Imagine A World Where Everyone Shopped Local

This year for Holiday Hoopla we decorated our window under the theme of "Imagine," & we couldn't help but imagine a word where everyone shopped local! We stuffed our window with goodies from many of the wonderful local businesses that surround our location on Main Street, & decided to give each of our brides this month a gift from under our Local Business Tree! We think it's important for local businesses to support one another just as much as it is for the people of a community to support their local businesses. 

We felt it was necessary to take a post to recognize all the incredible businesses in our community & the individuals who own them. Our owner, Jen Barkhurst, works so hard every year to create an amazing and beautiful window display for the holidays. We were excited to use this year's opportunity to support all of our local businesses & the hardworking people who make this shop local campaign possible.

As the holiday shopping season winds down, be sure you spread the love to some of your local businesses & see everything they have to offer!

&

Happy Holidays from An Elegant Affair!

Previous years Hoopla Window Display!

"Can't Say No" November

We are getting ready to ring in the new year with tons of brand new dresses. The only problem? We don't have room for them all! So to make room for the new inventory we're marking down all of our current in store styles for the entire month of November! For this month only all sample wedding dresses are 15% off (some exclusions apply, see store for details). What exactly does this mean? These are the dresses we physically have in store right now to to try on. Think of it this way, rather than having to wait for four or five months for your dress, you could leave with it today! 

We are sure to keep all of our sample dresses in the best condition, & any minor issues (missing buttons, beads or hooks) are immediately fixed free of charge after purchase! We have a range of all sizes, & a wonderful in house seamstress that can make alterations if sizing isn't exactly perfect. This incredible sale is on a first come first serve basis. These amazing dresses won't be in store for long, so be sure to stop in or make an appointment today!

Here's a look at just a couple of our favorite dresses that are included in our "Can't Say No" November sale!

Sottero & Midgley "Azita" size 10 in ivory

JLM Blush "Lilac" size 12 in ivory (dress pictured is blush)

 

Sottero & Midgley "Wynter" size 10 in ivory

Mikaella style #1406 size 12 in natural

Don't wait on this sale because these dresses won't last long! Call today to make an appointment 319.277.5655 or stop in today!

Drama Free Dress Shopping

Shopping for your wedding dress is an exciting experience, but it can also be a little overwhelming. Where do you start? How do you know what to look for? How do you know the "perfect dress" is out there? With hundreds of appointments under our belts, we figured we know a thing or two about wedding dress shopping. That's why today's blog post is about the Top 5 Things we've learned to do (& not do) for drama free wedding dress shopping!

1. Start With an Open Mind
Often times we see brides come in thinking they know exactly what they want their dress to look like but as soon as they actually try it on for the first time it doesn't look the way they wanted it to, & end up hating it. It's good to do a little research beforehand, & find some styles you like, but don't limit yourself to only those styles/details, especially when you're first starting out! It's difficult to know how something is going to look in real life as compared to the photo online, so it's good to try lots of different shapes & styles. More often than not we see brides purchase a dress that is the complete opposite of what they imagined they would leave with, & that's totally normal! So that gaudy "cupcake dress" your future mother-in-law wants you to try may not look anything like you, but there's no harm in trying it, you never know!
  
2.Too Many Opinions Only Ends Up Being Confusing
 We know you want everyone to feel involved in your special day, & we totally agree they should be! However, sometimes brides feel like they have to bring everyone they know to their appointments, & things get confusing when each person has a different opinion from another. With 15 different people telling you what they think, it can be difficult to figure out what you like or don't like in a dress. In our experience, a group of four people is the perfect amount! You have enough people that you feel like you get different opinions, but not so many that you become overwhelmed.

3.You May Not Have a TV Moment, & That's Okay!
Every now & then we'll have a bride that gets shivers up her spine & leaves everyone with watery eyes when she tries on the dress for the first time, but more often than not, that isn't the case. Just because you don't have a big dramatic TV moment the first time you try on a dress you absolutely love doesn't mean it can't be the one. If you feel beautiful in the dress, & can imagine yourself walking down the aisle, then it very well could be! We've found that the biggest indicator of someone being in the dress is that she doesn't feel like she wants to take it off! If you can't help but look at yourself in the mirror, & get excited about possibly wearing this dress on the big day, chances are you've found the one.

4. Don't Be Afraid to Say "Yes"
When the time comes that you do find the dress you can't take off, don't be afraid to pull the trigger! Often times brides feel like they need to try on every dress in the world before they can for sure "say yes to the dress." In our experience that only leaves brides feeling confused & overwhelmed. Don't get us wrong, we want you to make absolute sure this is the dress for you, but at the same time you have plenty of other things to worry about when planning a wedding than weather or not you're missing out on other dresses somewhere in the world. Again, as long as you look & feel beautiful, & can imagine yourself walking down the aisle in this dress, it will be perfect!
...Or "No"
This is your appointment, & it will be your dress, so just because everyone else likes a dress, doesn't mean it has to be your favorite. It may not feel like it, but you are allowed to say no! We understand that you want everyone to like your dress, but what is most important is that you like your dress. If you don't feel good in a dress, it doesn't matter if everyone else loves it, it's simply not your dress, & that's okay!

5. Have Fun!
We know this can all be a little overwhelming, but the most important thing is that you have fun & enjoy yourself when dress shopping. You're getting married, & that's SUPER exciting!! So don't let all of the stress of planning take away from that awesome fact. This is supposed to be a happy, fun experience, so try not to get too stressed out with all of the little details!

Celebrity Inspired Wedding

Many times we lust after celebrity bridal gowns, anxious to see the custom made designer looks. But did you know that you can find many of the best celebrity wedding looks at a more realistic price & still look just as stunning (if not more!) as your celebrity inspiration? We found some of our favorite celebrity looks to inspire your very on wedding day dress! 

 

 Celebrity Inspiration: Fashion model Rhea Durham

Looking for a simple shape & flowing fabrics (perhaps for a beach wedding?!) Then look no further than Mark Wahlburg's wife Reha Durham for your wedding style inspiration! The elegantly simple look of this dress needs only a little sparkle to draw attention up towards her face. Just like Rhea's, our Mori Lee dress is for a carefree bride who wants just the right amount of glamor.  

Our Pick: MoriLee Style #6745

 

 

 Celebrity Inspiration: Actress Hilary Duff

Hilary's dress had a slimming silhouette with voluminous bottom while marrying husband Mike Comrie. This dress put all of the focus on her gorgeous body & stunned guests. This dazzling shape inspired us to pick a Maggie Sottero dress with an equally jaw dropping va-va-voom shape. The simplicity of the design allows you to show off your shape without all the extra sparkle.

Our Pick: Maggie Sottero "Primrose"

 Celebrity Inspiration: Chelsea Clinton

 The fitted bodice & full skirt of former first daughter Chelsea Clinton's dress perfectly combined romance & elegance, adding just enough sparkle. We picked a Sottero & Midgley dress that has all of that and more, with a slightly lighter fabric. This means our pick won't weigh you down the way Chelsea's did, without compromising on overall look!

 Our Pick: Sottero & Midgley "Jerrica"

Celebrity Inspiration: TV Personality/Designer Lauren Conrad

Lauren's wedding day dress was a perfect combination of lace & beading, with just the right amount of subdued prestige. The highlight of this relatively simple dress is without a doubt the daring illusion back. Our Maggie Sottero pick has all of these qualities but steps them up another notch with full beading throughout.
Our Pick: Maggie Sottero "Cassidy"

 Celebrity Inspiration: Actress Gabrielle Union

 Gabrielle kept it simple & romantic while marrying Dwyane Wade in a princess silhouette with a low back. Our pick, a Mikaella gown, has the same effortless elegance with an added touch of interest in the unique brocade fabric. 

Our Pick: Mikaella 1858

Celebrity Inspiration: TV Personality Kim Kardashian

You no doubt heard all about Kim's amazing wedding gown when marrying rapper Kanye West. The dramatic shape & elegant lace work together to create a modern twist on a traditional bridal look. Our Maggie Sottero pick maintains the drama of Kim's dress, while opening up the claustrophobic neckline for an even more dazzling look.

Our Pick: Maggie Sottero "Kiana"

Celebrity Inspiration: Singer/Designer Gwen Stefani

It was the colored ombre effect on the skirt of Gwen's dress that really caught our eye when she married husband Gavin Rossdale. Our Mori Lee pick still has the incredibly unique look of an ombre skirt, without making it so bold, instead keeping the focus on you & your look as a whole!

Our Pick: Mori Lee Style #5101

See something you love? Call to set up an appointment today 319.360.7270!

Best of Bridal Fashion Week

We've been busy this week keeping up with everything happening at Bridal Fashion Week as designers debut their Spring 2015 collections. We're absolutely loving everything we've been seeing from all of our favorite designers. But we want to know what all of you lovely ladies are loving as well! So we picked a few of our favorites & want to know what you all think! See one you love or think we missed one? Let us know in the comment section! 

Sottero & Midgley

View the entire Spring 2015 collection full of classic silhouettes & beautiful lace here!  

Maggie Sottero

View the entire Spring 2015 collection full of romance & delicate details here!

Desiree Harstock for Maggie Sottero 

A new favorite of ours! You can view these gorgeous & feminine dresses individually here!

MoriLee

The entire spring 2015 collection is full of show stopping glamour, which can be seen here!

See one you love or think we missed one? Let us know in the comment section!

What to Wear

Everyone knows you need an incredible dress for your big day, but often times brides get so caught up with wedding day details they forget about all the other wedding related festivities surrounding the big day. In today's blogpost we talk about being just as glamorous during all of your extra curricular wedding events!

Here's an event by event look at your pre-wedding wardrobe:

Engagement Party: 

The engagement party will set the tone for the rest of your wedding events, so you want to keep it low key & easy, without being too casual. The "Misha" dress is perfect in this regard because the lace keeps it nice & bridal, but the simple, no fuss silhouette keeps it easy. 

 

Bridal Shower:

Traditionally, bridal showers tend to be a little more formal & proper. Since this is the first time the separate families are beginning to become one, you want to put your best foot forward & make a good impression with any family that may be a little more conservative. Opt for a dress like "Posey" with a little more coverage to keep things especially classy, but the V back keeps it from feeling too matronly. 

Bonus: Opt for a different color lining & ribbon that represent the colors to be used in your wedding for a fun pop of color, while maintaining a look that screams bride.

Bachelorette Party:

 Here's your time to let loose with your girls & have a good time. You want something that says bride without saying "married & boring,"  The open back of "Candy" is fun & flirty without showing off too much.

Bonus: We've got your girls covered for a fun night out too! A dress like "Tikka" is fun without upstaging the bride to be.

 

 

Rehearsal Dinner: 

As all of the planning winds down & the big day arrives you'll want to keep things a little more low key. The simple look of a dress like "Ginger" eliminates any fuss, & leaves room instead for fun accessories like a statement necklace or a cozy cardigan. Don't be afraid to leave white for the big day & incorporate a little color into your evening's look!

Exit/Honeymoon Dress: 

Now that you're a newlywed you'll want something that you can wear when your new husband whisks you away to your honeymoon destination! The great thing about a dress like "Adler" is that the full skirt is not only fun & flouncy but it will keep from restricting you. Additionally, the heavier brocade fabric won't easily wrinkle as you sit on a plane or pack it away in a bag!

Bridesmaid Bonus:

Did we mention that many of the Watters Encore dresses will come in a variety of colors for you girls on the big day! Go for a clean monochromatic look, or spice things up & add some depth with a two-toned look. 

See something you love? Give us a call at 319.277.5655 to make an appointment or stop in today!

Ask An Elegant Affair

Planning your look for the big day can be a daunting task. How do you find the right shoes? Where can you get a garter? What kind of tuxes should you have? Don't worry! Today's blog post will cover all of our Frequently Asked Questions!

How far out should I order dresses?

For bridal gowns they usually take about 4 to 5 months to come in, and then you'll want another 1.5 to 2 months for alterations. We usually suggest ordering your bridal dress at least 6 months out!

Bridesmaids dresses usually take about 10 to 12 weeks to come in, then you'll want about 1 month for alterations. We usually suggest ordering bridesmaids at least 4 months out!

How long do alterations normally take?

It really depends, because each bride and dress is different. Most brides need 3 fittings to ensure everything fits exactly the way it should. We typically recommend starting about six weeks before the wedding. However, if you know you'll need major alterations (if you're changing the style of the straps, or replacing a zipper with a corset) start a few weeks earlier to ensure enough time for yourself!

Bridesmaids are usually much easier and don't normally need as many fittings. Usually just two, so you won't need to start until about 4 weeks out from the wedding.

When should I start picking out tuxes?

Feel free to start looking online at any time to find your favorite styles! The latest you would have to place a tux order is about a month out from your wedding, and your guys can pick them up the week of (it feels last minute, we know! but we promise it's okay!)

     

Style 301                                               Style 342

How can I be sure to match the color of my bridesmaids dresses to everything else in my wedding?

Once you pick the perfect dress in just the right color we can order a small fabric swatch that will let you match your colors perfectly!

What am I supposed to wear to my rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, and for an exit dress?

Watters "Encore" collection has an awesome selection of short, more casual dresses. Though they're more casual than a gown, they're still very bridal so you'll be sure to stand out!
(Many of these amazing dresses also come in colors for more unique bridesmaid dresses!)

     

"Tikka" & "Chanel" Encore by Watters 

How can I make sure my shoes match?

We have a wide selection of shoes that can be dyed a wide range of colors! This way you'll be sure to make it the exact color you want!

  

What "must-have's" am I forgetting?

  Check out Ten Things Every Bride Should Have On Her Wedding Day to make sure you don't forget something for the big day! We've got all the jewlery, veils, and little extras you could need!

If you have any other questions or want to check out our inventory feel free to give us a call at 319.277.5655 or stop in today!