Who You Should Bring Dress Shopping

You want to look your best on your big day and a large part of that is the dress, whether it is for prom or for your wedding. Shopping alone can be intimidating, so it never hurts to have a second opinion. Who you want to have with you depends on which of the following events you are shopping for.

Prom Dresses

It can be a good idea to shop for prom dresses in two stages:

Stage One

Go on a scouting mission with your most trusted besties. You want the girls who are not going to grab your favorite dress from under your nose. Select a few styles and make sure you aren’t all in love with the same prom dress (unless that’s a plan you have). Take pictures with your phone so you can think about the possibilities.

Stage Two

Now that you have an idea of what you want, take your mom with you to the store. It’s likely that she’s picking up the tab (which means she will want a say). Prom dress shopping is also a great time to reach out to her and show her how important her opinion is. By asking your mom to help you choose between three or four dresses you like, you will end up with something you like no matter what.

Bridal Gowns

Remember when prom was the biggest night of your life? The stakes are even higher with a wedding and for some brides that can be stressful. Fear not! Your wedding day truly is the biggest day of your life and if you’re lucky, you are surrounded by friends and family who want to help. Here are the two people to bring with you:

Your Mom

Your wedding is a big day for you. It is also a milestone for your mom. You’ll score big points if you include her in some of the important decisions. You’ll also benefit from her years of wisdom. Listen to her carefully before you make the dress decision.

Your Best Friend/Maid of Honor

This is likely the same person, but sometimes distance is an issue. This should be a girlfriend that you trust to give you an honest opinion in a kind way. She knows that you hate the way your (insert body part here) looks and she will help you camouflage it. Better yet, she knows you have a fabulous (insert body part here) and can help you find ways to highlight it! Ask her to take pictures so you can consider the dresses over a few days.

David’s Bridal stocks a wide variety of prom dresses and wedding dresses in a range of sizes designed to flatter all types of figures.

Good Afternoon DB readers and Happy Monday Monday!! With the premiere of the Great Gatsby this past Friday, we are so excited to share with you our love for the 1920′s inspired fashions!  Here are some of our favorite bridal gowns that will give you that Daisy Buchanan feel, and you’ll totally look like a flapper from the 20′s era!

David’s Bridal Style SWG494

Galina Signature Collection

Endlessly glamorous like Daisy in the Great Gatsby, you are red carpet ready in this gorgeous one shoulder ensemble that roars 1920’s glamour!  The ruching and draping lays on the body beautifully to accentuate your every curve.  The embellished strap and beaded neckline provide the perfect accents for a dazzling finish.

Style MS251005

Melissa Sweet Collection

This airily romantic fit and flare wedding gown with intricate dressmaker detailing channels your inner Daisy Buchanan to a T!  The gown features accents of hand cut satin fabric and ribbon embroidery, and the illusion net at the neckline adds a romantic, ethereal touch.  The modern cap sleeves present an elegant alternative to a strapless neckline!

Style SWG561

Galina Signature Collection

Lace and alternative necklines are all the rage, and this absolutely gorgeous fit to flare gown screams flapper girl from the 20’s!  The illusion off the shoulder neckline and lace overlay have a very vintage-y feel, and the covered button detailing adds that special component every girl wants in her dress.

Happy Thrifty Thursday Everyone!! Can you believe it’s already May?! We can’t!! We all know a designer wedding dress doesn’t have to cost you a small fortune. Check out an article first published by Bridal Guide which was then featured on Huffington Post that featured 3 gorgeous David’s Bridal dresses that all rang in under $1,000!

Good Morning DB Readers!! As you know, most women have a plethora of expensive bridesmaid’s, special occasion and prom dresses, and the first thought that comes to mind is “When will I ever be able to wear these again?” Well, luckily the knowledgeable staff at David’s Bridal knows the importance of value and can re-work any dress to make your outfit feel like new again!

From date nights and concerts to work attire and casual day wear, our experts can show you how to take your old dresses from drab to fab with accessories from your own closet! Think cowboy boots, chunky jewelry, cardigans and sashes- you’ll have so many new outfits to wear and the best part is…you won’t have to spend a dime!

Here are some tips from our experts on spicing up new outfits!

 Adding a jacket or cardigan for coverage

 Accessorizing with the right shoes for any occasion

 Creating a flattering silhouette with a belt at the waist

 Layering jewelry for a trendy effect

Below are a few great examples of outfits our experts have styled for wear again looks with clothing and accessories from their own closets!

Good Afternoon DB Readers and Happy Fashion Friday!! We have VERY exciting news! Yesterday we hosted our Fall 2013 Line Review where we showcased over 40 styles of our newest bridal, bridesmaids, special occasion, shoes, handbags and accessories to the best editors in NYC! We had such a fabulous time, and photographed the set, our models, and what fun we had! Check out some of the pics below… and also read StyleBistro’s post today!

DB Readers…. Happy Thrifty Thursday!!! Since our Thursdays are devoted to being all things frugal and thrifty, we want to let you in on an unknown secret… our SALE and OUTLET sections! We have some amazing and awesome dresses, accessories, shoes, jewelry- you name it- and to make room for our new inventory we mark down some of our styles!  If you haven’t checked out these two sections of our website, you definitely should!  Everyone LOVES a sale… and why not give your spring wardrobe an update since the gorgeous warm weather is right around the corner! Enjoy!

Galina Gown Meets Old Hollywood: A Dream Marriage Proposal

By Sarah Pease

After each awards show in Hollywood there is no shortage of magazines and websites splashed with photos of starlets donning gorgeous gowns, and season after season some of the best dressed women are those that channeled Old Hollywood glamour. The figure-hugging shape and sweetheart neckline of this demure yet sultry Galina Signature wedding gown served as the inspiration for a marriage proposal fit for a 1940’s screen siren or a modern starlet.

Your future-fiancée will think she is having a girl’s day spent shopping and going to the spa with her best friend, but the day has actually been planned down to the last detail to be the day of her dreams.  Everything begins as your sweetheart and friend set off for one of the chicest shopping streets in Hollywood, Rodeo Drive.  As they meander and peer into the ornately decorated window displays, her friend will suggest venturing into one of the well-known boutiques where they’ll try on some of the to-die-for dresses and shoes, but what your future-fiancée does not know is that you secretly contacted the store prior to her visit and arranged for her favorite pieces to be delivered to the spa.  After visiting some of Hollywood’s most famous boutiques, the women will head to the spa for an afternoon of starlet-worthy pampering.  As their spa trip comes to an end, she’ll be surprised when an exquisitely-wrapped garment bag from the store she visited earlier greets her at the spa. A classic car will whisk her to one of Hollywood’s most iconic spots, the Beverly Hills Hotel, where she’s shown to a dream suite and says goodbye to her friend and hello to her beauty team.  They’ll create the perfect hair & makeup look and as she changes into her glamorous, red-carpet ready outfit, she is transformed into a vintage screen siren. An impeccably dressed butler will show her to the hotel’s terrace bar that overlooks the pool, where a “red carpet” rose petal path will lead you to an intimate table-for-two hidden amongst the palm trees.  You’ll be waiting for her at the end of the red carpet with an envelope with her name on it. The outside reads “The Academy Award for Best Leading Lady” and on the inside is her name.  You drop to one knee and share that you would truly be the winner, for the rest of your lives, if she says yes!

Like the classic and glamorous Galina Signature gown, this marriage proposal idea is reminiscent of the Golden Age of Hollywood and will be remembered forever.

Sarah Pease, The Proposal Planner ™ is recognized as the foremost expert on marriage proposals and is the pioneer of Marriage Proposal Planning. Based in New York City, Sarah and her team at Brilliant Event Planning have designed and produced dream engagements for countless lucky couples from across the world and are the go-to source for all things regarding “Will You Marry Me?”

Beverly HIlls Hotel

Bar Nineteen12

Lana Turner

Rodeo Drive

Rose Petal Path

Hello DB Readers and Happy Wedding Wednesday! To start your day off right, we are talking about one of our favorite collections, Melissa Sweet!

If you’re on the hunt for the perfect wedding gown that is romantic, vintage, and inspired by times of the past, look no further than our Melissa Sweet Collection! WeddingThingz.com, a great blog for wedding inspiration for brides-to-be recently posted about the seven Melissa Sweet dresses in her first collection for David’s Bridal! Check out what they had to say below, and I’m sure you’ll be gushing over the gorgeous designs, too!

Good Afternoon DB Readers…. Happy Trendy Tuesday!  Did you know that white is Wearable… Off the Runway AND the Red Carpet?!

While the winter season has seen its way out, the snowy white color palette is far from melting in the fashion world – just ask starlet stunners Jennifer Lawrence, Charlize Theron, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez and Ashley Tisdale (circa this weekend’s Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards) who’ve turned out classic white, ivory and alabaster colors for a fierce red-carpet look that was neither blatantly bridal nor a post-Labor Day faux pas.

Wearing white to a black-tie occasion has long been considered “taboo” for any woman without a ring.  Yet, these days, the color is getting a lot more play from confident women who like to buck tradition and know that a pure, white moment can best even their most applauded style showing.  Worn in a softer ivory or blush tone and a more elaborate silhouette, the look transcends bridal into a head-turning royal, even majestic aesthetic.  Alternately, used in a cleaner, stark hue, with a more structural shape (as in a peplum or column design) exudes a sexier, sophisticated semblance.

We have a bevy of bridal designs that can double as special occasion attire for a summer soiree or more opulent affair, as well as the DB Studio collection, which offers more “wearable white” for casual cocktail parties and sizzling summer nights. Check out our favorite styles below!

White by Vera Wang  Ombre Tulle Ball Gown: A Dream Marriage Proposal

By Sarah Pease

For the bride who chooses a blush-colored gown, only a truly unique marriage proposal idea will do.  Inspired by the gorgeous waves in this airy gown, this proposal begins deep in the Napa Valley.

The California sky is still dark, but the birds are chirping around your resort cottage when there’s a knock at the door.  You open the door to the hotel butler who presents you with two mimosas and a single envelope.  You thank the butler and hand the note to your girlfriend.  She reads the note aloud “You’re cordially invited to a sunrise hot air balloon ride this morning.” The butler serves you the drinks and informs you that the car will pick you up at 6am.  You hurry to get ready, bundling up for the still-chilly Napa morning.  The car takes you to an empty field, as you approach you can see the balloon inflating – an impressive multi-colored sphere against the still-darkened sky.

As a sliver of sun crests the horizon, you both step into the basket and before you know it, you’re soaring above the rolling hills of Napa and Sonoma.  The sound of the wind and the occasional burst of gas into the balloon make you feel like you’re flying!  The pilot dips down to get a glimpse of the vineyards below and you grab her hand to steady each other.  As the sun rises in the sky, the temperature warms and the clouds take on a certain blush tone – soft and soothing around you.  The pilot begins the first descent to the landing area, a gorgeous field of lavender next to one of the most esteemed wineries of the region.  Just as you’re about to touch down, a giant sign is revealed across the field that says “Will You Marry Me?”  You land and immediately drop to one knee, pulling out the beautiful ring that you’ve selected.  She says yes!  You continue the fun and excitement of the day with a private wine tasting, tour of the adjoining vineyard and cap things off with a relaxed bike ride back to your resort.  The perfect end to the night is a table for two at Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry where you’ll toast to many more sunrises together!

Sarah Pease, The Proposal Planner ™ is recognized as the foremost expert on marriage proposals and is the pioneer of Marriage Proposal Planning. Based in New York City, Sarah and her team at Brilliant Event Planning have designed and produced dream engagements for countless lucky couples from across the world and are the go-to source for all things regarding “Will You Marry Me?”

Balloon: http://landlopers.com/2012/07/22/napa-hot-air-balloon/

Sky: http://www.flickr.com/photos/idashum/galleries/72157625344592718

Bikes: http://www.solagecalistoga.com/

French Laundry Clothespin: http://www.ruggedelegantliving.com/a/002148.html

Wine Tasting: http://www.mommysavers.com/c/t/197997/anyone-making-vacation-plans-for-this-coming-spring-or-summer

Winery: http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/california/napa/vineyards