The Perfect Dress

A couple weeks ago I had the privilege of attending an open house at The Perfect Dress at their new location. I've been to The Perfect Dress a few times at their old location as I shopped for my wedding gown and my best friend shopped for her gown. About 4 months ago they moved up to a new shop in Holliday, and let me tell you. The shop is stunning. Absolutely beautiful. Imagine all white and all bright, a beautiful jewelry counter, gowns lining all the walls except one, and on that one there is exposed white washed brick. It was seriously beautiful. The second I walked in I wished I had a reason to go wedding dress shopping again. 

Look at those jewels and those store front gowns! How could you walk into that store and not feel absolutely bridal? Beyond just a beautiful store, the store owner has a beautiful event set up for all of the woman in attendance. Perrier bottles, macaroons, swag bags full of girly goodies, and models showing off all her new designs. 

Okay. So here is Michelle and I with the store owner. She is just a babe. Seriously. A spunky lady with all the wedding knowledge you need. Plus a little more. Here are a few of her wedding tips:

1. The front needs to look as good as the back.  So often, as women, we pick our outfits based on what looks good in the front. But what about the back? When you are getting married you will most likely have your back to those in attendance for the entire ceremony. Make sure the back is just as flattering to your body and that things are laid perfect. This is one of the very few, if not the only, moments that you will have all the attention on you and on your backside.

2. Have a sense of urgency. Gowns don't grow on trees! And they aren't just sitting in a store waiting for you to go buy it up. Most dresses take 3 months to get. That is because stores only carry sample dresses and designers only make them when they are ordered. It is always safe to go wedding dress shopping at least 4 months before the wedding to make sure you get the gown you love and you have time to alter it.

3. Alter the dress to you not yourself to the dress. This makes me think of the movie Bride Wars... "You don't alter Vera! You alter yourself for Vera!" But seriously... who doesn't want to look absolutely perfect in their gown? And every bride wants something unique. Don't go cookie cutter. Make the dress your own with an awesome seamstress. The Perfect Dress has 6 in house seamstresses that can make anything work and look great. Don't be afraid to buy a strapless and make it perfect for you.

4. Don't buy white. It's a nice day for a white wedding? Nope. Starch white gowns are heading out for three reasons. First, your pearly whites wont look as white. Second, you tend to appear like you have dark eyes. Third, lots of times the gown photographs blue and will need lots of touching up. Don't be afraid to go ivory!

She has a lot more tips than that though. She has been in the business for over ten years, she has sold thousands of gowns, attended wedding markets year over year, and she will help you make beautiful for your wedding day. Now some dresses!

As you can see they have sleeves and sleeveless, but they can make anything work for any type of wedding. Whether you need a temple fill or just something for a springtime garden wedding. The Perfect Dress is not your typical wedding gown. They will make any gown in their store YOUR gown.

Here we have Miss Michelle and I heading out after a perfect night at The Perfect Dress. Michelle and I both work in events and we studied together at BYU. We also talked through our own wedding details with each other a lot. You'll be hearing more on weddings in the near future. So keep your eyes peeled and your ears open for that! 

Oh and isn't that store front just beautiful? I am in love with the store. Now... who wants to get married so I can help you plan your wedding? I will take you straight to The Perfect Dress. And don't get me wrong, I love my wedding dress. Love, love, love it. But I wouldn't mind trying on the gowns at The Perfect Dress! What style of dress do you love? Would you trade in your wedding gown for a different style?

Bridal Shower: A Portrait.

This past weekend I went home for three reasons. First. Adam was in Texas and being home alone is boring. Second. My Dad is in North Dakota for work and so my Mom was home alone, which again I say, being home alone is boring. And third, my best friend is to be wed and so my Mom and I threw her a bridal shower. About six months ago she was throwing my shower, so I was honored to throw her one now! Sarah has always been a huge part of my life. We grew up going to church, doing show choir, pretending to be twins, going to the mall every weekend in elementary school, and making ridiculous prank phone calls. We did almost everything together. And. We are were insane when we were together. So much laughter and too many memories to count. I am so happy that she has found a man that will treat her right. A man that loves her to the end of the earth. That would do anything for her. A man that is perfect for her. And she perfect for him. Sarah deserves the very best and she has found it in Uriah.

Sadly... The majority of my pictures look like a drawing. Because I didn't realize my parents' camera was set to "sketch".... what the what? Who knew cameras even had that setting?! So first you will see the bride to be and myself and the one photo I took on a regular setting. And then you will see what I like to call, "Bridal Shower: A Portrait."

We had a hot chocolate bar, french toast casserole (made by our youth group leader from when we were 12... it was BOMB), and fruit. Oh and bacon. Never forget the bacon. I am so excited to go home again this weekend for her wedding. She will be a beautiful bride. And you can look forward to hearing all about her wedding. Oh. And also. If you know how to work a camera, go ahead and let me know... because... I need some help. CLEARLY.

Love,
Deidre

Dear Bridals,

So here they are! My bridals. I really want to show you ALL of them because I am absolutely in love with how they turned out. My sister in law Kari Dawn took them with her niece Kelsey once my dress was finished being altered. The top of the dress used to be sheer with just lace but I lined the whole thing. I could not be happier with how the photos look. Here are the favorites from KD and that we used at the reception.

This one is my FAVORITE favorite favorite. I love how the lighting is with my veil.

Didn't they do a fabulous job? I hate to sound like a broken record... but I loved them and I love sharing them with people. They captured my dress, veil, bouquet, and me SO perfectly. I hope you love them as much as I do. But if you don't, we can still be friends!

Love,

Deidre

Dear Bridal Shower,

I have the most adorable friends that plans the most adorable parties. And the party this time was for me! My sweet, sweet friends Mallory and Cassidy planned my bridal shower. And it was seriously one of the best ones I have ever been too. I guess that is a perk of being the last of your friends to get married, they already know how to host parties! Seriously... I am still in love with my shower because it was INCREDIBLE. 

Mallory designed the invite (she designs everything for me... wall prints, invites, announcements... you name is and she does it!) for the party. She also made all the signs, banners, and decorations for the party, as well as the cute game print outs. She has an adorable little etsy shop where she designs what you want, emails your the PDF, and then you print it. Check it out!

Green sugar on the glasses? And photos of Adam and I everywhere! 

Everything was painted and decorated to match my wedding colors. 

The games Cassidy and Mallory planned! They were so much fun. 

The first game was a wedding jumble game. Words all scrambled up and you had to figure out what they were. It was actually kind of hard. Here are the girls scrambling away for a prize!

  

The second was a he said, she said game. Both Adam and I were asked a set of questions and then Cassidy would read the question and one of our answers. If they thought I said it, the lips went up, if they thought Adam said it, the mustache went up. Our answers were so similar that is was a guess sometimes. Lots of talk about hiding places, being sneaky, and counting calories.

And then of course. The gifts. I have a lot of wonderful friends and I am so grateful for them. My sisters-in-law got me a heap of gifts with little explanations for everything. They are incredibly thoughtful.

  

 My sister in law, Kari Dawn, explaining some of the gifts she and Jo had given me.

And as everyone left they got a gift.

Little wedding cakes! 

See what I loved my shower so much. It was perfect. I am so lucky to have friends that care about me so much. And I am even luckier to have friends that are so creative! Mallory went all out with her designing skills. The decorations were adorable. The food was so yummy. And the games were a hoot. Thank you so so SO much to Cassidy and Mallory for an incredible shower in Utah, and thank you to all my friends that came. I am so lucky and incredibly grateful.

Love,

Deidre