3 Tips for Wedding Dress Shopping

While romantic comedies make wedding dress shopping look glorified dress up, once you've done it, you'll realize that this is a fairy tale manufactured by bridal salons and Hollywood! Dress stopping is hard, but here are three ways to make it work!

To Veil or Not to Veil

If you've been following our main blog, you know that Jacqueline H. is going to get M-A-R-R-I-E-D, but the jury's out on whether she's going to wear the veil or not. So far, we've been pretty well divided down the middle on whether she should wear one with her wedding dress.

Celebrity Wedding Dresses

When Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt announced their engagement, Jolie's wedding dress became a major source of excitement. We loved her emerald cut diamond ring and we expect Jolie to wear something equally edgy and modern. Last week we had a Facebook Poll to see which dress our Facebook fans think which of our wedding dresses would suit Jolie the best.

Should You Get Your Gown Professionally Steamed?

Chances are your wedding dress is wrinkled. If you bought a dress online, it will have been shaken up in the transportation process and perhaps even vacuum packed. Should you pay for a professional steaming? The answer is a resounding yes! The difference between steamed and unsteamed dresses is huge.

The Little White Dress

Everyone's heard of the Little Black Dress. You imagine Audrey Hepburn's character Holly Golightley in Breakfast in Tiffany's. It's simple, chic, something you can just thrown on, and it also fits like a glove. Well, there's a new "it" piece of clothing and it's the little white dress.

Bridesmaid Dress Styles

Bridesmaid dresses are becoming more and more amazing. There are now many styles that I wouldn't mind wearing to a cocktail parties. Here are some styles that are stunning at the altar and at a party.

5 More Mistakes Brides Make When Dress Shopping

Last week, we covered five common mistakes brides make when dress shopping, and this week we're bringing you five more. Are you guilty of these dress buying don'ts?

5 Common Mistakes Brides Make When Dress Shopping

Before you try on your first wedding gown, read this article first. This will help you avoid the most common blunders brides-to-be make when bridal gown shopping.

How to Buy a Flower Girl Dress

For fans of Modern Family, there was a recent episode in which Lily Pritchett, the four-year-old daughter of Cam and Mitchell, wears a LED infested flower girl dress. Halfway down the aisle, she trips, falls, and curses. While this isn't the typical flower girl scenario -- parents usually get some say -- it is a hilarious example of what can go wrong.

What is a Trunk Show

We're now midway through Trunk Season! While many vendors sell their merchandise through trunk shows, they're especially big in the wedding industry. Every year from January to May, wedding designers showcase their collections at bridal salons. Trunk shows got their name because the dresses used to be transported in trunks.

The Wedding Dress Contract

Did you know that most bridal shops will require you to sign a contract to complete your purchase? It's a good idea to ask about the shops cancellation and refund policy. If you are comfortable with the policy and are ready to make your purchase, make sure to verify that the contract explicitly states the designer, style, size and color. Always confirm that your size is correct by being professionally measured and comparing these numbers to the designer's sizing chart.

What to Wear When You're Expecting

For pregnant brides, bridesmaids, and guests, weddings and any formal occasion can be an opportunity for high stress in the wardrobe department. Remember that scene in Jennifer Lopez's movie The Backup Plan, an expectant and stunning JLo squeezes into a too tight dress and rips the seams when she bends down to pick up a tube of lipstick?

Bridal Salon Etiquette Part 2

Unless you're getting a wedding dress custom made for you, most brides require a minimum of two fittings. If the dress does not fit perfectly, don't be afraid to speak up.

Bridal Salon Etiquette

Did you know that bridal salons have specific etiquette? I didn't know either until I accompanied my friend to one of her first visits. Since it was a weekday, we were allowed to just walk in. Apparently, this only happens once in a blue moon and we were lucky not to be turned away.

Golden Globes Inspiration

Bridal Shop History

Did you know every year, 2.5 million brides get married in the US and the wedding industry is now a multi-billion dollar enterprise? So, how did this happen? How did a wedding become such a big event?

What Will He Wear?

Dress Shopping for Moms-To-Be

Whether you've got a bun in the oven or its one of bridesmaids, formal maternity gowns have come a long way! When dress shopping, know exactly how pregnant you'll be on the big day. While there are many maternity bridal gowns available, it is also possible to purchase a normal empire-waist gown if you're in an earlier stage of pregnancy such as the second trimester. Before committing to a dress, make sure that you're clear on the lead time. Pregnant women should put off dress buying to the last possible moment since their bodies are continually changing. Many gowns can be let out an inch or two, but don't contain tons of extra material. Here are some key points when dress shopping:

Bridesmaid Dresses Shopping Tips

Legend has bridesmaids functioned as decoys for evil spirits for the bride. While nowadays we don't ask our best gal pals to ward off supernatural forces by pretending to be us, bridesmaid dresses are notoriously hideous. While it's gotten a lot better recently, I've still been seeing a few ugly bridesmaid dresses on sites like

Underwear Tips

One of the points we've stressed over and over again is the importance of shape wear. These undergarments helps your clothing drape properly over your body and often enhances your body shape.

How to Bargain for a Wedding Dress?

In my last semester in college, I took a personal finance class and one of the things our professor went over was bargaining. In the US and many other western countries, bargaining is often seen as stingy and cheap, but Prof K. asked us what we valued more, the good opinion of a perfect stranger or saving money. We scribbled furiously -- he banned laptops -- as he outlined how to buy a used car or house.

5 Questions to Ask Your Bridal Consultant

Your first visit to a bridal shop might seem like entering another world so be sure to do your homework. The most important thing is to call ahead to see if you need an appointment to try on the gowns. It would be unfortunate to show up and be turned away. Also, ask which days are their least busiest. You'll get more attention that way.

5 Reasons to Buy Your Dress Early

Experts will tell you that fit is everything. The most expensive, designer gown won't be flattering if it doesn't hug your body just right.

SimplyBridal's Photoshoot

Simply Bridal's Marianne Gown

Simply Bridal's Anna Gown

Introducing the Eliana Gown

5 Tips to Keep Your Wedding Bouquet in Tip Top Shape

A bouquet is usually kept in a fridge until shortly before it needs to be used. Two common ways that bouquets are transported are either in water or in boxes with damp newspaper. If you've been keeping in touch with bridal blogs and magazines, you know that a close up of the bouquet is a must-have!

Wedding Trunk Shows 101

Although trunk shows can sell any merchandise from jewelry to clothing, it is commonly associated with the bridal industry. The name comes from how dresses used to be transported in trunks.

$75 Credit Back on Alterations

You won't believe what we're doing. We know how much the perfect wedding dress means to you so Simply Bridal is offering to reimburse our brides up to $75 in alterations fees! No questions asked!

Bridal Shop Breakdown

How To Find Sample Sales

You many already know that samples sales are great way to get designer clothes at discount prices. And as you can imagine, these are very highly sought after sales. However, it can be difficult to find if you don’t know where to look and since some sales only happen once a year, it is easy to miss. Inexpensive wedding dresses are a demand for many brides; designer dresses are a coveted demand. Sample sales merge the two worlds together to get some great prices on some great dresses.

Claire Pettibone: Wedding Dresses for The Romantic and Whimsical

Celebrities and socialites are flocking to Claire Pettibone when it comes time to walk down that isle. Her heavenly gowns have their own uniqueness and originality that many brides are looking for on their special day. This is why Claire Pettibone has set the US bridal scene a buzz. With her wedding gowns, she finds the perfect balance between opulence and understatement. All of her dresses have a certain vintage quality to them, which she seamlessly blends with contemporary references; the result is truly modern with a whimsical romance.

Wedding Dress Shopping Alone

Plus Size Wedding Dresses

The average clothing size of women in the U.S. is a size 14, but you wouldn't know that from the average bridal shop. The sample size there is eight or ten. At smaller bridal shops, the stock of sizes is even smaller.

Dress You Up

You have found your life long partner. Now, you need to start a new search for affordable wedding dresses. You have accumulated countless of hours scouring the Internet, reading bridal magazines, and visiting bridal shops in hopes of that 'a-ha!' dress moment. Trying on wedding dresses can be a frustratingly, arduous task, and you certainly aren't the only one ready to pull your hair out at the thought of trying on another dress. However, if you follow these rules, you can narrow down your choices and make for a seemingly painless discovery of that perfect gown.

Sample Sale 101: How to Find The Dress

No need to spend thousands of dollars on designer wedding dresses. The dress of your dreams by your favorite designer may be cheaper than you think. Two words: Sample sales. These extremely popular sales offer designer threads, in this case, wedding dresses, at incredibly low discounts.

Choosing a Dress

Even if you're searching for online wedding gowns, you should still visit a few bridal shops when choosing a dress. Maximize your time by stepping into your first bridal shop prepared.

Affordable Wedding Dresses

Looking at some of the price tags on wedding dresses can be downright scary! Why are we paying so much for a dress that we will only wear once? For many, this seems unreasonable. There's no reason to break the bank shopping for your wedding dress when there are so many amazing options for bridal dresses out there. You just need to know where to look.