No Club Soda!!

Dress by Cassandra Bromfield Headpiece by Beauloni Style

Todays gowns are more creative than ever.  Embellishments include crystals, beads, buttons, and feathers.  Although these adornments are beautiful, but some brides may be a bit afraid to make that purchase because it will be hard to clean, so I asked an expert.

Wayne Edelman, president of Meurice Cleaners, took me to the cleaners.

1. Wedding dresses with feathers are popular today, but how does a bride prep her dress for the wedding day? 
2. Can you lightly steam that dress?

1 / 2. Feathers can absolutely handle light steam. Remember, feathers come from birds, which get wet without issue in the wild - water isn't going to ruin feathers, but severe heat may. Best advice I can give any bride, pre-wedding day: keep the gown away from and cats or dogs. Those are always the most upsetting blemishes, and we've seen them numerous times. Although... there are exceptions. I just rec'd a dog wedding gown the other day, and that would have been difficult to keep away from pets!

3. If something spills on those feathers, does that club soda thing work?

3. The club soda trick is a persistent and annoying old wives' tale. Club soda is just water with bubbles - I'm afraid it doesn't have any magical cleaning ability. The feathers should actually have water repellency of their own, it's the surrounding fabric I would have concerns about. I'd recommend leaving the spot cleaning to the pros, especially pre-wedding day - it's a bad time to have a wardrobe crisis.

Regarding actual wedding day - we once had a bride who came through in her limo between the ceremony and reception, after suffered a bit of spotting from some grease. Speaking to her on the phone, I assumed it was a catastrophe, but it was mostly in her head. ;) Whenever I have the opportunity to speak to a bride before her wedding day, I always tell them not to worry about stains and spills the day of - just to keep partying! If someone spills a dish or glass of red wine, roll with it, enjoy yourself... and then after the honeymoon, bring it to us!

4. When a dress comes to you with feathers on it, I know you make the impossible, possible, but please tell my readers the care you put into a feathery dream dress.

4. All wedding gowns receive individual attention, care, and love at Meurice. It's one of those garments where we really have the opportunity to wow - there's nothing else that passes though our doors with a greater emotional attachment. Depending upon the type and level of ornamentation, we might remove and replace, cover, hand-clean or disassemble each section of the gown in order to achieve thorough and safe. We once had a feathered gown where we cleaned each feather one at a time using q-tips in order to preserve the original design.

Every gown is different - whenever we have a bride in the shop we spend however long it takes to thoroughly examine the piece in person, and then our cleaning technicians develop a plan to clean it flawlessly.

Thank you Mr. Edelman

Meurice Cleaners

Bridal Services

800.240.3377

info@garmentcare.com

PS I have used Meurice Cleaners and have been very happy with the service. 

Miss Curve 2011

A friend told me I didn't have enough plus size bridal gowns on my site.  She's right, I don't have any.  I asked Chrisandra Wells who is the reigning Miss Curve 2011 would she be interested in doing a shoot.  She moved with all deliberate speed and found a great photographer, Ashley Naomi.  Her waist length Locs coiffed by Thando Kafele (email: tksalon@aol.com or find him at Locs and Chops).  The rest of the team, make-up Jewel Whinfield and headpieces by Beauloni Style.  The photos below are my behind the scenes shots.  Check back for the photos by Ashley.

 Ashley's studio

The above dress is a halter matte jersey.

 Sherri (Beauloni Style) topped this look off with this feather piece.  I just love it!!

 The above dress is a strapless, patchwork gown using  4ply silk and crepe back satin silk.

Jenea's Vegas Wedding

Vegas Baby Vegas, and what happens at Jenea's wedding does not stay in Vegas. Here just a few snaps from a relatives perspective. They tell me to wait for the professional photographers photos.

Just a few details about the gown. This is one of my more traditional dresses. Jenea wore a silk satin full length ball gown. It hung right at the tip of her shoulders and with pleating at the shoulders with pearl beading. There is a V front with shirring and silk flower detailing. There is so much personal time spent with a bride I learned that Jenea's late maternal grandmother was an important fixture in her life. Betsy, was a seamstress also and when I accidentally stuck her with a pin, we knew it was Betsy's way of letting her know she was there. One more detail of the dress, Betsy was spelled out in Swarovski pearls on the train. I also put a V for Vernel (Jenea's Mom) on the inside who I believed is Jenea's anchor.

11 Years Later

This was an email that made me feel ten feet tall!

"My Beautiful wedding dress 11years later used in a recent photo shoot"

Lisa Scott, model

See full article
Real Life With Runway Style

Yes Lisa did choose a black wedding dress and I was happy to make it. She felt better in black and the rayon matte jersey extenuated the positive. Lisa was a gorgeous bride then and still rocking it 11 years later.

The Big Day
11 Years Ago

Read more about Lisa Scott

Judging Beauty On the Curve

Let me ask you a question, are you completely happy, over the moon, confident, and in love with every inch of your body? All the bumps, rolls, and delicious curve of your anatomy. If yes or no you must see The Mozaik Curve Project. This inspiring project turns the light on positive body image of curvy women.

99.99999% of the woman I create gowns for are all concerned about their bumps, rolls, and girth. Of course we all are concerned about a healthy body image, but a wedding can make us caraaaaaazy with analyzing what we actually look like. All brides end up looking so beautiful on their wedding day but the time taken to agonize about size is not good.
One of the blogs I visit (Bodacious Blog), wrote a simple post. I followed the link and wanted to share this with you. It is fabulous, visit the site (there is a fair amount of partial nudity) and create a positive, healthy, love of yourself and your body. Remember he asked you to marry him with every delicious curve of your body.

A great read for the Plus Size Bride

The Perfect Plus Size Wedding Dress

Silk crepe back satin bias cut short dress. Seam is embellished with beads and crystals. Bottom of dress is patchworked with crystals at squares.
available at Cassandra Bromfield 718.388.2055

The search for the perfect dress is daunting but when you are a size 14 and up, style and quality dwindle. Many bridal shops have plus size departments. Samples range in size from 14 to 18 and even 20's. However many of these styles don't reflect the taste of today's women. Observing women shopping for a dress, I've noticed, plus size women buy the dress that fits. While their size 6 counter part parades by, in mounds of confectionery tulle, complete with the Oohs and Ahhs of family and friends exclaiming "You look good in everything!". Custom Design omits this experience. Brides can discuss shapes, styles and fabrication all in privacy. Styles like strapless,bias cut, and even mound of confectionery tulle can be entertained. Custom Design offers brides and unlimited choice of styles that will celebrate their personal style.

Need more help read Down That Aisle In Style by Chamein Canton

The Beautiful Search

It is considered the search of a life time. Some would consider a loving partner, with whom you will spend your life with, a search to end all searches. But, the wedding gown will make women move heaven and earth for the perfect dress. Many women can break out in hives over just the thought of this daunting task. For average size women there are racks of tulle confections, in different styles. This can still be stressful sifting through so many styles. But for the plus size bride her choices are limited in style, fabrications and in some cases bridal stores will charge an additional fee for being over a size 18. So you see why some women don't even want to shop for the dress.
Charmein Canton has decided enough is enough and has put pen to paper. Down That Aisle In Style: A Wedding Guide for Full Figured Women, this book is filled with practical advice from her many years of experience as a wedding consultant and a plus size woman herself. From head to toe you'll learn about necklines, hemlines, the whole nine yards. Every part of your wedding day should be fabulous and that begins with The Beautiful Search.

Charmein Canton
Other titles by this author
Available on Amazon.com

Not His Type


MS Doesn't Stand For Multiple Sclerosis


You're Getting Married

How To Choose The Perfect Wedding Dress

Dress by Cassandra Bromfield Photo by Perez Folds

Post By Helen McMaster

A long formal dress is suitable for a church wedding of a civil ceremony although many brides do prefer wearing a smart dress or tailored suit for the Registry office.
Some religions also frown on sleeveless dresses or low cut outfits and this will need to be taken into account too.
No matter which style you pick, remember that the back view is as important as the front, you will have your back to everyone during the ceremony.
Choose fabric that is resistant to crushing and creasing. Detachable trains that can be removed or hooked up are also wise. Dress ideas and colours will need to be discussed with the groom without revealing all the details so that the colours and styles of the wedding party can be coordinated. Look in the mirror
Be realistic and don't try and aim for what Hollywood starlets look like on their wedding days, most of us don't have personal trainer and chefs to look after us and help keep us in shape.
Don't set your goal posts too close to the moon, you will only be disappointed and feel like a failure when your big day is meant to be a celebration of your love for one another.
Concentrate on the real you! Think about what you normally wear, what colors suit you and which styles flatter you figure and most important, which outfits make you feel on top of the world, what type of ceremony and theme are you looking to create-traditional or relaxed, formal or informal.
Colours
White dresses are not obligatory these days, if you don't feel white is your colour or will complement you then don't wear it. Wedding gowns are becoming increasingly popular in cream, pale gold, pale blue, pale pink and red. There is also a trend these days to go for darker colours like burgundy or shades of green which is a beautiful idea for a Christmas wedding.
You will feel better in a dress that flatters your complexion or one of your favourites instead of going with white because it seems to be the norm. If wearing a bright coloured dress the details should be kept to a minimum.
The right style for your shape
Choosing a style that flatters your shape can make a huge difference to how you look and also give you a huge confidence booster. Trying on dresses that either don't suit your body or the ceremony is notably, a waste of time, but can also depress you. You might find that you give in and buy the wrong dress anyway. A sure fire way to put a damper on your big day.
Tall and Thin
Choose a ball gown with a strapless, fitted bodice
Bony shoulders or collar bones can will suit dresses with a higher neckline that are long and fitted
If you feel you are too thin for this style consider that you can set of your height and leanness with some delicate detailed embroidery or beading.
Short with a fuller, feminine Figure
Try an empire line dress which has a seam under the bust line and in the right fabric, the dress will flow instead of cling.
A Knee length dress will also look good, the longer dress will add height and give you a taller silhouette.
Sleeves should also be long but not too tight if considered.
Thick Waist
Conceal a wide waist with a boned corset or wear a decorative jacket that falls just below the waistline
Avoid fitted ballerina styles
Very Full Bust
To draw attention away from the bust choose a dress with a long bodice or cowl neck
Dresses with a natural waistline will draw attention to the bust area
Pick a plain bodice and avoid low necklines
Pick a detailed hem if you want to add a little embellishment
Full or Wide Hips
Avoid bustles and ruffles or tiered dresses
Most styles will look great but avoid tight styles around the hips
Princess styles that are fitted on the top and flare slightly to the hem will help disguise larger hips
Ball gown styles in simple fabrics will also draw attention away from the hips
Big bottom
Avoid bows or back fastening ties
Consider a light train from the top of the bodice or waist
Wide Shoulders
Wide straps will narrow the appearance of your shoulders or cover them completely
Draw the focus to a v-neckline
Wearing a sheer wrap will also soften the effect
Do not wear puffed sleeves, don't even consider them!
Short or heavy legs
Opt for a long dress
Sheath styles which are straight but not too clingy will add height
Short Arms
Three Quarter length sleeves will be flattering
Do not go sleeveless
Chubby Arms
Choose long simple sleeves that are not too tight
Wear a bolero, shrug or wrap
Pregnant Brides, OOPS!
Maternity bridal wear is a fairly specialist item to find and not offered at standard bridal shops. Having a bump does not equal frump. Pregnant brides can still have the dress of the dreams.
If you are having a baby or have just had a baby then take into account the fact that you are going to have long day, so go for comfort when choosing what to wear.
Don't try to squeeze in a corset style dress in the size you used to be. Your dress will have to allow for your changing shape and you will need to find a reliable dress maker for last minute alterations.
If you want to disguise the pregnancy go for a dress that is one size up and getting the bust altered. A big bouquet will also disguise the tummy area.
You do not need to sacrifice style to be comfortable, tight waists and figure hugging dresses with tightly laced bodices are not worth sparing a thought for as they will only torment you on your special day.
Focus on showing off your new curves with a focus on the shoulders or bust. Styles that are perfect for the pregnant bride are Empire lines, princess lines or A line dresses. These styles flare from under the bust, the empire line has a straighter skirt. A Chiffon overlay can be added to soften the lines of your dress or opt for a medieval style dress with long flowing sleeves.
Made to measure maternity bridal wear is available at www.everyweddingthing.co.uk at an affordable price.
Some guidelines when deciding on a dress:
Try on as many different styles as you like and view them from as many different angles as possible, take some shoes along that will be similar in height to the ones you may wear. To get the full effect have the shop fit you out in a veil with the dress as you wont want to take your wedding dress with you when you go veil shopping
Take your time to make a decision and don't feel pressured by pushy salespeople
How much deposit is required and when is the balance due
Does the price include VAT
How much extra are the alterations
How far before the wedding must you order
How many fitting will be required and do they offer Saturday or after work hour fittings
Can you arrange a fitting with accessories, lingerie and shoe
Get confirmation of all appointments and money paid in writing
How far before the wedding will the dress arrive
Do the shop offer storage garment bags
Ask about the care instructions for getting the crease out before your big day
What is the shops policy on cancellations
Have you added the dress to your wedding insurance
If you are going to hire your dress
Check to see if the chosen dress will be available on your day, cleaned and ready for collection.
Does the hire price include a full 24 hours.
Does the dress have to be cleaned before its returned (an added expense) After the wedding who will be entrusted with delivering the dress back to the hire shop as it should be
Enjoy the Journey!
About the author:Hellen McMaster is a successful wedding professional helping brides pick the best dresses that suit them at www.everyweddingthing.co.uk along with all the necessary accessories like veils, tiaras and jewellery. Hellen also has a sister website specialising in wedding stationery design and favours at affordable prices. Widest range of Tartan and Scottish themed stationery on the internet and also uses the exclusive Pride of Scotland theme ribbon