Formally Yours Photo Shoot

On a beautiful Sunday in July, we took off to Madison for a photo shoot.  Our crew was excited and full of ideas.  We started early to catch the morning sun and to beat the heat.  The location was picturesque with cool architectural highlights, romantic rustic venues, and quaint gazebos.  We even took a tour of a museum and the opportunity was perfect for some cool shots. 

As the day progressed our creative juices really began to flow.  The husband and wife photography/creative team, Sara and Casey Giessen, had scoped the area and mapped out our game plan.  I, Cathy, the stylist, created all of the looks from hair and make-up to dress and accessories.  Scarlett, the eyes of the target market, kept the model, Savannah, happy and poised.  Hillary was our social media assistant and did an excellent job uploading pictures from the day.  Formally Yours was branching out, and we were all focused with a vision.

Formally Yours is always evolving.  In a time when nothing stays the same for very long, we are constantly working hard to show our Formally Yours customers the newest in bridal and formal fashions.  And, we don't just sell dresses, we sell a look.  Once your dress is picked out, we complete the ensemble from head to toe.  No two Formally Yours customers look the same, because no two people are alike.  We enjoy watching each person's dream image come to fruition. 

Keep your eyes on Formally Yours.  Follow our twitter, facebook and instagram and enjoy seeing new styles.  We are excited about what we do.  We are here for you.  We are Formally Yours and we have dresses For You.

Approximate Shipping Dates and Delivery Dates

The most frequently asked question pertains to ship dates and delivery dates.  The most important thing to realize is that special orders take anywhere from 3-4 months for bridesmaids and 6-9 months for bridal.  And, as stated in previous blogs, when you know what you want, place the order.

Ladies, it takes time for these dresses to be manufactured overseas.  Very rarely, do the designers have ready made stock for their sample dresses.  This being said, each and every customer has to be educated in this area so that they know what to expect.

When we place the order we are given an APPROXIMATE shipping date.  The companies have a 10 day window in both directions, which means that it may ship out 10 days before or after the date they give us.  Delivery dates cannot be determined until UPS has the dresses in their posession.  At that time, they assign a tracking number to the order, and then, only then, do we have an official delivery date.

We want each and every customer to be excited and happy with their special orders.  Our goal is to keep the lines of communication open in order to avoid any confusion.  We invite you to call us with any questions you may have at any time.  We are here for you. We are FORmally YOUrs, dresses for you.

New Wedding Dresses Arriving Daily

Hi Everyone! We just want you all to know that now is a wonderful time to shop for wedding dresses.  Everyday, new gowns from the Fall 2012 Collections arrive at Formally Yours.  It is like Christmas when the UPS man comes through our doors.  We eagerly open each and every box with anticipation of which gowns arrive on that given day.  So, if you want to find the perfect dress for your perfect occasion, hurry in to Formally Yours.

Not only are Fall 2012 wedding dresses coming, but Mother of the Bride and Mother of the Groom dresses as well as bridesmaids dresses are arriving.  We will post pictures as we display them in our showroom.  Shopping now, with all of these new arrivals, gives our Formally Yours customers the opportunity to purchase new dresses off of the rack.  And when a dress is purchased off of the rack, our customers feel more relief and less stress.

At Formally Yours, we are as excited as each of our customers about the upcoming wedding event of the season.  The dream is equally shared and we strive to give you the best in everything.  Our dress collections are extensive and our customer service is excellent.  We invite you to come and shop with us and enjoy your experience of finding your wedding dress.  We look forward to seeing you soon.

Be Prepared to make the Purchase

Today is tip Tuesday.  And, the tip for today is Be Prepared to make the Purchase.  The wedding plans are in full swing, and now it's time for everyone in the bridal party to find their dress for the Big Day.  Typically, the bride finds her dress first, followed by the bridesmaids, the Mother of the Bride and the Mother of the Groom.  So, ladies, when you leave the house, have your finances in order.  You may not think you will find your dress, but you never know.  It's like any other shopping experience when you least expect to find it, there it is.

This tip rings true for every single member of the bridal party.  Everyday, the question is asked,  "When do we need to place the order?".  You need to place the order the minute you realize you have found your dress.  Do not delay!  Actually, the bride should order her dress 9-12 months before the wedding, and the rest of the bridal party should place their orders 6 months before hand.  If you find it, and you love it, order it.  Time is of the essense during the wedding planning period.  Too many decisions are looming in the very near future, and it is a reassurance to know that your dresses are on their way.

So, before you begin, have your budget in mind, your money in hand, and your heart prepared to fall in love again (with a dress, not another groom of course).  And enjoy the experience!  Bridal fashion is fun and colorful and creative.  It is what you make it to be, and at Formally Yours we are here with experienced fashion consultants to guide your every wish and desire.  Be brave, be confident and be you.  You will be beautiful you on the wedding day.  We are committed to that dream.

Mother's Monday

Starting today, Formally Yours is committing to more frequent blogging.  We are celebrating our 30th Anniversary this month and realize that we have so much to offer our customers.  In addition to offering beautiful wedding dresses, bridesmaids dresses, flower girl dresses and mother's dresses, we can offer sound advice based on our years of experience.   And today, and every monday, we want to offer some advice to our beautiful, generous and loving mothers of both the bride and groom.

Often times, woman seem to put themselves last.  They are so busy planning the wedding and taking care of everyone else's needs that they leave their need of the Mother of the Bride (MOB) or Mother of the Groom (MOG) dress until the very end as if they don't matter.  However, the reality is quite the opposite.  The MOB and MOG are very important to the entire wedding and wedding party, and they need to dress the part.  While the MOB is the main hostess at the reception and responsible for making certain everyone's accomodated, the MOG is important too.  Both women are required to join people together at the joyous occasion and to be photographed along the way. 

It can be an overwhelming experience if allowed, but shopping at Formally Yours for your mother's dress can be enjoyable.  First, we ask the specifics of the wedding.  Time, location and number of guests are very important facts to note when determining a style.  Second, we ask the color pallete of the wedding. And, we also like to ask if the mother has a favorite color she likes to wear.  Next, we ask if the dress is supposed to be long or short.  Once we gather all of this information, we begin to pull different styles for each mother to try on.  Third, the mother begins to model each design. 

The process is in full swing, and now it is time to begin eliminating some styles and to revisit others.  After the final decision of style and color is made, measurements are taken and a size is agreed upon. When a mother looks beautiful and feels comfortable, then the choice is clear.  Do not be afraid to confirm your decision and to "say yes to the dress".  Check this off of the list of things to do, and purchase your mother's dress. Formally Yours immediately places the order and it takes at least 3 MONTHS, yes 3 months for the dress to come in.  Thus, the importance of ordering sooner than later!

So, do not delay, start your search today!  And come to Formally Yours where we will welcome you and listen to you and take very good care of you and your fashion needs.  We look forward to seeing you soon.