Welcome to 2022 and a lot more IG Live’s! I’ve created this series of IG Live’s when I noticed there were many things my couples didn’t know about wedding planning. In this Live, I chatted with Tessa, from Everly Bridal, and we talk about everything you need to know before going wedding dress shopping. The Live is recorded and reposted in my IGTV and is transcribed in blog posts, so you can learn in whichever way is best for you! Enjoy!
Some Introductions!
Tessa: I’m Tessa, I’m the head stylist and manager at Everly. Been here for almost 3 years now. I have a background in fashion and did a course at Blanche Macdonald for a little bit. I wasn’t searching for bridal necessarily when I started, but it worked out. It’s amazing, and it’s a different section of fashion. You meet some amazing people; there are so many brides I still keep in contact with through Instagram. It’s honestly such an amazing place to be. Love being surrounded by beautiful dresses and works of art everyday. It’s amazing!
Eunice: I’ve loved going to Everly! Everybody is just so nice, super helpful, trying to find your dream come true.
What advice would you give to someone just beginning their dress shopping?
E: One of my friends actually didn’t realize you needed appointments actually. They thought you could just go to the store. So that’s where we’re starting off I think.
T: Yeah, I mean if you’ve never done it before, never done it with a friend or anything, obviously it’s going to be a very new experience. I think the biggest thing I would say is to go in with no expectations, don’t put any pressure on yourself, is my key thing. I think when you go in with the expectation of this is the style, this is what I’m going to leave with, it doesn’t always happen that way. So just being open-minded, do some research before you start your journey. Have a Pinterest board, look at the bridal shops around the city you’re in, check it out. If you prefer more of a boutique vibe, versus a bigger end stores. Just see what’s out there and do a bit of research on that. Researching stores. Research your styles. I would say have a very select guest group as well. Obviously with COVID we can’t bring as many people as we used to. But I think that actually is more helpful. Bring the good people who will give you the raw advice, and not too much when it’s not needed either.
E: So is there an ideal group size you think? Like…five people?
T: We have a four guest max limit right now with COVID. Lot’s of people obviously want to have their parents, or mom at least, or aunt or mother-in-law. Which is always lovely. I think it’s good to get that experience in there, just for the memories sake. Even if they’re feeding you too much info. Other than that, just close friends who have your best interest at heart I think is the best way to go. And really care for you.
When do you think one should start looking for their wedding dress? Where do you start? How do you know if it’s “The One”?
T: Ok, well ideally I would probably start 9 to 12 months (from the wedding). I know a lot of people are like “woah, that’s a decent amount of time”. Dresses take a while to come in, like six months roughly, and then you want to leave some time for alternations. So it’s good to start in advance and just see what styles are out there. You never know how many shops you’ll want to go to, how long it takes to find that exact style for yourself. I’d say like 9 to 12 months is a solid amount of time.
E: Do you think that was a number that was pre-COVID? Do you think that COVID kicked it back another couple of months?
T: Yeah, I was going to say, for us at least, 9 to 12 months is still a pretty good period of time. But, given COVID and everything we have seen brides shopping 12 to 20 months in advance. And honestly there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s a great idea to see what’s out there and just get an idea of styles and what you like on yourself. Even if you’re not feeling completely ready to pull the plug on something, if you are amazing, but if not, at least you have a bit of a base and somewhere to start.
And then how do you know it’s “the one”? I mean, I feel like there’s been this common thing through every person I’ve helped, and it’s always this feeling of “I don’t want to take it off”. I think when it’s happening, I’m like the only one picking that up.
E: Right, and like holding it more and looking at it more?
T: Yeah, or literally saying “I don’t want to take it off”. And I’ve tried a lot of the dresses, and I’ve personally felt that myself. I think that’s a really good indicator that that could be your dress. Also factoring in all the little things too, like there are a series of things that lead to it being the one. For example, the comfort level. Does it meet the vibe? There’s always just little factors that go into that.
E: I’ve also heard that it’s not necessarily this magical, like Cinderella moment? And sometimes you know but you’re not mindblown?
T: Yes, thank you for touching on that too. I really don’t think it happens like that every single time. I have see it happen that way, as well. But yeah, that’s why I say give yourself some grace, and don’t put pressure on yourself too. It might not happen in the way you think it might. It might not happen in the way your bestfriend had it happen. It might not happen like “Say Yes to The Dress”, for example. So just giving yourself that space and grace. And you might go to three shops, you might try that same dress on three times, and the fourth time it hits different. So you just really don’t know. And again, I think it’s those little factors, like am I going to be able to wear this for 4 to 8 hours, or how long the wedding is. How does she feel in it, how does she see herself. Does it suit the venue? I personally wouldn’t dictate the dress to the venue, but at the same time, that does play a part. And the overall vibe of the wedding. So just those little key factors.
E: And then, where should one start looking?
T: I mean, it really depends on the person I think. I would say, I would start with making a Pinterest board and getting an idea of styles and overall vibes. Like one person might be really liking a more modern, sexier style. Somebody else might like something more whimsical, flowy and dainty. If you’re those two people, your research is going to be different if you’re looking for stores that carry more stuff like that, versus something more whimsical. So I think just getting an idea of your personal style and that might change as well. Again, being more open-minded with it changing. And then doing some research for the area you’re in, seeing what boutiques are out there. Getting some feedback from friends and checking reviews might be helpful. I think that covers it.
E: Do you think there’s an average number of appointments that people have? Like three shops?
T: Yeah, I do hear that two to three shops usually is pretty common. I think that’s a good amount as well. (Yeah not like 7!). Yeah that can be a little excessive and it’s a guide of where to change course. Like if you’re trying on the same stuff and you’ve been to seven shops, something’s not working. I would say the common amount of appointments for one person I would say is one to three is pretty common. I’ve had people come for more and that’s perfectly fine as well in my opinion. There’s tons of beautiful dresses out there and some people might be deciding between five dresses versus two. But I think two appointments is the most common. The first one of to get an idea of styles with us. And I would say that that person with two appointments with us has maybe done two to three shops as well.
E: Right, and they just kinda come back for the second time.
T: Yeah, circle back. Try it on again. The feelings might be different the second time they put it on. Just again, having zero expectations and trusting your gut really.
What should a bride expect from their appointment? Are there any green or red flags to look out for?
T: I mean with us at Everly, you can expect to be taken care of the whole way through. I don’t want anyone to ever be guessing what they should be doing next. So when you come to our store, we’re gonna guide you through the whole thing. We’re gonna walk you through all the dresses, racks and designers and prices. Guide you to your fitting room, help you in and out of dresses. I like to give people whatever they’re comfortable with, as much as I like to be hands-on, but that’s what you can expect working with me at Everly at least. Just to be guided all the way through basically.
E: Yeah, I think the ones I’ve gone to with my friends, typically they’ll ask like what’s your budget, what are some styles you’re interested in, and then we go from there. So do you think there are any red flags that you know of or can think of?
T: I mean, I think there are things that you should be aware of. I wouldn’t call them red flags necessarily, but things that you should be aware of. Like the sample dresses are not going to fit every single person correctly. I think that’s a good headspace to go into it in. Most of the time we’re having to clip or to hold things and there’s no one person where it fits them completely perfectly. Every dress is going to need alterations, and it’s just best to go into it with that open mind of I may have to use a bit of visualization with these samples. So I would say that’s probably the biggest thing that might come up, that I wasn’t aware that this was going to be a thing.
E: Yeah, there’s only one size of this particular dress right? Do you think that that can affect people’s decisions? If you’re trying on a dress that’s totally not your size.
T: Unfortunately, yeah, it does sometimes. I think when everything is fitting great there’s no question about what it’s going to look like. As stylist we try our best to show you what it looks like. Whether we unclip and pull it tight in the front and fit the way it should on the back. Or showing you pictures, or showing it to you on a real bride or something. We’re going to do our best to give you the best visual. But unfortunately sometimes it’s just harder to view. If that is the case, one of the things we could do is maybe if we have another dress that’s similar by the same designer with similar fit in a different size so we can get a little bit more variety and just filling in the blanks and putting them together.
What are the top three things to look for in wedding dress shopping?
T: So, number one I think, again we kinda talked about this in the beginning, but finding a boutique that suits your needs, suits your style, suits your budget. I don’t think you want to go to a shop that starts at $10K and you’re like “oh but my budget is $3k”. It’s a waste of time for you and them as well. Just doing research beforehand is really important. I think to try and stay present during the process as well. You’re really picking up little things that maybe you didn’t see initially, like details that you might like, types of lace that you might like. Things that you don’t think about on a day-to-day basis and then you come in here and you’re like “turns out I love glittery sleeves. I had no idea!”.
E: Yeah, I actually didn’t realize but the Archie dress, I really like those buttons on the back. I’ve never really thought about it, but then I’ve seen it a few times, and I actually really like them.
T: Yeah, like you’ve never thought so hard about buttons before until now. Yeah, so number one, research, budget and research stores that suit your style, and staying present throughout the process I think. Yeah, that’s a tricky question, it’s good though, but I think those cover the three things (the big ones).
Do you think there are certain dress silhouettes that are better for certain body shapes and is it ok if you like the dress but don’t have that body shape?
T: Yeah, that’s a great question; obviously it comes up a lot. I personally don’t think there’s one silhouette for one body type. I think that there are ways that get every single body type into every single style and somehow you make it work. Whether that’s playing with proportions. Like for example if you’re wider shouldered but you have narrow hips or something, an A-line dress is probably better for that body. But if they are absolutely loving a fit-and-flare, there’s things that you can do right? Like a daintier top that can soften the bottom, even out those proportions there. A curvy bride looks amazing in a fitted dress just to show off the curves a bit more. But not everyone is comfortable in that either. You kind of have to be open to all possibilities I think, and just knowing that those other little things that come into play other than just the silhouette. Like necklines or angles. For example, a very petite bride, like somebody who’s quite short, could work better in something that has sharper lines that are all drawing your eyes downwards, or a pattern maybe that is going up and down, or something like that. So yeah, I think there’s ways to make things work for every single body type no matter what you like. I do think if you feel like you’re hitting a wall with some styles, take a course redirection if that makes sense.
E: Yeah, do you think that sometimes people have some insecurities, or their parents or their in-laws saying these things about their bodies too?
T: Yeah, absolutely. I think if you’re feeling that way about a dress on yourself, again course correct. I think you’re the one wearing it. You’re the one that has to feel comfortable all day. You’re the one who has to look back at your wedding photos for years and years. And if you’re not loving the way your stomach looks or something in the dressing room, you’re probably not gonna love looking back on it in the day. I really just think it’s about your own comfort. Whatever mom thinks is cool, but you’re the one getting married, she’s not the one wearing it. And I think something to be said is that we literally all have that, every single woman I’ve ever met in my entire life no matter how thin, we all have issues with our bodies in some way or another. And that’s completely fine. We ask ahead of time, is there anything you want to camouflage or accentuate as well. And it’s something we all see on ourselves, but it doesn’t mean you’re any less beautiful.
E: From a photography standpoint, I don’t think there’s really any big difference either. I don’t really see that. As long as you feel happy in it, I think it makes it pop more than what dress you actually wear.
What do you usually suggest for tailoring options?
T: For us, we have a couple of seamstresses that work around the city. One works out of our space here. So we typically use her. But suggestions I have around alterations is just to start ahead of time as most seamstresses recommend 6-8 weeks. or two to three months roughly, before the wedding date. I would also say like in the fitting process, in the trying on process, that alterations are gonna be required regardless. You’re never gonna buy or order the dress and it’s gonna be exactly perfect for you. Alterations are almost always needed, unfortunately. But it can be fun too. I would say in that process they can go through two to three fittings, depending on how complex the dress is. If there’s a lot of layers or a lot of lace, there’s a lot more work required for a seamstress than something that’s crepe and has pretty straight lines.
E: So if you’re ordering a dress ahead of time and it comes in, do you think that people should wait until two to three months out from the actual wedding day and let it sit for a bit?
T: Yes, yes, we would generally do a dress pickup. As soon as your dress comes into the shop we’ll let you know that it’s arrived and ready for you to pick up. Then they can set up a pick up appointment with one of the stylists here, and then ideally they take it home, and bring it back whenever they’re ready for alterations if they’re working with our seamstress in-house. Or if they’re working with someone else. I want to say the rule of thumb is always two to three months before, but if there are other seamstresses that have other guidelines that would be great as well. But yeah that’s just what our preferred people recommend.
E: So you mentioned earlier about the venue space, and obviously not a major demand or anything, but do you think there’s a difference between the different venues, and indoor and outdoor weddings?
T: Yeah, I feel like there are a few things I could say. One, there is sort of a vibe with an indoor wedding versus an outdoor wedding. Indoor sometimes feels more formal. If I picture an indoor wedding it’s like more black-tie, it’s like more simple crepe style dress. And then when I think about an outdoor wedding, you get more of the flow and breeze of the dress. You may be more drawn to something whimsical. That being said, I don’t think that’s something you should give up your personal style to suit that indoor or outdoor. I do notice that with brides that with outside people are gravitating towards whimsical vibes. But I personally love the juxtaposition of styles, like seeing a satin ballgown in the woods, I kinda love it. But that’s just me!
E: Yeah, it definitely makes for some very interesting photos for sure.
T: Yeah exactly. And if you think about that plain fabric with the green in the back, that’s divine. But maybe that’s my personal opinion, but yeah. I mean don’t compromise your sense of style just for the venue. There’s always ways to make things work and tie together in a way that suits you and works for the venue too.
What should one do if you like a design from this designer, and the store carries this designer but they don’t carry that dress?
T: The first thing I would do if they are here physically is I would see if there would be a possibility with the designer if they have a sample available to ship out to us. Some designers do it and some don’t. Obviously we have to think about timelines and how is that going to affect the bride’s timeline with actually ordering a dress. But that is one thing we could look into. Otherwise, I would say that that designer probably has similar fits throughout their collection. If it’s a designer like Made With Love for example, they likely have something with that type of lace on another dress, or a similar train or neckline or something like that. Again, just kind of piecing it together. Maybe we try three different dresses, one has the same fit, one has the same neckline, one has the same back. I think that’s probably the best way if you don’t have the physical dress in front of you. Or if there is something by a different designer that is really really similar or has really similar elements, I would pull that as well. I think my brain just starts going to see how we can fill this in. Just picking and pulling things that have just similar feels, comfort, all those little details.
E: Is it common that people will just order it just like that?
T: It’s happened in the past, like one or two people probably. But I would say it’s a bit risky right? Most of the time you’re ordering the dress it’s a final sale. I fully trust in the designer so I would probably do that not having seen the dress if I know the designer’s fabrics and feels very well. But obviously for a bride it could be really scary to do that. And there’s question marks in there.
Do you have any tips and tricks about shopping for veils and shoes?
T: I kinda do! So, veils, I kind of love veils! I’ve had it 50/50 with brides. Some people are not veil people, some are all about the veil. This is really not the best description or it doesn’t sound very good, but I’ve been calling the veil a “vibe determiner”. It really does determines the vibe I think. There are veils that we carry that are super fun and modern and different, and a bit edgy but still really classic, like Jane Rhyan, for example. She carries the most amazing collection of veils. Things that are kind of different but still timeless and elegant. I think veils are a cool way to go a little edgy and be a little bit different, like a coloured veil. I think it’s such a cool way to add dimension and character to your photos and into the day in general, and bring those colours in different places. Long veils to me feel very free and fun and drama, whereas a shorter veil might feel more classic. Obviously someone who makes veils may have their own strategic ways in how they work. But that’s just my personal tips I think. I personally love a long veil. I used to style the veils based on the silhouette of the dress. That was kind of how I was doing it to start with. For a fitted dress I would do a longer veil because it would just accentuate your body and your length, and shows your figure still. And then a short veil works really well with an A-line dress because it’s highlighting your waistline a little bit more where the dress is flaring out. But you can absolutely do a short veil with a more fitted gown, and vice versa.
E: Yeah I guess I was wondering if there are these rules about the veil. I’ve always thought that you had to get a veil that goes past the train of the dress.
T: Yeah, I don’t know if that’s a rule but I’ve heard that a few times, but I don’t know if it has to be like that. I think if you are doing a long veil it should go past the train, just for aesthetics and the way that it will sit. I think when you’re walking down the aisle, you want that bit of stagger between the veil and the train. But if you’re doing a fingertip or a shorter length veil, you could just rock it like that.
E: Do you find that blushers are not as common anymore.
T: Yeah, really not common. I think I might have had one bride who needed it. I think it was more like a Jewish ceremony, so it’s more of a religious thing these days. Some people like it for the aesthetic of it, like it looks kind of gothic and interesting. But I would say most people are pretty foreign to the idea of the blusher and are not interested, which is perfectly fine. There are also veils that have the two tiers situation which almost looks like it should be a blusher but it’s just giving extra volume, which I think is also beautiful.
E: I think from a photography perspective I think it does add a lot of dimension having that veil. It’s something to play with in addition to the length of the dress, it’s something that you can add. Like you can use it as a frame around the couple too.
T: Yeah, I get a lot of questions from brides like, oh is it just like I’m just wearing it for the ceremony and then it comes off? But you’re gonna get her to throw it in the air and so much fun stuff.
E: YUP! There’s so many things! I think it can look really good in photos, and on top of that to take details photos. It looks really pretty as well, like a really cute backdrop, something for the other things to sit on. It definitely has become more of an aesthetic thing than a tradition thing.
T: And again, a really fun way to determine the vibe. Definitely loving 3D flowers, coloured veils I’m into personally. I don’t know if it’s making it’s way out there yet.
E: I’ve seen some veils where they have some stitching that has words or sayings.
T: I’m just going to put a little shoutout to Virgil Abloh because I feel like he maybe started that. Rest in peace. He did that on Hailey Bieber’s veil. And also I noticed he would stitch in their last names into the dress in a red thread. And I’ve seen that done by other designers too. But yes the words on the veil — I love that. I think it’s really cool way to take something that has a lot of signification and meaning to it in a way that doesn’t reflect 2020 and moving forward. And take that and do something completely different with it, and it’s just not the norm. And you could frame that! I would put that up on your wall. You could really make it sentimental; it’s not just a veil anymore. I actually have a lot of brides whose parents will bring their veils from like the 80s and that’s kind of their something borrowed. And you can just tell that it’s from the 80s. It’s super cute; I think the 80s veils are vey fun too. I’m just thinking that in the future if you’re passing your veil to your daughter or daughter-in-law, that’s a very memorable and personal way to pass something down, so I love that.
E: And do you have any tips or ideas about shoes as well?
T: Shoes, ok. Um. I don’t usually get to the shoe part a lot of the time. But if I was going to say anything about shoes, is that unless you have a slit in your dress, you’re probably not going to see them a lot. So if the bride has a ceremony on grass, you can probably guess this one, most of the time you’ll probably want to do a block heel or a flat.
E: Do you ever consider that when you’re taking measurements for the dress?
T: Yes, so there are a few designers that we carry that offer a custom length measurements. So they can do the dress to the bride’s length. Most of the time it’s an extra charge, sometimes not, depending on the designer. We’ll ideally get her to try on a shoe. I think most brides don’t have the shoe they’re going to wear when they start shopping. Ideally roughly the shoe height we’ll get her to put those on, and I’ll measure her waist to floor length with the shoe on and then we’ll hand in those measurements. Although a lot of designers we carry don’t offer that anyways, so there’s a standard length and then you’re hemming from there.
E: Is that a little bit longer I guess?
T: Yeah, most of the time. Again, depending on the designer they will have their own standard length. Usually around 120-130cm, something like that. Depending on the dress, hemming can be fairly easy or there’s a bit more work involved. I think something that just pokes out the bottom of the dress, I would probably do a pointed toe heel. Or most people would do an open-toe heel for a summer wedding, super cute, then you’ve got to think about pedicures as well. There’s a lot of factors, but just knowing that the shoe isn’t going to be the focal point, unless you have a dress that has a slit or a high-low hemline. And in that case, go all out with your shoes.
E: Yeah, that and you’re going to be wearing it for hours and hours. Walking around, taking photos, saying high to people.
T: Yeah, it’s a very good point. Obviously sneakers have been a big thing for the reception. I’m a big fan of that. I think it’s so fun. I guess a platform sneaker could be a good way to swap out cause then you’re not losing height, and then the dress won’t be too long for you. But yeah, I think that’s always acceptable to do a swap. If you want to wear something for the ceremony just for height and posture sake, then do something fun for later.
Do you find that many people get two dresses? So they have a reception dress as well?
T: Yeah, I noticed that so much more lately since COVID really. I think people are doing a lot more things around the wedding and the wedding isn’t the focal thing. The rehearsal dinner of course, or doing an elopement, or doing a separate party. So the opportunity for more looks is just a lot more than it used to be. And I’m all for that. I’m a big fan of a second dress, or third or fourth honestly.
What are some 2022/2023 wedding dress trends that you’re excited about?
E: Like the multiple dresses I think is one of the trends.
T: Yes…Multiple dresses, yes. Sleeve changes, statement sleeves that are removable to some degree, and two looks in general. So that being overskirts, sleeves, capes, anything that you can do to transition the look. And you don’t even have to make it complicated either. I was just talking to someone about this earlier. She really wanted the pearl veil look, and to keep the pearl consistent, in the reception we had a cute pearl bow for the hair. Not everyone’s vibe obviously, but just an example of how you can swap a little something to keep the look cohesive. It’s definitely something popular coming into 2022.
I can only speak for what we have here and what has been launched in collections. That would be a lot of corsetting and boning, visible boning, bustier tops. They’ve been on the wave for a while here, so we may see a change in that. But I would say that’s been a really common style.
E: Puffy sleeves for sure! Big puff and little puff!
T: See this guy right there, that’s a puff sleeve. We have a lot of dresses right now that have come in recently too, that have removable sleeves or what I’m obsessed with is (maybe I’ll take you around to show ya) Alena Leena, one of our designers. She’s pretty customizable. I’ve see a few brides do, for example, there’s one of the dresses that comes with off-shoulder bishop style sleeve. And then it’s strapless, so a lot of brides don’t want to go strapless, so you can order in a second set of sleeves that can go basic off-shoulder, basic upright strap. I’ve seen a girl do a really cute tulle bow thing and wore it for two different days and it looked like a completely different dress.
E: Do you guys put in that request when they buy the dress?
T: Yeah, usually me just pitching these ideas, and saying you can totally do this, and then reading the room to see if they like that idea. It can get a little complicated; it sounds like too much some times and I need to reel it in. I get very excited!
Do you have a favourite dress right now, or designer or brand?
T: I’m going to take you guys around. Let us know if you guys have any specific questions you’d like to have answered; we’re happy to help. I’ll give a little show of the shop here. So this is all of our dresses, and accessories. So let me see…
I think this might be my personal favourite designer, Alena Leena. We’ve been carrying her for probably over a year now. She’s from South Africa, and the dresses are made in Ukraine. They’re very well made. The structure is amazing, the details are amazing. I’ll show you the close up of some of these guys.
E: Are they the ones that make the dress called Peony? And one called Clematis? And one called Mimosa? I think I was looking at dresses for styled shoots and the Peony was one I was looking at.
T: This one is the Peony. This one also has an added bishop sleeve that can be buttoned on, and then you basically get two looks. This is the Mimosa; this has got to be my all-time favourite. She does a lot of the corsetting, the bustier style, the transitional sleeve. So these can be worn down for a more romantic vibe, then you wear them up on the shoulder for more flirty and fun. There’s also pockets in here; who doesn’t love a good pocket on a dress. She just really does it very well. Nice materials. I think she’s my favourite designer that we carry. All of the dresses are named after flowers or plants.
And then who else is my favourite…everyone is so lovely. I guess Vagabond is my other favourite. Vagabond is a little on the edgier side; they’re pretty fun and different. They have a crepe collection which is simpler pieces with different silhouettes and necklines, the transitional sleeves. These are pieces from their newer collection, and some older ones too. But just the materials are so different, the polka dotting. I just love this dropped waist effect of the belt coming down. I love this beading so much, and little bows. I’m seeing these little bows on a lot of other designers too. This guy oh my goodness. It’s so many pounds.
E: I think that’s something people don’t realize how heavy these dresses can be, even if it looks simple. The material can be quite heavy.
T: I’ve seen some people grab a lighter one and they’re like ‘Wow this is really heavy’, and I’m like ‘we’re just getting started’.
So yeah, and Alyssa Kristin is another one of my favourite designers. She’s from Chicago and she mainly works with just simple crepe material. But she does a thick middle lining and essentially just smooths everything out. She thinks of everything like underwear lines, belly button halo, and I love her for that. She gets the booty just popping perfectly. And basically just different necklines throughout her collection, which are always gorgeous. We have a lot of lovely designers who just really nail their craft.
E: Are you going to have to buy yourself like 5 wedding dresses?
T: Girl, I already have 11 picked out.
E: Yeah there’s like 12 hours or something in a wedding day.
T: I feel like it’s going to be some Paris Hilton style event. An 11-day, or whatever it is. Then again, I think when you’re in that situation of picking your dress your mindset changes. But I have had that feeling of trying a dress and don’t want to get out of it. I love the way it makes me look and feel. So.
E: Do you feel like you’re personally drawn to a particular silhouette for yourself?
T: No. I love a ballgown (this one actually; it was one of my favourites actually). I love a ballgown style. And then I guess I would be more into something fuller like in the skirt. I have a butt but not really hips, so for that reason I think I would go more full. But then there was another by the same designer that was fully sequined, didn’t think I was that type of person but I was obsessed. That one was more fitted and was a good look. People ask me that a lot during my days, and I honestly couldn’t tell you. I have a lot of favourites.
E: I think it kind of shows that you don’t have to stick to that one category or style.
T: Yes. Also I think one thing I wanted to say is that when you are doing your shopping, trying to decipher whether it’s a good, beautiful dress or if its your wedding dress is a really good mindset to be in. Because I think that’s where people get a little bit confused and unsure of what they’re liking. When everything looks good and everything is a beautiful dress. But it’s getting in the headspace of ‘what is my wedding dress’ I think is really really important.
E: I’ll see if the audience has any questions you can type it in now. These were all the questions I had prepared. Thank you for giving us a tour of Everly!
T: Thank you, no problem! I’m more than happy to be here and give the tour and give you the lowdown. I feel like this is a very important topic when people are getting into the shopping is good to know all the details.
E: I remember one question that I missed out.
Do you know much about dress rentals versus buying the dress?
T: I mean I think it depends on the bride’s specific needs and her wedding. I think it might be good to go for a rental if you really don’t want to spend that much. If you’re one of those people that don’t think a $3000 dress for one day is for your budget or is worth it. It really depends on who you are or the type of wedding you’re having. That said, cons to renting a dress, like you can’t alter it, there’s likely going to damages to the dress on the day, and you never know what type of costs are hidden within that. I think most people that I’ve seen now would just sell their dress afterwards if they’re looking to gain some of that value back. And there’s lots of online retailers and sites you can sell your dresses on specifically for wedding dresses. I wouldn’t not suggest a rental but I think it’s better to go for something that’s made for you.
What would be the range of budget for a wedding dress that one can expect in Vancouver?
T: For us anyways, our average price point is around $3000. We have a collection of dresses that are all under $800. They are more like elopement style dresses, simple styles. More like a rehearsal style. Some of them are shorter too actually. And then we start around $1300 and go up to $5500. I would say our price point is in that lower average side. I think there are other bridal shops in Vancouver that can go up to that 10, $20K.
E: Yeah I think I can think of a few dresses that are $20,000.
T: Hahah yeah, slap a Vera Wang label on there! That’s why I say do you research. You don’t want to waste your time if you have a $3000 budget and going to a place that starts at $10,000. It’s kind of disappointing when you’ve taken all that time to book it, get there, get friends there. And then it’s just for friend.
E: Do you think people ever go wedding dress shopping without a budget in mind? Since they don’t know how much it costs?
T: Oh yeah. I’ve definitely had brides who have said if I love it I’m going to buy it. I think that’s a good headspace too since it removes those limits. You don’t want to feel like you can only stick within this little section when you’re going shopping.
E: I don’t see any questions! Thank you so much!
T: Thank you so much for having me!
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