Blissful Brides In...Bridezillas Out

Owning a 26 year old bridal salon is the best education anyone could receive. Not only have I learned about how to run a business, but most importantly, I have learned about people. And let's face it, retail is about people. It's just that plain and simple. How many times have you gone shopping someplace where there is no customer service to be found? Or, on the contrary, you've been shopping while a saleperson hovers over you to make you feel uncomfortable. Consequently, I have noticed that customers are frustrated from their experiences, and sometimes, come barging through the front door with a well deserved chip on their shoulder. I say take a deep breath in and relax. Clearly, you haven't shopped at the right vendor that suits your needs. Not all retailers are created equal, and the majority of us are considerate with the customer's wants and needs foremost in their minds. Too often brides act out their frustrations by acting like a bridezilla. Retailers cringe at the sight of a bridezilla and have a difficult time pleasing her. However, a blissful bride who realizes that we all want to make her happy ends up with the most thorough service.

Listen up ladies: Blissful brides are in...Bridezillas are out.

I blame bridezillas on the media. Before Bridezilla, the t.v. show on WE, people actually minded their manners. Shows like this promote and applaud bad behavior. No one enjoys being around a person who is closed minded and unable to listen to new ideas. Now granted, sometimes things go array and mistakes are made, but, especially in times like these, it is important to use good old fashioned ettiquette and deal with the situation at hand. No reputable business owner will intentionally mess up a bride's wedding day. Working together to create a dream wedding creates new bonds and friendships that can last a lifetime.

Blissful brides tend to enjoy the entire process of wedding planning from beginning to end. Typically, these girls shop with a vision in mind, and with their eye on the prize. The prize is the marriage rather than the wedding. Although, the wedding is one of the most important days in a girls life, her marriage is the most important part of her life. On the journey to the altar there are many situations to meet new people, create new liaisons, and open up new opportunities. Friendships that are forged during the process can last a lifetime. Your wedding planner, the caterer, the photographer, the florist, your bridal salon fashion consultant and seamstress are people that you will work very closely with. Along with patience, communication is key when dealing with your people. It's fun and exciting to plan a wedding when everyone enjoys each other's company.

Bliss is in. Be a blissful bride. Have a blissful wedding.
Live a blissful marriage.

Something Blue

We all know that shoes are our secret indulgence. And now it has trickled into bridal fashion. More often now, you will see brides wearing trendy shoes. Most common nowadays it's blue shoes worn to take care of the "something blue". However, back in the day my ex-sister-in-law wore cowboy boots to her catholic ceremony wedding, much to my mother's chagrin. They were perfect for her run across the church field to catch the helicopter that flew her and my brother to the reception. I once helped a bride order a gown determined by how it looked with her cowboy work boots. Her wedding reception was held in a barn. Most recently, I had a bride wear stiletto platform hot pink heels. She purchased those before she purchased her bridal gown. As it turns out, she consequently had them cut down 1/2 an inch because they caused her to be taller than her groom. However, my favorite shoe is a royal blue silk-satin pair that a bride wore. I'm not sure if it was the style or the color that fascinated me the most. They were the most beautiful shade of sapphire blue. Maybe it was the fact that the bride was so tickled with her "something blue". I'm all for the expression of self.
Go for it brides and enjoy shoe shopping.

Beautiful Advice

I spoke with an interesting woman the other day. Her daughter's wedding is just days away and she is happy and excited, and seemingly stress free. This is highly unusual for a mother of the bride to be so genuinely calm and radiant from within. We had a chance to visit for a while and she shared the most insightful advice. She compares the cost of paying for a wedding to the cost of adopting a son. After the numbers come in, clearly the wedding is an easy bargain. Gaining the love of a son is worth every penny spent on a ceremony and reception. It was a beautiful expression of unconditional love for her daughter and future son in law. I knew after speaking with her that the wedding events would go on smoothly, because clearly, she understands the true meaning of the ceremony.
People are so hung-up on unimportant details that they lose sight of the love and life that 2 people are ready to share.

Tips for Saturday shoppers

Saturday is a popular day for wedding dress shopping. We are going to recommend some helpful tips to ensure that your day out is an efficient and enjoyable one. Girls just want to have fun shopping for their big day! Before you leave your house, be sure you are organized. Some brides are more organized than others. If you are the "Monica" from FRIENDS with your 5" binder full of dividers and lamenated pictures organized by color and style you are in great shape. However, most people are not that organized, in fact, some are not organized at all. So what should one do? Set a goal for the day.

First, be prepared to communicate with your fashion consultant.The most important thing is to have a picture of your ideal wedding dress. Most fashion consultants are visual people. If you do not have any actual pictures with you, have no fear, create a visual by describing details you wish to have on your gown. For instance, some brides are traditional and have always dreamt of a white satin gown with covered buttons down the back and train. Others may be planning a destination wedding and might desire a light-weight fabric like chiffon. And then, there are girls who want a more trendy look. However, if you are having a difficult time communicating with your fashion consultant, tell them the looks that you hate. Seriously, some girls refuse to wear taffeta because they do not like the feel of it. In addition, some girls despise bows and will not even attempt to try dresses with bows attached to them. Clearly, by translating the details you do not like, you are beginning to create a vision of ideas that suit your style.

Secondly, never compromise your personal style. Sometimes, when shopping with a group of people, customers are overcome by other people's opinions. Too many times, brides-to-be fall in love with a dress only to have her mother, sister and/or girlfriends respond negatively to how she looks. It is so important at this time to focus on yourself and how you feel in the dress. Remember, it is your day that you have dreamt about your entire life. Pictures last a lifetime and are expensive. Your wedding album should be a story of your romance illustrated by your personal fashion style. Each and every bride owns her own look. Be true to yourself and you will love the final product.

Finally, on Saturdays, everyone needs to pack a bag full of patience. It is the most popular day of the week to shop. All of the bridal salons are busy and everyone is working hard to satisfy their customer. Sometimes there might even be a waiting line for a dressing room. Nonetheless, it is a fun and exciting time. Actually, it is more fun to shop when several brides are around to share in the excitement and joy, because they are the only ones who can truly relate to the feeling of that moment.

Repeat customers

Formally Yours is proud to serve the Atlanta area for 26 years and counting! We love the history that is created and enjoy hearing the stories of the Mothers of Brides who are now bringing their daughters in to Formally Yours to purchase their gowns in the same place they purchased theirs. For example, an old childhood neighbor and friend of mine recently came to Formally Yours with her beautiful daughter. I had not seen her in years and now here she is proudly shopping with her daughter. We reminisced about our childhood days while playing dress up with the bride. It was the most enjoyable afternoon for everyone and especially the bride because she found the dress of her dreams along with all of the accessories. Her mother shed tears of joy as her daughter stood beaming on the stage. Shopping should be fun and special and most of all, memorable. I am honored that people bring family and friends to help them find their inner princess. Let's face it, there is a little princess in us all. As women, retail therapy is the number 1 remedy for all of our ailments.
Shop with us at Formally Yours and make your wedding dreams come true.

**Alterations**

No matter what size you are, more than likely you will need some type of alterations. Here, at Formally Yours, we strive to have the best seamstresses back our products. We keep prices low and energy high! After all, alterations are one of the last things you do before your big day! We all know how stressful these times can be, that's why we have the most talented seamstresses in the Atlanta area!

Alterations Schedule:
Monday & Thursday 4-6:30
Tues., Wed., Fri. 4-5:30
Saturday 10-4:30

No appointments necessary!

Fashion Etiquette

Brides often ask about fashion etiquette. Nowadays, bridal fashion is without boundaries. The wedding day is an expression of the bride's taste and fashion flair. We try to encourage our young ladies to pick and choose styles that not only flatter their figures, but also ones that they feel comfortable and confident in. In addition, we stress that it is important that the bridesmaids be dressed in something to the bride's taste. This day is not about the bridesmaid's style. Bridesmaids should be the backdrop for the bride in her gown.

Each bride is painting a portrait and creating her story. And if this is your personal story on your personal day, why would you want someone else to choose what to wear? The bride has a vision of what she wants to create. Everyone surrounding her should support her and encourage her to express herself. If someone in the wedding party dislikes the choices the bride makes, she has a couple of choices. She can kindly keep her thoughts to herself and smile graciously and purchase the dress of the bride's choice, or she can politely explain that she cannot afford to spend the necessary dollars on the dress and therefore must dropout of the wedding party. Either way, you are supporting the bride without causing her added stress. Wedding etiquette is not just about fashion. It is most importantly about behavior and social graces.

Nobody likes a bridezilla or a bridesmaidzilla. Everyone appreciates gracious ones.

Essense of Australia Trunk Show

Essense of Australia is coming to Formally Yours Saturday Feb. 2nd and is bringing the NEW styles for 2008. Essense has decided to bring their head designer to meet our customers because they love Formally Yours so much! We will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will also feature one of our jewelry collections, Everything Angelic!