were the only ones that mattered in those decisions.  However, we have it engrained in our minds that wedding dress shopping should include everyone: your mother-in-law, sisters in law, bridesmaids, grandmas, mom, sisters, but that also gives them the mindset that their opinion will help shape what you will wear.  

Shopping for a wedding dress is a very emotional experience for everyone.  It's emotional for the bride but it can also be emotional for the mom, sisters and family because it's the realization that the bride is no longer a little girl and will be a part of someone else’s family.  Sometimes objections to the dress aren't even about the dress but about how they feel a bride should look.  Take it easy on yourself and don't allow the pressure of 6 opinions sway how you feel about a dress.  

Think really hard about who's opinion really matters.  Will your mom's opinion of the dress keep you from purchasing something you love?  What if you absolutely love the dress but your sister doesn't?  Will her opinion beat out yours?  Will Aunt Mary very vocally give it the thumbs down because it isn't her taste?  Do you want their honest opinions, or do you want validation in your dress choice because it's a decision made without your fiancé? 

Wona Concept, Maddison

My professional tip is to invite 1-2 people who have your best interest at heart.  It could be your mom, it could be your sister, or it could be two of your best friends.  I had a bride last week whose mom didn't live nearby, and she came with two of her friends.  Let me tell you, those girls were the biggest hype girls ever. They were excited for her when she came out in a dress, they complimented things they liked about each dress even if it wasn't her favorite but waited to tell the bride it wasn't a favorite until after the bride said it first.  

Friends and family; be gentle with the bride. This is a very big wedding decision that she is making without her fiance. Maybe she has been pinteresting for months and has an idea of what likes. On the other hand, maybe she does not like shopping for regular clothes and shopping for a wedding dress is giving her lots of anxiety. One her wedding dress shopping day, it is your job to build her up and encourage her. Be the best hype ladies you can be!

Anna Kara, Faye

Anna Kara, Yoko

Brides: If you want to involve more people in the dress experience, take part in one of our new reveal appointments. This occurs once your dress has come in and you try your dress on for the first time: this is a chance for your loved ones to get a “sneak peek” of the dress before the big day! A wedding is a big day for everyone; your friends and family are coming together to support your marriage to your fiancé, but they don't have to be a part of the planning decisions to be involved.  There will be many showers and engagement parties where you can spend special time with them while celebrating your marriage.

Now it’s time to grab your trusted friends/family and make an appointment! We are open Monday, Thursday and Friday from 10-5, Saturday from 9-4 and Sunday 11-4. We look forward to helping you find the special one!

With Løv,

Oscar and Katie Duran

Everything You Need to Know About the Wedding Shopping Timeline

Planning a wedding can be stressful. There are so many details and the clock is always ticking; it's easy to find yourself overwhelmed and not knowing when to do what task. Don't panic when you’ve starting your shopping; we will keep you on track to find the best dress in a timeframe that will let you enjoy the shopping experience while checking something big off your list.

It seems like venues now determine when your wedding is based on their availability.  Once you have your venue and date locked down, you can start making other plans.  Wedding dresses typically take between 5 and 8 months to come in at Løv Bridal Sartorial, depending on the designer.  We have carefully chosen designers who have their own studios; they create the dresses `in house instead of having them mass produced in a factory where they have to wait on other designers’ schedules too.

Julie Vino

Next, discuss who will be paying for the dress.  Will you be paying for the dress on your own?  Is a loved one pitching in to help you get the dress of your dreams?  We do not require payment in full to order a dress to assist you in your wedding budget planning.  However, you will get a discount on the dress if you pay in full.

When you order your wedding dress, contact your seamstress so you can get on their list.  Even though your dress isn’t in yet, it would be crunching on time if your dress came in 4 months before the wedding but the seamstress already had as many dresses as she could handle.

Enjoy the shopping experience!  Even though there is no exact time frame of when to order a dress, I suggest starting around a year before the wedding.  If you start shopping a year and a half before the wedding, your wedding style can change between now and then.  If you start shopping 4 months before the wedding, your best option is to purchase a sample dress.  That way, you don’t have to wait for it to come in and can take it home that day.

For the most relaxed yet professional wedding dress shopping experience, contact Katie at Løv Bridal Sartorial at hello@lovbridal.com .

Anna Kara