Finding the One: Knowing When You've Found the Dress for You

At some point, every bride who is looking for their perfect wedding gown asks the question, “How will I know when it is ‘the one?’” Imagine, you’re standing there in front of the mirror with your family and friends behind you. You feel a wave of emotion come over you making you feel as if this is the one you’ve been searching for all these months. Suddenly, you’re forced to make a decision. 

You begin the following process:

1. I look stunning! This is it! I’ve found ‘the one!’
2. Okay, I look pretty, but is it fitting in all the right places? 
3. Wait, what does everyone else think? Do they like it? Do I care if they like it?
4. I don’t know. It doesn’t feel right, and now that I look at it, I don’t think it looks so great in my hip area.
5. What am I doing? There’s no way this is the dress! 
6. Great. I’ve already tried on 50 dresses and just when I thought I’d found ‘the one,’ I realize it’s not. Back to the drawing board.

Don’t let yourself get caught in this downward spiral of a thought process. Every bride is going to have doubts...at first, but don’t let those doubts lead to complete despair, sadness or downright sabotage. Your mind can play tricks on you...don’t let it! 

One bride who bought her dress from The White Dress Boutique stated, “I knew the moment I slipped into the dress, in the dressing room, this was the dress for me. It fit me perfectly, and it wasn’t too over-the-top, which is exactly what I was looking for. I loved my dress, and I knew everyone else would, too.” 

To keep from doubting yourself during your wedding dress shopping experience, remember these few things:

• Finding the Right Fit: The sample dress you try on in the store may not be your exact size. Depending on how it fits, the consultant will make sure to use the proper materials to make sure what you see in the mirror is as close to what your real dress will look and feel like. If the sample size is too big, consultants will often use dress clips to bring in the extra fabric. If the sample size is too small, the consultant will use an additional piece of fabric to close specific areas that cannot zip and/or tie. The key takeaway is don’t let the sample size in the store dictate whether or not this could be your dress. 
• Don’t Let Others Dictate Your Feelings: This one is a biggie. No matter how many people you bring with you to your appointment, each will have their own opinions. Naturally, you brought them because you want to hear their thoughts, right? Well, this could also backfire on you if you’re not careful. If you feel you’ve found your dress, don’t let the opinions of others cause you to think twice. You didn’t let them dissuade you from dating and ultimately saying “I do” to your partner, did you? Again, don’t let them do the same to your wedding dress. 
• Trust your Gut: You knew your partner was ‘the one’ when you said, “I do,” right? Picking your ideal wedding dress should be no different! If it looks and feels right, and your smile is extending ear to ear, trust your gut...you’ve found your dress!

If you’re ready to begin (or continue) your wedding dress shopping experience, come by The White Dress Boutique and let us help you find ‘The One.’ Call us today to make an appointment or stop in! Let us add our special touch to your special day!

6 Ways to Make Your Dress Shopping Experience Unforgettable

The dress buying experience is different for everyone. Some women choose to take it on alone while others bring their entire entourage. Some want subtle and sleek while others want extravagant and grand. There’s no right or wrong answer, you just simply need to determine what you want your experience to be when buying a dress.

No matter your style, personality or budget, buying your wedding dress should be a memorable moment, which is why we’ve compiled a short list of ways you can make your dress shopping experience unforgettable.

1. Make it a Day About You - Don’t let the day end once you’ve found your dream dress. If you are with your family and/or friends, make a day out of it! Plan to try on dresses, go grab lunch, shop for your shoes and accessories and maybe throw in a special manicure/pedicure to help you relax after your fun-filled day.
2. Be Open-Minded - So you’ve been searching high and low through magazines and websites to determine which dress you love the most. You’ve decided a mermaid cut with lace and sweetheart neckline is the “perfect” dress for you, but is it? When you start looking for your wedding dress, keep an open mind. Maybe you try on your dream dress, but it doesn’t look quite the way you thought it would. Let the consultant pick out a few selections for you. You never know, instead of that “perfect” mermaid, you find that a simply stated A-line is exactly what you were looking for all along.
3. Mind Your Guest List - Whether you bring two or 10, make sure you are firm in your own decisions. Don’t let the opinions of others sway your own. Once you step up on that platform and view yourself in the mirror, you’ll know immediately if you feel good or maybe not so great in a dress. If you fall in love with a dress and can’t find one fault in its appearance or the way it makes you feel, don’t let others try to talk you out of it. Remember, YOU are the one wearing the dress, not them. You can certainly value their opinions, but in the end, it’s YOUR wedding day. Make sure you’re wearing something YOU love.
4. While Minding Your Guest List, Also Mind Your Budget - One of the first questions a bridal consultant will ask is, “What is your budget?” They aren’t asking to be nosy but to make sure the dresses you or they pick out remain within your price range. We’ve all seen what happens when someone from the bridal party, or even the bride herself, picks out a dress that is way over budget, and it usually ends in heartbreak. Don’t let this happen! Stick to your budget. If, and only if, someone offers to pay the difference should you contemplate trying on a dress that is over your budget. Even then, we’d suggest getting that in writing before agreeing to try it on!
5. Know When to Stop - The moment you said “yes,” you knew, without a doubt, your partner was “the one.” Why should it be any different with your wedding dress? Yes, you’ll try on many, but just as in life, we often have to go through a few duds before we find the right one. Don’t always expect your first dress to be “the one,” but don’t expect it not to be either. Whether it is a smile that you can’t wipe from your face, a tear falling down your cheek or even just a feeling of pure happiness that you hold inside, look no further because you’ve found “the one.”
6. Have Fun - Most of all, have fun! This day is about YOU! From the wedding party to the consultant, everyone is there to make sure you have an unforgettable day. Don’t let stress creep in, and don’t let others dictate your thoughts and feelings. Even if you don’t enjoy the spotlight, give yourself one day to let everyone else take care of you.

If you think you’re ready to begin looking for your wedding dress, we encourage you to stop by The White Dress Boutique. With a wide array of dresses, our bridal consultants are always ready to provide their special touch for your special day. Make an appointment today by visiting us online at www.thewhitedressboutique.com or calling (479) 287-2148.

5 Ways to Re-purpose Your Wedding Gown

You stunned your guests on your wedding day wearing an unforgettably beautiful gown. The way you felt is captured in the photos from your special day, but now that the wedding is over and it is time to put away the most important dress you have ever worn, what do you do?

For many brides, the answer is “pack it away so that maybe one day, my daughter may want to wear it.” While that may happen for some, the style you fell in love with may not be what your daughter’s heart desire when it is time for her wedding.

If packing it away isn’t your thing, here are five other ways you can re-purpose your gown.

1. Donate to a Good Cause
   Remember what it felt like to look for your dress? You told yourself you would spare no expense to find the dress of your dreams. For many woman, this is simply not an option. Finances are limited but the dream of having a beautiful wedding, complete with a stunning gown, remains. If you’re looking to help a bride in need, there are a number of organizations nationwide that will gladly accept your wedding gown in an effort to help another bride have her special moment.
   
   There are also organizations that will turn your gown into what is referred to as an “Angel Gown.” These gowns are specially designed for parents who have lost their infant and need something special for burial.
   
2. Create something special for your child
   So you doubt your daughter may want to wear your dress one day, but you still like the idea of passing it onto her in some way. Why not repurpose your dress into something special like a christening gown or teddy bear? If you know how to sew, wonderful! However, if you do not, it will be best to find a professional who can carefully use your dress to create something wonderful for your little one. How special it would be to see your baby wearing parts of your wedding gown or hugging it closely at night.
   
3. Here’s to Cocktails
   For brides who have long dresses, why not use your skills or those of a professional to transform your extravagant gown into something short and sweet? The likeliness you’ll be wearing your wedding dress again is slim, so why not turn it into a dress you can wear over and over...and over again! Not crazy about keeping it white? Dye it your favorite color!
   
4. Dazzle in Decor
   Let’s face it. Wedding gowns are made of all types of fabrics just as our blankets, pillows, purses and other home decor/accessory items. Why not turn your gown into a cozy blanket or stylish pillow? Maybe you want to carry it around as an elegant clutch? Bring some light into your home with a beautiful lampshade. There are thousands of ways to transform your dress into a piece of home decor, plus it is a great conversation starter when you have company over!
   
5. Trash It
   While this may not be the most popular options among brides, some choose to take a dive in a nearby lake or swimming pool. Some brides may event opt for a photography session full of colorful paint that will turn a solid white gown into something out of a painting. If this is the option for you, think long and hard before making the decision. Once it’s done and cannot be undone, so with this option, we say, “Proceed with caution.”

Are you a bride who found a unique way to re-purpose your gown? Tell us about it! Email debbie@thewhitedressboutique and let us know!

Not quite at the re-purposing stage because you haven’t found your dress yet? Call and make an appointment with The White Dress Boutique today! Visit www.thewhitedressboutique.com and let us help you find that something special for your special day.

WHITE DRESS BRIDE - HANNAH ASAFO-ADJEI

We here at The White Dress Boutique like to look at wedding dresses as something similar to a cake topper... it's just a finishing touch to add to something already beautiful to give it that little something extra for a special occasion. Every bride that comes in our door is beautiful just as she is, but that perfect dress is just the right thing to set her apart on one of the most meaningful days of her life. Sure, wedding dresses are gorgeous, but they are just accentuating the natural loveliness of the woman wearing them.

Rafferty Photo

Case in point, Hannah,whose Justin Alexander dress was stunning on the hanger, but once she put it on...

Rafferty Photo

Rafferty Photo

Just gorgeous! It also doesn't hurt that her photographer, Rafferty Photo did an absolutely stunning job capturing the day. 

Rafferty Photo

Rafferty Photo

We love the sleeves and beaded detail on this dress, and it just suited Hannah so well. It was like they were made for each other. And speaking of being made for each other, take a look at Hannah and her husband, Miles, on their wedding day: 

Rafferty Photo

Rafferty Photo

Come on! So happy, so in love... ready to start their new life together. No dress in the world could compare to the beauty of true love. 

Rafferty Photo

Congratulations to Hannah and Miles! We wish you all the love and happiness and are so honored to have been a part your special day. 

BEST WEDDING PHOTOS OF 2017

Will Khoury Photography

Every year, the good people at Junebug Weddings compile the "Best Of" the best in wedding photos. They have several categories, but the main event is the Best of Wedding, which they put together at the end of every year. The photos are always just gorgeous and full of #weddinggoals. We have picked a few of our favorites, which you can drool over below. For all the gorgeous photos, head over to Junebug Weddings.

Beneath the Pines

The Ferros

Matrimoni All'Italiana

Maddie Mae

Benj Haisch