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.

What Inspires Melissa…
by Melissa Sweet

I am inspired by beauty.
Yes, this seems obvious, especially when we are speaking about something so beautiful as a wedding day. But, really and truly, my work as a designer can be summed up with one philosophy….follow the beauty. This is my mantra. Sometimes I have an idea for a dress and I spend lots of time preparing all the details, finding the perfect fabric and scheming the execution. Then suddenly, out of the ethers, arrives the beauty.

So often, I find that inspiration comes when I’m not looking for it. A few months ago I was at the beach with a friend who haphazardly wrapped a sarong around herself to run back to the car. When she arrived back to our blanket I gasped at how perfectly draped her sarong hung from her hips. I grabbed my cellphone and snapped a photo. She didn’t recognize it when she saw the newest draped design on a mannequin in my studio a few weeks later. She commented that she loved the dress while having no idea that she had inspired it! When I am simply open to life, open to possibilities and believing that good is all around me, the surprises happen.

When a bride is deciding on the dress she will wear on her wedding day, my advice is to clear her mind and allow the possibilities to flow. Regardless of the idea she starts with, I encourage her to try things that catch her eye and not limit herself based on previously determined concepts. By following the beauty, she leaves behind the confusions and fears that can creep in during a time of making so many decisions. Following the beauty can eliminate the guess-work, struggle and overthinking that can plague the dress shopping experience. In my opinion, choosing a gown that expresses your feeling of inspiration will set the right course for designing your entire wedding. Let beauty lead you.

Good Morning DB Readers! Happy Fashion Friday! As you all know, there are a few celebrities we absolutely love seeing their latest looks on the red carpet, specifically Reese Witherspoon, Anne Hathaway, and most recently Jessica Biel! What do all of these a-listers have in common? They ALL wore BLUSH on their wedding day! Most recently on Columbia Tribune OUR design director was quoted as to why everyone is loving pink!

Dan Rentillo, design director for David’s Bridal, said pink is here to stay as it becomes more available and is an option for brides who prefer an alternative to white.

Here is one of our favorite gowns from our White by Vera Wang line!

“Pink is something brides never considered before because it wasn’t an option readily offered,” he said.

The main drive toward pink gowns is that some brides just want something different.

Although pink is a new trend, white is still the BIGGEST and most prominent go to color for Brides around the globe!

Good Afternoon DB Bloggers! Happy Monday Monday! Just three more days until Thanksgiving… and the day after that is BLACK FRIDAY!  As you are all aware, Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth made a controversial decision to get engaged at such young ages… but the two are MADLY in love and planning their upcoming nuptials! The actress/singer has settled on Marchesa to design her wedding dress!  According to an associate of the designer, the future Mrs. Liam Hemsworth has narrowed down her pick to two Marchesa designs.

She told Life & Style magazine, “Miley recently looked at several wedding dress sketches by Marchesa. She asked for Marchesa’s ideas and told her she wanted something original.”

We can’t wait to see what Miley walks down the aisle in! We are sure it will be gorgeous!!

Hello Again DB Bloggers! There has been a lot of press around the Timberlake/Biel Wedding, and while we just blogged about three David’s Bridal gowns that are very similar to Jess’, Yahoo Shine posted an article and included a gown from our White by Vera Wang line as a look-a-like! To read the article click here, and see the blush dress below that is very similar to Jessica’s!

White by Vera Wang Style VW351112

Fashion Week: Runway to Reality

by Dan Rentillo

Fashion week sparks style inspiration for women everywhere. From alternate necklines, new hemlines and color hue updates, women can easily incorporate runway looks to their everyday wear and wedding day aisle debut! Here are some of my favorite bridal gown spotlight trends this season.

High Low Hemlines: Brides can get the best of both worlds displaying a long, traditional ball gown in the back and short stunner in the front.

Style SPK470

Champagne Hues: Warm color hues are in for fall allowing brides to make a statement—stepping away from the traditional white.

Style CWG468

Skirt Details: The runway was filled with dramatic inspirations and now brides can opt for these looks with voluminous ball gowns made of tiered layers of tulle.

Style WG3416

New Necklines: Strapless takes a back seat to sleeves this season showcasing the chic coverage trend.

Style CWG517

Happy shopping!

by Melissa Sweet

I’m thrilled to be able to collaborate my design perspective with the David’s team.  I have always admired the way David’s Bridal is able to deliver an amazing quality wedding gown for such an affordable price.  No one else seems to have mastered this.  My partnership with David’s enables us to bring the Melissa Sweet aesthetic to brides who may never have otherwise had the opportunity to experience it.

The Melissa Sweet Collection combines a softly modern aesthetic with classical dressmaking techniques. Exquisite detailing includes cascading lace, beautiful ribbon trims, and intricate hand-sewn beading. The gowns are polished yet pretty, fluid and captivating…the perfect gown for the modern romantic. For me, as a designer, I’m excited to get to know a whole new world of brides.

Experience the Melissa Sweet Collection >

Find a Store >

Hello DB Fans! Happy Wedding Wednesday! If you haven’t already heard, Blake Lively wed Ryan Reynolds this past weekend and we’ve been left completely in the dark to figure out the details of her dress!  Well, according to Huffington Post, her dress was NOT a Chanel, and Blake and her whole bridal party were decked out in custom made Marchesa’s!

Lively apparently wore a one-of-a-kind couture bridal ball gown with a hand-draped silk tulle bodice adorned with crystal and rose gold embroidery.  We are hoping to see pictures of her gown soon… we’ll be sure to keep you updated!