You Asked, They Answered: Wedding Dress Retailers Answer Your Burning Questions
As retailers around the country start to reopen and get back to business as usual, brides are also wondering how this will impact their weddings. That’s why we asked a few of our retailer friends to take over our IG and answer some of your questions. From how they are planning to reopen and what precautions they’re implementing, to what trends brides can expect in the coming months, these experts in bridal gave our followers the inside scoop.
We hope that these IG Q&A’s have been helpful to your brides during this uncertain time. We’re rounding up a few FAQ’s today, and sharing some more advice from our retailers in the hopes that our brides find the info they’re looking for.
“What should brides expect from their dress shopping appointments during COVID-19?”
Brides should expect to still find the dress of their dreams! Your wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and as retailers, we’re going to make dress shopping as fun and as memorable as we can. We will have some safety precautions in place and there will be social distancing, you can rest assured that your bridal appointment will be safe for everyone.
“Will my Bridal Gowns arrive on time?”
Yes! We’re working hand-in-hand with designers to make sure no bride goes without her dream dress. Most retailers are also offering curbside or no contact pickups for those brides whose dresses are in.
Readmore What to Expect at Your Bridal Appointment Post COVID-19
“My wedding was postponed, will my dress still be appropriate for a winter wedding?”
Yes! It just takes some accessories to change up a look from summer to winter. Consider what shoes you’ll be wearing – maybe change from a sandal to a close-toed shoe. You can also add a fur wrap or a fun custom leather jacket to your look for some warmer layers while you’re taking photos. For 2020 and even 2021 brides, really anything goes! It’s your wedding, do what you want!
“How can brides find out when their local retailer is open again?”
First, use the store locator to find a wedding dress store in your area. Then, give them a call or shoot them an email to see if they are booking future appointments for when local stay-at-home orders have ended. Lastly, follow your local boutique on social media! That’s the easiest place to find out when your store is reopening or if they are offering services like virtual appointments.
“Will brides have to wear masks during their bridal appointments?”
It depends on what your local retailer and community are required to do. Many retailers are asking that brides and guests wear masks so that both staff and customers remain healthy and to reduce the risk of spreading or contacting Coronavirus. But, definitely reach out to your store to see what safety measures they are putting place.
“My wedding was postponed. What should I do with my wedding dress in the meantime?”
Storage is key! If you have a dress that is made of crepe or silk, something that wrinkles easily, you will want to hang up the dress in a well-structured garment bag or lay it down in the bag. Adding layers of tissue paper between the layers of fabric is also a good idea but make sure you only use white tissue paper! Whatever you do, just make sure your dress has ample room in your closet and don’t forget to sneak a peek every now and again!
Real Martina Liana Bride Casey + Clinton
In South Australia, bride Casey and groom Clinton said their vows in front of 180 of closest friends and family. A modern wedding with classic details, this gorgeous couple had a wedding most of us only dream about.
The Proposal
My husband is really quite the manly man, rarely shows public affection… but clearly a closet romantic as you’ll soon learn. It was our 6-year anniversary – a Thursday – the 20th of December 2018. He’s a tradie and usually gets up before I do, so I heard him get up and about 10 minutes later he comes back into the bedroom and wakes me up to say happy anniversary and then proceeds to tell me that I’m not going to work then said I have an hour to get ready and pack an overnight bag.
He popped a blindfold on me and drove me around our town a bit and we ended up at our favorite cafe for breakfast. We went in and he was acting quite odd but told me we were going over to Kangaroo Island for the night. The weather was quite windy and Clint was freaking out, he said we have to fly there and our flight was going to be delayed – I kept asking him why he was so concerned, it wasn’t a big deal. We had time to kill so we went and saw some family and just hang out for a bit. He was on and off the phone nonstop though, eventually, he got a call to say it was time to go. The blindfold got put back on and he drove me to our private plane. He made me get in still blindfolded and little did I know, he was setting up cameras. We took off and he asked if I wanted to fly over my family farm to take some aerial photos for my parents for Christmas, I thought that was a lovely idea and agreed that Dad would love that.
We started getting closer and I was pointing out some of our landmarks to our pilot when I saw the huge words written in hay bales… MARRY ME CASEY. I was in shock and turned to Clint and there he was with a ring and asked me to marry him. It was the most amazing moment and even better, he filmed the whole thing and got a videographer to put it together from setting out the hay bales the week before to the moment we got engaged… I cry every time I watch it!
Finding the Perfect Martina Liana wedding dresses
I had zero idea of what kind of dress I wanted, I went in with an open mind and was happy to try absolutely anything. I took my mum, my two sisters, my maid of honour and my niece came along too. The first dress store I went to I tried a variety of different styles and to be honest they all looked really great, but I’m really bad at making tough decisions so this was hard.
At the second store I went to, Jenny and Gerry’s Bridal Centre, the girls pulled out lots of different dresses for me to try and again, I had the same experience… No matter what the style, they all looked really lovely.. I had no idea what I was going to do. The owner of the store Jenny was walking past me while I had another dress on, she looked at me and said to my consultant, “Ooooh put her in the Martina Liana 1078, it will look great on her.”
I put the dress on and I immediately felt different to all of the other dresses. I felt nice in the others but I instantly felt amazing in this one. Everyone with me knew too that this would be the one. I didn’t want to take it off. I was in love and it really was meant to be – they only had it for that weekend! I had my alterations done at Jenny and Gerrys also and had the back lowered further which I loved; the whole team there did such an amazing job.
The Wedding Details
Our wedding was truly the most magical day, we wanted a modern classic – lots of whites and greenery. Our venue was Mount Lofty House and it was to die for – every inch of their grounds are breathtaking. We had our ceremony on their Piccadilly lawns which had the most magnificent view of the Adelaide Hills and had our reception in their Piccadilly Panorama room with floor to ceiling windows which again made the most of the view. We made a lot of our own decorations and it really paid off. We made our arbour and welcome sign stand from copper pipe and had it decorated with beautiful greenery and white flowers. We spent hours creating our invites and any stationary used on the day, my mum spent weeks refurbishing some gorgeous french doors which we all walked through to begin our walk down the aisle. So much of our work went into creating our perfect day and it really paid off. We both share the same values in that family and friends are so important and we loved the way this was incorporated into our ceremony by the amazing celebrant Amy Harrison. It was just perfect for us and really shared and showed who we are as a couple. It was the most perfect day with the most perfect weather and just after we shared our first kiss as husband and wife two planes flew over in the sky which everyone thought was pretty cool tying in with the proposal. We partied on into the night with everyone enjoying amazing food and drinks and we laughed and cried through speeches. We had the biggest smiles on our faces all day and loved every single minute of it.
I have so many special memories from the day – my maid of honour and my mum helping me get into my dress, my dad walking me down the aisle, seeing my husband for the first time (he had tears in his eyes, and so did I!). When I got to the end of the aisle, he grabbed my hands and told me how beautiful I looked and said that dress was amazing. Another absolute stand out was during the ceremony our celebrant asked us both to look out at everyone for a minute or so and it was magic looking at our 180 guests made up of our beautiful families and friends – I loved that moment so much. Saying our vows to each other was so special too, I honestly can’t pick just one moment – our whole day was absolutely magic.
Top 5 Plus Size Wedding Dresses for Fall
Today on the blog we are sharing our top five plus size wedding dresses for your Fall nuptials. If you’re dreaming of a fall wedding, this blog is for you! Fall is arguably the best time of the year. It’s not too hot or too cold, everything is pumpkin flavored and the changing trees make for a stunning photo op! If Fall is your favorite time of year, choosing to say “I do” during your favorite season is a must. Here are some fabulous Fall-inspired wedding dresses for our beautiful plus size brides!
First up we have this stunning gown from Essense of Australia. Of course, we had to include a long-sleeved wedding dress for Fall! Large organic motifs float over the illusion long sleeves and spread in wildly-growing patterns. This gown would be perfect for pictures in a lush, wooded area where the leaves are just starting to turn a beautiful rust color.
Style D2805+ from Essense of Australia
Next up we have this romantic, shimmery ballgown. The whimsical layers of the gown are layered to create beautiful movement throughout your wedding. A soft sparkle will shine as the sun sets, leaving you with a radiant glow. The organic neckline draws the eye upward to highlight your beaming smile. Celebrate your love in Style D2893+ from Essense of Australia.
Style D2893+ from Essense of Australia
Reimagined for the bohemian bride, this plus size A-line wedding dress showcases unexpected lace details and a laid-back style that’s perfect for your boho Fall wedding. The linear, organic lace is perfect for Autumn as the lace seems to float down the dress like leaves in the fall. This casual wedding dress is perfect for your Fall wedding.
Style D2782+ from Essense of Australia
Next up, we have a fun and flirty tiered ballgown from Stella York. Layers of frothy tulle are adorned by hand-placed 3D flowers throughout the skirt of the wedding dress. The floral appliques grow in size as they cascade beautifully down to the hemline.
6765+ from Stella York
Last but not least, we have Style 6649+ from Stella York. This A-line wedding dress features a lush floral pattern and a flattering silhouette. The matte florals are trending in the world of bridal and will be perfect for your Fall wedding.
Top Ten Wedding Dresses Featuring Shaped Trains
Top Ten Wedding Dresses Featuring Shaped Trains
If you’re not talkin’ trains we don’t wanna talk! Today we are sharing our top ten fav wedding dresses featuring gorgeous shaped trains. Wedding dress trains come in all different shapes and sizes. Ultimately, it’s up to you to pick your favorite train for your wedding day! Many different components go into making wedding dresses train and we’re going to break down a few of our faves for you today.
Style 1122 by Martina Liana
First up we have Style 1122 by Martina Liana! This stunning shaped train is showered in heavy laces atop the sheer overlay for a rich effect that brings this wedding dress to life. This luxe wedding dress is elevated even further by the extravagant fullness of the train that has a classic wedding dress appeal.
Style 1128 by Martina Liana
Next up we have Style 1128 by Martina Liana. This wedding gown features a truly breath-taking train. The 101-inch shaped train takes center stage with its laser-cut crepe and antique lace finishing, complete with fabric-covered buttons starting at the top of the wedding dress, creating the perfect combination of past, present and fashion-forward bridal style.
Style 1103 by Martina Liana
Style 1103 by Martina Liana is the pinnacle of lush garden-inspired style. The fitted wedding dress silhouette is cut thin in the front and gradually widens toward the back into a fully flourishing shaped train for an awe-striking statement on your wedding day.
Style D2771 by Essense of Australia
Style D2771 by Essense of Australia features a unique caged-train. An underlayer of silver glitter tulle adds high shine, complementing the elaborately double-scalloped train that elevates this goddess-inspired wedding dress.
Style D2770 by Essense of Australia
Style D2770 by Essense of Australia is an organic-inspired dream of a wedding dress that will be the talk of your wedding day. The ruched detail at the back of the hip enhances your shape and complements the multi-layer tulle skirt with a lace hem for a classic, organic finish.
Style D2835 by Essense of Australia
Style D2835 by Essense of Australia This wedding dress has so many unique elements it’s difficult to pick just one! This gorgeous dress transitions from the crepe skirt to the lace and tulle train, with unexpected scalloping and an out-of-this-world finish that is sure to wow on your big day.
Style D2811 by Essense of Australia
Style D2811 by Essense of Australia features a dreamy circle-shaped train! A soft shimmer is highlighted throughout the wedding gown with crystal tulle fabric so you shine with every step, carrying the lightweight train that floats down the aisle to the love of your life.
Style 6834 by Stella York
Style 6834 by Stella York has an incredible V-shaped train! The sheer train is made of the same lace on the bodice but has been laser-cut to form a uniquely elongated V-shape, sure to make a statement on your wedding day.
