Behind the Scenes at September's Bride

I want to give you a glimpse into the things that make September's Bride a delightful place to shop.  Each payday, I write a short newsletter to share with my fabulous employees.  I share ideas, events, and just fun bits of information.  This week, I shared with them five things that we, the September's Bride team, can do to help our brides have the best wedding gown shopping experience possible.

1.  Keep the store impeccably clean.
2.  Greet each visitor properly.
3.  Follow up and answer questions promptly.
4.  Schedule appointments carefully.
5.  Give each customer a memorable experience.

As I shared with my team, not every bride will find their "perfect gown" at September's Bride.  There are thousands of wedding gowns designed and manufactured each year, and we can only carry a sampling of these.  However, we can strive to give each customer a "perfect experience" at September's Bride.  This is our goal!  Of course, we also think that most of you may just find that "perfect gown" at our store, too :)

Every Bride is Special at September's Bride!

I absolutely love to help a bride find the perfect dress!  Each September's Bride employee and gown consultant is committed to providing a delightful experience and excellent customer service to each employee who walks through our door.

Sometimes, we achieve our mission by helping a bride find a silk couture "fairy-tale" gown; the one that she has been dreaming of since she was little.  Once in a while, we restore a gown that belonged to a bride's grandmother, aunt, or mom so that she can wear a sentimental choice. 

A few weekends ago, "Mary" came in to find a gown for her late-Spring wedding.  She was game to try several styles, and then shyly told me that her budget was under $500; preferably much less.  We found the perfect gown for her and I received a delightful "Thank You" note from her mother this week.  Sometimes customers do not expect to receive special service when they are spending a relatively small amount on a gown.  But, that is not how it works at September's Bride. 

So, if you are looking for a wedding gown, or a dress for any special occasion; no matter your taste, budget, or special considerations, please shop at September's Bride.  We would be honored!

Trendy Tuxes for Modern Men

At September's Bride, we spend lots of time helping brides, their 'maids and their moms find the perfect dress in the perfect color and style.

But, we're very good at making the men in your wedding party look spectactular, too. We offer tuxes from both Bunny Tuxedos and Dunhill Tuxedos, with the latest trends and the most classic looks, too. All of our consultants are skilled in putting together fashionable looks that reflect the style of your wedding.

At September's Bride, the groom's tux is FREE with the rental of at least 5 additional tuxes. If you are renting fewer than that, we will still give the groom 1/2 off of his rental.

Awww, Thanks!

I just received an e-mail from Katie, a gorgeous bride who was married in December.  She said,

"Besides my husband, your store (September's Bride) was the best wedding decision I made"

I like nothing better than helping a bride find her perfect gown and then giving excellent service up to and through the wedding day.  Katie's comment just made my day!

Our Entire 2010 Essense of Australia Collection has Arrived!

Allow me one more time to brag about this great new collection now at September's Bride!

We are the only bridal boutique in West Michigan to carry this beautiful line and we have sizes from 6-18; in a good selection of Essense colors and details.

To see the entire collection online, visit the Essense of Australia website.

We would be honored to show you these beautiful gowns; call for an appointment or just stop in soon!

SB Wedding :: Liz's Vintage Wedding

Photo courtesy of Michael Overbeek Photography

Last year, gorgeous Liz wore her mother's wedding gown.  You can see her photos on our Vintage Couture Blog.  When a bride wears a vintage gown, there can be a little confusion over what the bridesmaids should wear.  Modern, trendy bridesmaid dresses don't seem quite right, but actual vintage bridesmaid dresses can be impractical and kinda, well, corny.

These pretty little dresses by Lila Couture were just perfect for Liz's style.  We custom-designed the silk-dupioni dresses for Liz's attendants.  Her flower girls wore simple little white dresses by US Angels, with sashes made of the same silk fabric as the bridesmaid's dresses.

Jennifer Leigh Trunk Show :: Dates Announced!

Our annual Trunk Show with Jennifer Leigh Bridal Veils will be held at September's Bride in April, from the 15th to the 24th!

Whether it is a traditional veil or a modern headband or flower accessory, every bride needs a pretty little something on her head or in her hair. 

Jennifer Leigh veils are of the finest quality, using soft tulle, Swarovski crystals, and freshwater pearls.  They are designed and manufactured in the USA, too!

We'll be sharing more details about the Trunk Show as the dates get closer.

A Winter Day (at September's Bride)

A winter weekday can be kinda sleepy at a bridal store (hint :: good time to shop).

Yesterday was such a day at September's Bride.  That often makes for a good day to do some housekeeping and change things up.  Hannah, Rachel, and I spent part of the day arranging some new displays to showcase the two most popular color schemes for 2010 :: yellow & silver; and turquoise & tan.

Today is a SNOW DAY! in the neighboring school districts.  We're expecting to see some engaged teachers enjoying a day off by doing some wedding shopping. Fun, fun, fun!

Newest Arrival :: Essense of Australia!

Yummy!

More excitement at September's Bride today!  We received 3 more 2010 Essense of Australia gowns.  Pictured above is style 1042, a perfect fairy-tale gown available in white or ivory with either a lace-up or zip-up back!

When to Shop?

This post will help answer the big-picture and detail of "When to Shop for A Wedding Gown"!




Big Picture:

1. Start shopping when you get engaged (or even before if you know you will have a short engagement). The style of your gown will have a big effect on the style of your wedding. So, even if you don't choose a gown right away, just getting into stores and knowing what you like will help you make other wedding decisions easier.

2. Ideally, order your gown 6-12 months before your wedding.

3. Gowns are typically made at the factory and shipped to your salon based on your wedding date. This is why your Maggie may take 7 months to arrive while your friend's only took 2 months. Also, designers do keep a stock of popular styles, colors, and sizes. So, if you order one of those, it could come in much quicker. Your bridal salon will give you the best advice out there on when to expect your gown.

4. Feeling short on time? We can get custom bridesmaid's gowns in 4 weeks and have a fantastic selection of sample gowns for you to choose from, too!


Details:

1. Saturday afternoons are by far the busiest times at any bridal store. Of course, this is because most people are off of work and it's easiest to get moms and friends together. There is often a fun, positive energy in the fitting area at this time, but it can get hectic, and you may need to wait for a fitting room or share a mirror.

2. If you want plenty of time to linger in the gowns and have a gown consultant give you personal attention and lots of options, visit the store on a weekday. Right after opening on Saturday morning is usually less busy, too.

3. At September's Bride, we offer appointments before opening in the morning or after closing in the evening. This guarantees you and your party plenty of time, room, and attention. We often will provide refreshments for these appointments, too!

Newest Arrival :: Justin Alexander 8486

Last fall, I share some of the trends that we saw at Bridal Market.  One of the big trendes was ruffles; you can see the original post here.  Our newest arrival is a ruffled ball gown from Justin Alexander. 

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Jennifer Leigh Veil on cover of Brides Magazine!

Have you picked up your latest copy of BRIDES Magazine?

The cover model is wearing the "Lily" veil by our own veil designer, Jennifer Leigh

Little White Dresses :: First Communion & Flower Girls

Our Spring 2010 Collection from US Angels has arrived!

For First Communion, we have beautiful dresses, veils, and shoes, all perfect for the special day. To help her remember the occasion, add a pretty necklace or hanky embroidered with "My First Communion". 

Many of these white dresses are pretty for a flower girl or miniature bride, too.  Our Flower Girl collection also includes dresses in pretty pastels and the option of adding any color sash to a white or ivory dress.