6 Tips to get the most out of your alterations appointments

 

1) Be sure to bring the shoes that you plan to wear on your big day

 

Your shoes are a very important part of your wedding day wardrobe. By wearing them for your alterations appointment your seamstress can measure your hem to the perfect length.

 

2)  Bring any undergarments you plan to wear on your big day

 

Undergarments can change the way a dress fits or falls on the body. If you plan to wear a specific undergarment, make sure you’re wearing it when your dress is being pinned.

 

3) Don’t hesitate to communicate

 

Communicating your wants and needs to your seamstress is essential. Yes, they are the expert, but they also need your feedback and input on how things feel and look. Be sure to have open communication. You won’t hurt their feelings, we promise! They want to make you feel like a princess! Help them know what will create that feeling for YOU.

 

4) Bring pictures

 

Did you have a specific type of bustle in mind that you want designed? Or maybe you want to add straps or adjust a neckline? Pictures are a great tool to use when communicating your vision for your dress.

 

5) Bring any accessories that you want added to your dress

 

Sometimes our brides like to personalize their dresses with a special family heirloom or have a piece of clothing from a loved one sewn into the inside of the dress. We are always happy to accommodate special requests to make your big day even more special or meaningful. Bringing the item to your first appointment can help the seamstress know how to best fulfill your request before any changes are made to your dress.

 

6) Bring a friend

 

Making decisions on the perfect fit or accent can sometimes be easier when you have someone else to bounce ideas off of. Of course, our staff are more than happy to give any advice or feedback, but also having a friend, relative, or even your wedding planner attend your appointment can be helpful.

Wedding Gown Style- Off-the-shoulder Dresses

Here at Sealed With A Kiss, we love off-the-shoulder necklines! It is a classic style that adds a touch of soft femininity to the rest of the look. Scroll through to check out some of our favorite off-the-shoulder picks!

1.

Our first pick is this fit and flare gown with all-over beaded lace appliques. The off-the-shoulder neckline perfectly complements the three quarter sleeves. It’s a soft, graceful look ideal for any bride.

2.

This silk ballgown is simply classic. The scalloped lace along the off the shoulder neckline is a gorgeous detail, and we love that this gown has pockets!

3.

For the laid-back bride, this long sleeved wedding gown would be perfect. The chiffon fabric is light and airy, and the subtle lace details are the perfect touch on this effortless look.

4.

Prefer sparkle to lace on your wedding gown? Then give this beaded charmeuse fit and flare gown a chance! We love the intricate beading along the hem and on the illusion back.

5.

This soft ballgown has a scalloped lace off the shoulder neckline and a light tulle skirt. Brides love how the button-up illusion back is adorned with lace appliques.

6.

 This dress is all about the subtle details! Look up close and you’ll find a floral motif embossed into the Italian Satin fabric. The fit and flare shape coupled with the off the shoulder neckline create a flattering shape perfect for any bride!

Real Sealed With A Kiss Bride- Meghan and Evan

Congratulations to Sealed With A Kiss bride Meghan and her new husband Evan!

They tied the knot on April 29th, 2017.

When Meghan first walked into our store, she was immediately drawn to a soft blush ballgown on the rack. She tried it on and loved it, but it was the first dress she had ever tried on so she made an appointment to return another day to try on more styles.

When she came back for her appointment she tried on a variety of other styles, but nothing compared to that very first blush ballgown. We put her back in the dress, and this time she was sure that it was the “one.”

We’re wishing them many years of love and happiness!

All photos courtesy of Laura Bryan Photography

https://www.facebook.com/laurabryanphoto/

https://www.laurabryanphotography.com/

Ask Pat: Did I say yes to the dress too soon?

Dear Pat: I went wedding gown shopping last month, and fell in love with a dress at the very first store I visited–I had wanted a V-neck ballgown, and I found what I thought was the perfect one. I thought about it overnight and went back to the salon to purchase it the very next day. Then this week I went to a different bridal salon intending to shop for bridesmaids dresses, but I got so distracted by the beauty of their wedding gowns that I found myself asking to try a few on, and really loved a few other styles. Did I say yes to my dress so soon? Now I feel like I might be missing out on better styles out there. 

It’s not uncommon to second guess your wedding gown decision–it’s a tough choice to make, especially when there really are so many truly beautiful dresses out there! As you said, it was exactly what you were looking for, you thought about it overnight and you were positive it was “the one,” so no, I don’t think you said yes to a dress so soon.

We strongly recommend NOT trying on more gowns after you’ve found the perfect one as it can lead to second-guessing, but as you already have done that, I would suggest returning to the first bridal salon to re-try the dress you said yes to. Once you’re in it again, it’s likely that all the happy feelings you had about the dress will return, and you’ll remember why you thought it was perfect. Hopefully that will make you confident that you did make the right decision.

Have a question you’re dying to ask a bridal consultant? Email pat@sealedwithakissbridal.com with your question, and our consultants will be more than happy to help–you might even see your question on the blog!

 

Bridal Market April 2017–Our NYC Adventures!

It’s been a couple weeks since our trip to New York City for bridal market, and now that we’ve finally caught our breath and recovered from walking all over the city we can finally sit down and tell you about our adventures!

Here we are first thing in the morning, about to hit the road for the long drive to the big city.

It was a long ride, but we made it! Once we checked in at the hotel we were itching to get into the city, so we hopped onto a train and headed straight the The Knot Show, where we checked out the designs by Justin Alexander and Lillian West.

We were so impressed by the new collections– they had great clean lines, new fabrics and gorgeous bead work. It was hard to choose which gowns we wanted most, but after some deliberation we selected a group of gowns we think our brides will love. After that we headed back to the hotel, but not before making a quick stop outside the one and only Kleinfeld Bridal.

The next day we were up bright and early, and well before our first appointment, so we decided to check out the new collection from Randy Fenoli. We knew his dresses would be beautiful, but we were still blown away by his designs.

We even had the chance to chat with Randy himself, and he indulged our request for a selfie!

Our next stop was across town, to the garment district to check out the new collections from Paula Varsalona and Antonio Gual for Tulle New York.

                The quality of Paula’s work was, as usual, excellent! We loved seeing the silhouettes and fabrics she’s using (especially the floral prints!) and we’re really excited about the designs we’ve ordered for our brides.

Out final stop of the day was to Antonio Gual. It was the first time we’d visited him in New York, and we were so excited to be there for the launch of his Sarah Black Collection.

Antonio’s was the last stop of the day, so after a late dinner we made our way back to the hotel to get some rest and prepare for the journey home. Overall, it was a great weekend, and we feel we selected a really amazing set of gowns from the new collections to have in our stores. You’ll just have to stay tuned to find out when they’ll arrive!

Real Sealed With A Kiss Bride: Meghan and Matt

Our Sealed With A Kiss bride Meghan was certainly one lovely bride! We’re pleased to share some photos from her special day, courtesy of Melissa Durham Photography.

 

Vendors:

Venue: UVA Colonnade Club

Photography: Melissa Durham Photography

Photography/Second Shooter: Heather Chipps Photography

Dress and Veil: Lillian West Design from Sealed With A Kiss

Florist: The Faded Poppy

Videographer: Rachael Curry Wedding Films

Caterer: Kitchen Catering and Events

Cake: Maliha Creations

Menswear: The Marine Shop and Men’s Wearhouse

Jeweler: Fink’s Jewelers