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Great Shape :: Fit & Flare Gowns

After seeing hundreds of women in thousands of wedding gowns, the consultants at September's Bride are pretty good at suggesting the best wedding gown silhouette for almost any body.

Each gown above is a "fit-and-flare" shape, worn by a real bride.  This skirt fits closer through the hips and then flares slightly to the hem and the train.  This shape gives girls with a straighter figure some curves and makes curvy girls look fabulous.

I think this is a shape that every bride should at least try!

Angelina Trunk Show Happening Now!

Here is a lovely Angelina Bridal Couture silk organza gown that is here just through this Saturday, January 7 as part of the Angelina Trunk Show!

I've added a dramatic sash from Enzoani, jewels by MEG Jewelry, and a Jennifer Leigh veil to complete this gorgeous bridal look. 

The ruched bodice has a pronounced sweetheart neckline, natural waistline and a full ball-gown skirt.  The organza skirt is detailed with organza fabric manipulated into flowers.  It is truly a work of art!

Happy New Year!

This weekend, our Angelina Couture Trunk Show begins!

On Saturday, December 31, we will also be hosting Annette Kuiper, who is my manicurist.  She will be giving complimentary hand massages to all of our guests from 12-2 pm!

We will close at 3 pm on December 31. 
We are closed on Sunday, January 1.
We are open for appointments only on Monday, January 2.

September's Bride...a fresh approach to formal

Holiday Hours

It's Christmastime!  I am looking forward to hearing lots of stories about diamond rings under the tree, in the stocking, or given as part of a romantic proposal under the mistletoe.

Of course, Christmas is for family and friends.  We are adjusting our boutique hours just a bit over the next two weeks to allow our team to spend time with their loved ones. 

Saturday, December 24, 10 am - 3 pm
Christmas Day, closed
Monday, December 26, closed
Tuesday & Wednesday, December 27 & 28, 11 am - 5 pm (Regular Hours)
Thursday, December 29, 11 am - 8 pm (Regular Hours)
Friday, December 30, 11 am - 5 pm (Regular Hours)
Saturday, December 31, 10 am - 3 pm
New Years Day, closed
Monday, January 2, open by appointment only

We welcome you to call for an after-hours appointment with one of our gown consultants if these Open Shopping Hours do not work for you.  616-355-1433

And, stay tuned for news about a Special Event happening the first week of January!

Venue :: Macatawa Legends CC

Last week, Rachel & I had the honor of a personal tour through the Macatawa Legends Country Club & Banquet Facilities.  Rich Espinoza, the new manager, and his assistant, Lacy, were so gracious and very knowledgeable about parties and weddings.

This large fireplace greets guests as they arrive in the lobby.  What a cozy place this time of year, but imagine it decorated with fresh flowers and welcoming your guests to a summer wedding reception, too.

 This room seats 90 guests for a small reception, but Rich tells us that it is usually used for a cocktail hour before dinner and for dancing and drinks after dinner.  It is surrounded on three sides by a large patio, overlooking the lovely grounds.  Your guests may stroll along the patio, enjoying the time before dinner. 

 I love these high ceilings in the buffet area.  Your guests will not feel cramped or crowded at all, and this is also a wonderful area for your grand entrance as Mr & Mrs!

The large banquet room seats 200 guests comfortably at nice large round tables.  There are several doors that lead in and out of this room and plenty of very well-appointed restrooms nearby.

A rainy December day does not show off the grounds as well as they deserve, but this is the view from the patio.  The lawn is large enough for an outdoor ceremony, too!

EVENTS by September's Bride is a preferred coordinator for weddings and other parties at this great venue.  We would be delighted to join you for a walk-through!  There are still several weekends available for 2012.  E-mail our lead planner, Rachel Ramos,  at rachel@septembersbride.com for more information or to schedule a time to see the gorgeous Macatawa Legends and talk about your wedding vision.

Fun Winter Bouquet

Look at this fun idea for a unique bridal bouquet.

The flowers are knitted in a variety of cream and blue luxury yarns and accented with alencon lace appliques.  Cream tulle is tucked among the knitted flowers for fullness and lightness. 

This would be so pretty for a winter wedding!  Hey, who needs Pinterest when you have September's Bride?

September's Bride...a fresh approach to formal. 

Winter Weddings :: Guest Attire

Today, we have a guest blogger!  I met Terryl online and learned that she loves to write about fashion.  We put our heads together and I asked her to share some thoughts about style for wedding guests.  With the holidays quickly approaching, there are Christmas, New Years, and Valentine's weddings for which to prepare. 

Winter weddings are one of the very best excuses to get all dressed up and wear those pieces you probably couldn't get away with in many other situations.

The goal of dressing for a wedding is to be the second prettiest girl there.  Don't distract from the bride, but don't feel like you need to dress boringly either.  Maxi dresses in rich fabrics are refreshing and easy to pull off, so long as you mind your posture.  And leave the white at home if you lack a death wish.

 

To avoid looking like just a mass of fabric, take a cue from recent runway seasons and try a one-shoulder dress.  The asymmetrical neckline brings the focus upward, as opposed to standard sleeveless tops, which seem to scream, "Look at my arms!"  Make sure to nip that waist to create shape, get some beautiful elevation under those feet for the illusion of impossibly long legs, and sway fabulously all night.

 

A cropped shrug is a better choice than your everyday pea coat and keeps with the fancy theme of the rest of your ensemble.  Have fun with the shoes, and if you're doing heeled sandals, keep them relatively dark and match your tights.  (A quick note on sandals: heels are a necessity, however, flip flops, even with a heel, are never acceptable.)  It's always a good idea to choose between a statement necklace and earrings, but if you have an asymmetrical neckline, your neck is already fancy, so just stick with simple drop earrings that coordinate with the dress.

 

If you've got a sparkly number you're dying to show off, your best accessories will be confidence and a smile.  Keep the rest of your outfit complementary to the darker tones of the dress to avoid looking like you're celebrating the new year, but ensure you lift those items to the sass of the dress.  Try wedges instead of stilettos.  If your tights match, your legs will appear lengthened, and a dark and opaque pair will slim legs as well.  This could be the perfect outfit to debut that fancy vintage bag you found--just keep it compact.

When it comes down to it, don't be afraid to let your outfit make you feel special; you're allowed to look fancy.  So take a risk!  Break out the gown or those almost-too-beautiful shoes that make your toes hurt just by looking at them.  Most don't have many opportunities to really dress up, so if the wedding allows, you might as well go all out and flex your fabulousness a little!

Author bio:
When Terryl Banta is not busy coping with the early-onset necessity of reading glasses she can usually be found having nineties dress-up nights and trying to take pictures of her kitten, Alt, for viral tumblr content.  

Curvy Collection

Every woman should feel absolutely gorgeous on her wedding day.  I firmly believe that there are styles of wedding gowns to flatter all shapes and sizes of women.

Just a bit of our "Curvy Collection"


So, at September's Bride, we are expanding our "Curvy Collection" of gowns; gowns in sizes 18 and up that we know will look great on brides with curves.  Of course, all of our gowns can be ordered in any size, from 2 to 30; so we encourage our customers to shop all of our collections.

If you are concerned about being a "plus-size" bride, here are a few tips that can help you look look your best on your wedding day.

1.  Shop with an open mind!  Sometimes the gowns that will look the best on your body do not look the best on the hanger.  Trust a good gown consultant to make recommendations for you.

2.  Don't try on a gown that's too small or too big.  No matter how much you like the way it looks, you won't feel pretty and it is easy to feel frustrated.

3.  Ruching, sashes, and belts are your friends!  All of these design elements work to create an hour-glass shape, which is exactly what you want on your wedding day.

4.  Use jewelry and hair accessories to draw attention to your face and eyes, which is what every brides wants people to notice on her wedding day.  Wear shining eyes and a big smile!

Make a personal appointment with one of our gown consultants today; we love to help!

September's Bride...a fresh approach to formal.

Holiday FLASH Sale!

Holiday Flash Sale!

Saturday, December 10

10 am - 2 pm

This Saturday, from 10-2 we are having a Holiday FLASH Sale!  Here are the details...

Call us (616-355-1433) to schedule an appointment...we have a limited number of 1/2 hours appointments available for this sale.

Order your wedding gown during that time and receive $400  in credit to use towards the bridal accessories of your choice at September's Bride.  Veil, shoes, jewelry...it's all up to you!

Also, Cassie Celestin from White Dress Events will be serving all of our guests from a Gourmet Hot Chocolate Bar set up in the front of the store!

So, if you've been in and you have "the gown" chosen, this Holiday FLASH Sale is the perfect time to commit.  If you've just started shopping; you're welcome to come in and take advantage of this awesome sale, too.

Feelin' Blue?

You've heard by now that one of the biggest trends for 2012 is "mis-matched" bridesmaid gowns.  Another trend is the return of full-length, flowy, romantic dresses for bridesmaids.

Here, Rachel combined these two trends with the very classic bridesmaid color, blue, to create a thoroughly fresh and modern look.

The addition of trendy jewelry lets the personality of each gown's wearer come out and create a interesting, fashion-forward, yet completely unified style for your wedding.

Hey, we absolutely love to do this stuff.  Wondering how to dress your wedding party?  Make an appointment today so we can show you some gorgeous options.

September's Bride...a fresh approach to formal. 

Links We Love

Like most of our brides, I'm just a little addicted to looking at photos of great weddings and reading all about the fabulous ceremonies and receptions that couples around the nation & world plan for their special days.

Here are a few of my favorites to check out regularly:

The wedding planning site, mywedding.com has a great blog called Delightfully Engaged.  This lovely blog has it all...fashion, DIY ideas, photography...

 

 Image courtesy of mywedding.com

Best blog from across the pond?  I love Rock'N'Roll Bride.  This blog is based in the UK and will occasionally feature a US or Canadian wedding, too. I'll admit that some of the style is just a little too "out there" for me, but it sure makes for a great way to lose myself in weddings for a half hour.

Image courtesy of Rock'N'Roll Bride

My favorite wedding fashion blog has to be from one of my favorite designers, Stephanie James!  Her blog is full of eye candy with "real brides" in her designs.  I never tire of looking at the fresh bridesmaid looks, both retro and modern. 

Image courtesy of Stephanie James Couture

Of course, check back here to the September's Bride Blog regularly for the best in bridal fashion and West Michigan weddings!

Shopping with Tiffany

I love to introduce our blog readers and September's Bride fans to members of our team.

A few months ago, I introduced Julie, who shares her thoughts and great style with you on our Vintage Couture Blog.

Today, I want to tell you about Tiffany.  If you really want a memorable, high-touch, personal bridal shopping experience, make an appointment with her!  Tiffany absolutely loves to work with brides, especially those who are struggling to find exactly what they want or who want a very unique, personal look.  She is a great listener. 

If you think Tiffany may look familiar, she was featured on the blog in the Spring of 2010 for another reason, the year that she and her husband spent on the mission field!  She's also modeled for a few of our photo shoots!

Tiffany is available most Saturdays for appointments; she is also available for private evening appointments if that works best for you.

Call the boutique at 616-355-1433 to schedule an appointment with Tiffany or any of our consultants.

September's Bride...a fresh approach to formal.

Sashes from Enzoani

We received some gorgeous sashes from Enzoani Bridal this week.

Of course, they look fabulous on Enzoani gowns and other designer's gowns.

But, they also look fabulous for the holidays paired with a long sweater or a tunic!

This is the Diana sash; pictured above in shades of ivory

pictured below in lovely blacks, pewters, and chocolate tones.

This is the Dillon sash, gorgeous jewels on a cream ribbon

We stock these sashes just one at a time and often replace them with a different style.  So, if you see something you like, come in and see it in person before it is gone.

Newlywed Christmas Ornaments

This will be my 20th Christmas as a married woman!  By now, our Christmas tree is full of sentimental ornaments, ranging from engraved silver bells to plastic soccer balls.

I remember our first Christmas together.  We put up the tree, arranged the lights, and hung our half-dozen ornaments.  It looked pretty bare!

Here's an idea from a newlywed for a great way to inexpensively decorate your Christmas tree AND use up your extra wedding invitations, too!

 Photo & Idea courtesy of Jen Wood

Follow us on Facebook for Thanksgiving Weekend Sales!

Do you follow us on Facebook?

If you do not do so yet, now is the time to begin!  Beginning Wednesday, we'll be posting great specials & sales all weekend long, through Saturday, November 26.

Happy Thanksgiving!

West 8th Apple Pie

Here's my second recipe that I'm sharing with you this Thanksgiving.

Then we'll head back to talking everything weddings & wedding fashion :)

My youngest son LOVES apple pie.  My whole family loves THIS apple pie.  I call it "West 8th Apple Pie" because my two "secret" ingredients are from stores just down the street from September's Bride on West 8th Street in Holland, MI.

You will need:

Pie Crust (I find that the Pillsbury Ready Pie Crust is easier & better than anything I make myself)

6 large or 8 medium Gala apples, cut into small chunks
3/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 heaping teaspoon of Grandma Nettie's Pie Spice
   available at The Seasoned Home in downtown Holland
1 1/2 tablespoons of Red Apple Balsamic Vinegar
   available at Fustini's in downtown Holland
4 tablespoons butter

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Place one crust in pie pan.  In a bowl, mix the rest of the ingredients through the vinegar in order.

Fill pie crust with apple mixture and dot with butter, divided into 8 parts.

Top with other crust, folding edges and crimping as desired.  Cut slits in the top crust.

Bake for 40-45 minutes.  Let cool before slicing.

"Like" this recipe on our Facebook page; I am giving away a set of my "secret ingredients" to a lucky fan!

Tami's Sourdough Stuffing

No worries...I have no plans to turn this into a baking or cooking blog. 

However, there are lots of women, both newlyweds and others, who are looking for great recipes for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  In the spirit of the holiday, I'm going to share two of my favorite recipes to contribute to family meals.

Today...Tami's Sourdough Stuffing  (makes 8 servings)

You will need:

8 cups dry sourdough bread cubes
4-6 slices of bacon
6 tablespoons butter
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 cup chopped leeks
1 cup chopped celery
1 scant tablespoon fresh sage, minced
1 scant tablespoon fresh thyme, minced
1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 lb baby bella mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup red wine
Olive Oil

In a large skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until just crispy.   Remove and drain on paper towels.  Set bacon aside and empty excess fat from skillet. (Set skillet aside to use for mushrooms.)  Add 4 tablespoons of butter to a medium to large saucepan.  Once butter is melted, add onion, leeks, celery, sage, and thyme to pan.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Cook until vegetables are tender, stirring to be sure they do not stick.  Add the chicken broth, bring to a simmer then remove from heat.  Set aside.

Return the skillet to medium heat.  There should be just a bit of bacon fat left in it; add remaining 2 tablespoons of butter.  Once melted, add mushrooms to the skillet and saute until they begin to soften.  Add wine to skillet and cook until the mushrooms have absorbed the wine. 

Crumble the cooled bacon into small pieces. 

In a large bowl, mix the bread cubes, bacon, and mushrooms.  Pour the chicken broth and vegetable mixture over the top and mix well. 

Rub a 2-quart baking dish with olive oil.  Transfer the mixture into the dish and drizzle a bit more olive oil over the top.  Cover and bake at 375 for 30 minutes.  Uncover and continue baking until golden brown, about 20 minutes.

Enjoy and let me know how it worked for you!

Next...West 8th Apple Pie

Make It Your Own

At September's Bride, we love to customize!  Often, one of the first things that we tell brides who visit us is that almost all of our gowns can be customized and changed to make it "theirs".

Necklines...
Train Lengths...
Beading...
Colors...
Sleeves...
Skirt Shapes...
Fabric...
 
Our newest designer, Stephanie James Couture, is no exception!  Just visit her blog to see her gowns on real brides in many sizes and shapes.  There are also many "versions" of the same gown, to give other brides endless ideas!

This is the "Daphne" gown by Stephanie James Couture.



Celebrate Individuality!

Yesterday, I helped a gorgeous young woman in the boutique.  She was getting fitted for a bridesmaid dress and was a bit disappointed about the size that I suggested.  She called herself "fat" and I wanted to cry.  She looked healthy, her skin glowed, her hair was shiny, and she had a wonderful figure that most women would envy. 

You can imagine that there are lots of self-image and body issues floating around at a bridal boutique.  Someone always thinks they are too short, too tall, too curvy, too flat...

There is no perfect body except when you take care of the one that God gave you!

Bridal gowns, like most garments, are often photographed on very tall, very thin models.  Then, the photos are "enhanced" and the final image looks nothing like a real bride on her wedding day. 

So, embrace yourself!  Celebrate that you look absolutely stunning in the bridal gown, the bridesmaid dress, the mother's gown that you have so carefully chosen.

Shown above are Jenny and Bethany, beautifully decked out from the Grand Haven Wedding Walk Fashion Show that we coordinated back on October 29.  Don't they look fabulous!