Dress Gallery has some great events coming up to celebrate the end of a very successful year!

Please join us for the following events in December:

Every Saturday we will have cold weather treats for you! Start your bridal appointment with hot apple cider, cookies, & savory treats. (We will be closed Saturday Dec. 24 for Christmas Eve)

On December 3, Don’t miss Christmas in Delano. Visit Santa in the Delano District and stop in for snacks!

 January 14 & 15, we will see you all at the Bridal Fair at Century II! We will be giving away $1000 in tuxedos that day, and you can win everything from a free honeymoon to discounts on photography and more. This is a MUST ATTEND for any bride-to-be! Plus, we’re right down the street from Century II! Make sure you stop by our booth for special promotions on bridal gowns, and call for an appointment early for that weekend, we book up fast! We will be open 10-7 that Saturday, and 1-5 that Sunday.

The weekend of January 20-22 we are pleased to present Mori Lee’s beautiful new bridal gowns in an exclusive trunk show. Come in to preview new designs and try on your favorites, and receive a discount on Mori Lee dresses good for that weekend only.

On January 27-29 we will be hosting our first EVER prom trunk show! Come in for special discounts and FREE pair of prom shoes with the purchase of a dress. We will feature Mori Lee’s beautiful prom dresses!

Don’t miss the following events in February and March (more details coming soon!)

2/17-2/19 The Women’s Fair at Century II

3/3 Our annual “All About Prom” Event. Fun, Food & Fashion! (Plus make up artists, hair stylists, and much more!)

3/11 Wedding Ideas Bridal Showcase

See you there, and don’t forget to book your appointment soon at 316-264-6688!

Love and dresses,

Dress Gallery

We have big big news – our after-Thanksgiving sale is HERE! We are having pre-sale specials all week. We are closed on Thursday to spend time with our families and Friday morning we will open at 10am to serve your needs!

Some of our favorite things are on sale like…

BRIDAL GOWNS up to 50% off in stock gowns

CLEARANCE BRIDAL GOWNS up to 75% off original price

PROM DRESSES up to 75% off in stock gowns

SHORT PARTY DRESSES up to 75% off in stock gowns

VEILS, TIARAS, BRIDAL BELTS, GARTERS, and HAIR PIECES up to 50% off in stock pieces

ALL PURPLE HOUSE JEWELRY is 50% off in stock pieces

EVERYTHING IN THE STORE IS 25% OFF! There is nothing that isn’t on sale!

Keep in mind that special orders do not receive discounts!

If you’re looking for a steal on your bridal gown, prom dress, or a cute dress for New Years Eve, come see us!

Layaway is available on select items. Ask us for details!

Love and Dresses,

Dress Gallery

PS Check out our website for a special coupon good this weekend only! ShopDressGallery.com

We know you love your bridal gowns, so do we! But sometimes, your five foot train, giant fluffly ballgown skirt, strapless sweetheart bodice and embellishments can be a little too much to party in. The most modern brides (celebrities and royalty  included!) are choosing reception dresses to wear when they boogie the night away.

You may have some apprehension about a reception dress. After all, you spent a lot of money on your bridal gown, right? What’s the point of only wearing it for a few hours? The point is this: your comfort level will increase threefold when you change out of a long ballgown into something you can dance in. Your stress level will drop when you realize that yes, you can pee without assistance from your bridesmaids and you won’t have to worry about the marinara at the pasta bar.

A reception dress is an easy way to make sure you have fun during your wedding! There are a few cases where they are more appropriate than others. If you are having a simple cake and punch reception and no dancing, keep your wedding dress on. If you are having a party full of dancing and drinking after your ceremony, consider the reception dress. It’s a great way to show your personality, and if you time your change correctly, you will let your guests know that it’s time to have fun!

Arrive at your reception in your bridal gown. This will let you have the grand entrance you’ve always dreamed of. Then have your first dance in your dress as well. The pictures will be better and your husband will get to have an intimate moment with you in the dress. Cut the cake in your wedding dress, too. The most highly photographed events of the evening should be of you in your bridal gown.

If you’re having a sit-down dinner, go change after you’ve eaten but after the first dance! This will signal to guests that you’re ready to party PLUS you get another great entrance. Who doesn’t love that!

Choosing your reception dress should be much easier than your bridal gown. Choose something fun, flirty, and totally you! The dress should still reflect your theme and the overall dressiness of your wedding. You should also choose white or ivory so guests can still find you in a crowd, and keep your hair and makeup the same (always ALWAYS take off your veil at the reception, regardless of if you get a reception dress or not). You can add fun, colorful shoes, bigger jewelry, or go simple and put on some ballet flats or flip flops.

Some of our favorite examples of reception dresses come from Hollywood and the Duchess of Cambridge, better known as Princess Kate. We carry Alfred Angelo’s little white dresses, as well as fabulous other selections. Our collection of reception dresses keeps growing!

Shannon Tweed & Gene Simmons - She changed three times that night!Dress #2 for Mrs. Gene Simmons! So fun and glamDress #3 for Shannon Tweed!

Dress #2 for Mrs. Gene Simmons! So fun and glam

Dress #3 for Shannon Tweed!

A pretty little number from Alfred Angelo

Perhaps the most famous reception dress ever - The Duchess of Cambridge

Another pretty little thing from Alfred Angelo. We have this dress in stock!

 

Another hint about our new line of dresses:

 

If you want a different colored wedding dress, this line is definitely for you!

 

 

Love and dresses,

 

Dress Gallery

This lovely Wednesday the topic of conversation is photography. A staple of weddings, photographers and their craft provide memories that will never fade. But so many photographers are so expensive! Why, you ask, should I spend more than $1000 on my wedding photography? Because it’s worth it.

We’re here to tell you from experience: photography matters. We constantly tell brides: “The wedding is one day, the pictures last a lifetime. If your dress doesn’t photograph well on you, it’s not the one.”

So how can  you tell a dress is going to photograph well? Easy! There are three simple things that will guarantee your bridal gown will photograph with ease. And here they are:

1) Book a good photographer. There are things that should raise red flags when you’re meeting with someone, and things that should sell you. First off, make sure they have references and reviews. An easy way to do this is to ask for a recent bride who used the photographer. If you approach a bride and don’t take the photographer’s word for it, you’ll get honest answers about the photographer and his or her work.

     A red flag: the photographer doesn’t have a studio. No studio = frequent rescheduling for portraits if the weather is bad (and in Kansas we all know it will probably be bad). No studio = no formal portraits indoors. If formal indoor portraits are important to you, skip a photographer who doesn’t offer a studio setting.

A selling point: an amazing portfolio. If you see pictures you don’t like,  don’t book the photographer. Keep in mind that the images they use for advertisements and portfolios are their best work. If you don’t like their best, don’t book!

2) The easiest way to make sure you’ll look good in your wedding pictures is to pick the right dress. Many bridal salons won’t allow you to take photos of the dress (some stores claim that copyright designs are the reason – some claim that photographing a gown that isn’t your choice can confuse you) we say take the pictures! If your gown is beautiful in person but looks funky in pictures, you’re not going to be happy with it. If you’re torn between two dresses and you have images of both, take a close look. You might find that one photographs better – choose that dress!

Also keep in mind that color matters! If your bridal consultant recommends that you go for ivory instead of white, she’s suggesting that for a reason. Some skin tones don’t look good in bright white, some dresses look better in ivory; there are many factors. To figure out which shade of white or ivory looks best on you, we recommend using the website: http://www.colormebeautiful.com. Take a simple quiz about your coloring and it will match you up with the right shade for your bridal gown.

3) Perhaps the easiest way to make sure you look good in your wedding pictures is to make sure you’re comfortable. That means with everything – your dress choice should have the following things: good fit (including alterations! It’s worth it to shell out the dough for something that fits you beautifully!), good form (spending more on a dress will assure quality, which means your dress will have good lining, good stitching, and will stay together on your day), and most importantly, something that is you (something covered in sparkle if you’re a glitter girl, something soft and dreamy if you’re an ethereal princess). You should also be comfortable with your photographer. Make sure you connect! Practice posing in front of your mirror at home, even if you feel goofy.If you’re intimidated or shy in front of your photographer, it will show through in your pictures so be confident!

Some of our favorite photographers are in the Wichita area. We have a link to our brides and their wedding photos on our Facebook page here: Dress Gallery’s Albums. 

Brides: who did YOU pick for your wedding photographer and why?

AND as promised, another hint about our special new designer:

OUR ORDER WAS CONFIRMED TODAY!! Expect these dresses in January, brides!!

Love and dresses,

Dress Gallery

We are excited to tell you that we have 70 new bridal gowns – yes, you read that right! Seventy beautiful new gowns for you to choose from, and they’re from some of our favorite brands: Alfred Angelo and Private Label by G. We are also excited to add15 more plus size gowns to our inventory and you should be too, they’re gorgeous!

Here are some of the new dresses…but of course, they’re much more beautiful in person! Book an appointment today by calling (316) 264-6688!

Private Label Signature Plus #3347

Private Label by G #1382

Alfred Angelo #2020

Alfred Angelo #1807: We have two of this dress in sizes 8 and 24W!

This week we are going to focus on the REAL reason you’re getting married: your partner! Your groom is the second most important part of the day (you, of course, are the very most important part and don’t let anyone tell you differently!). It’s important that your groom looks his best but it’s also important that he doesn’t look like he’s going to prom. Here are some tips to making him look aaaaamazing!

* Check out your guy’s body type before deciding on a tux style (you know you do every day, anyway!). He won’t look good in certain styles if he’s short, boxy, round, or husky. If he has broad shoulders, you need a more fitted look in the waist to make him look svelte and sophisticated. If he’s tall and lean, make sure his tux isn’t too big on the shoulders. You don’t want him to look like’s wearing his dad’s suit! Here’s an example of a tux that fits well, and one that doesn’t…

We love the Biebs, but his tux needs tailoring.

Colin Firth's tux fits him FLAWLESSLY

Chase Crawford adds a modern-vintage twist to his tux with the skinny black tie. Nice!

Mark Wahlberg shows off a shiny lapel - a very classic touch.The newest styles include dark gray tuxes. A little warmer than classic black!

Ivory tuxes are a nice alternative for a guy who wants white, but whose bride has chosen an ivory gown!

 

And as promised, another hint to our new bridal line: These dresses are kind of scandalous, the corset tops need a layer of lining to be church-ready!

 

 

Love and dresses,

Dress Gallery

This cold October morning calls for coffee, hot cocoa, breakfast in bed, and some awesome web surfing! The internet has really changed the way weddings are planned. From inspiration photos to online gift registries, using the web to keep your guests and wedding party informed is priceless.

But where to start? Sure, Googling “wedding photos” will get you 49,300,000 results (not kidding). But the good stuff can be found at a few good blogs and sites. Here are our favorites, in no particular order:

http://www.theknot.com

The Knot is famous for its wedding planning abilities. You can do almost everything on this site – book vendors, manage your guest list, find gifts for your attendants, and use a very handy wedding checklist to keep you organized. This is the creme-de-la-creme of wedding websites!

The Knot has an amazing magazine, too!

http://www.greenweddingshoes.com

Green Wedding Shoes is a blog site based out of California. Their real-life wedding and engagement photos will inspire you and keep away the planning blues. Be careful though – you might end up changing some of your details after getting involved in this site!

An inspiration board from greenweddingshoes.com

http://www.etsy.com

We are constantly telling our brides about Etsy! It is a one-of-a-kind site that’s like an E-Bay craft fair. Look up anything from handmade bejeweled belts to vintage lace gloves. The jewelry and crafts are the best!

Our favorite vendor is luxebridalcouture.

Check out this amazing belt!

http://www.brides.com

Brides magazine has to be the best bridal mag out there, and their site is phenomenal! If you haven’t subscribed to their magazine, do it! It will be a lifesaver for your planning efforts and it’s super easy to clip photos out of the pages to show your vendors exactly what you’re looking for. (Including dresses – we love it when brides bring in pictures for us!)

Brides magazine: your bridal Bible!

http://www.myglassslipper.com

Having a hard time finding gorgeous shoes in Wichita? Especially designer shoes?? We feel your pain! Check out this site for perfect shoes for your wedding day. And if you don’t want to cough up the change for those Badgley Mischkas, come to us. We’ll help you find a pair you love at a lower price.

Better pick up an extra shift or two for these Badgley Mischka's at a cool $270!

Mori Lee in Organza

And as promised, another clue on our new designer.

 

We will be only the TENTH store in the nation to carry this GORGEOUS LINE!!!

 

 

Love and dresses,

 

Dress Gallery

Every mother dreams of their child getting married someday – and when that day comes, they want to feel important, beautiful, and comfortable. Finding a dress for mothers is tricky for a few reasons – the color, style, and fabric aside, finding something that fits beautifully, is affordable, and matches the theme of the wedding is a difficult task!

Here at Dress Gallery, we have a lot of requests for mother of the bride (and groom! and grandmother’s!) dresses. Shopping for this kind of formal wear is really a snap when we’re here to help you!

Some things to expect:

Mother’s dresses take 3-4 months to come in (the same as bridesmaids and bridal gowns!). Most of our mothers end up paying a rush cut on their gowns because they don’t realize this. That can add an extra charge to a dress. Not worth it! Come in early and order when you place the bridesmaid and bridal gown orders.

Most of our dresses run from $300-$500. Most moms are astonished at the price, but you’re getting a quality formal. Most of the dresses are beaded and come with jackets, which adds to the cost. A less expensive route is to try on bridesmaid’s dresses (yes, seriously!)

Bridesmaid’s dresses can be great for moms, especially if you’re on a budget. Finding a cute bridesmaid’s dress and adding a jacket averages around $200. They come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, too!

Color is often tricky for moms. Your dress should not match the bridesmaids! It should be a coordinating color of similar saturation and tone. For example, if the bridesmaids dresses are eggplant purple,  a nice rich claret red could work nicely for a mother’s gown.

Remember the season! Summer and winter weddings demand different styles and accoutrements – you don’t want a long taffeta gown with a jacket in the summer and you don’t want a short sleeveless chiffon gown in the winter. If you have problem spots on your body that you want covered (arms, knees, etc.) we can easily find something that is seasonally appropriate for you. For example, if arms are a problem but the wedding is in the summer, we can add a cropped light-weight bolero that’s functional and won’t make you sweat.

There’s always the dilemma of what the “other mom” is wearing. From our first formal dance, every woman’s fear is wearing the same thing as someone else. It is important that mother of the groom and mother of the bride communicate about what they’re wearing. Imagine if they showed up in the same gown! Typically, we don’t recommend the moms wearing the same color. It can get confusing for well-wishing guests who are told the bride’s mom is the lady in purple (but the groom’s mom is wearing the same). So once again, coordinating colors and styles are the way to go. We also think it’s good if one mother doesn’t outshine the other. Most people associate the mother of the bride as the more important lady of the day, but we feel that both the groom’s and bride’s mothers (and step-mothers!) are equally important. If one is decked to the nines and the other is in a simple sun dress, there are some asthetic issues.

Our favorite brands for mother’s dresses are:

http://www.jasminebridal.com – Jade and Jade Couture. We love!

http://www.jasminebridal.com – Belsoie, one of their bridesmaids lines, has some stunning gowns perfect for mothers.

http://www.morilee.com – Mori Lee doesn’ t have a designated MOB or MOG line, but their elegant bridesmaids’ dresses are definitely do-able.

And as promised, another clue about our new line!

These dresses are highly embellished, covered in lace, and have fffffffffun design elements!

Love and Dresses,

Dress Gallery

This week we are going to give you the 101 on bridesmaids shopping – one of the trickiest part of outfitting your wedding party is nailing down the perfect dress (or dresses!) for your maids.

Traditionally, brides are faced with the dilemma of picking a dress that everyone will look good in, and hopefully she succeeds! But more recently, bridal parties are finding that because of starkly different body types (from height & weight to curvy & straight) different dresses in the same color might work better. Choosing the same dress for everyone might not please every girl and having happy bridesmaids who are comfortable and look good is very important.

Here are some tips for mixing up your bridal party:

* Pick the same designer, color, and fabric, and let the girls choose the style number. Those three things provide a cohesive picture for the entire party, rather than looking like the girls aren’t uniform. This way, the maids look like part of the wedding party, but can express their individual style. (This also helps if bridesmaids have different body types and flattery is an issue!)

*Pick the same dress and let the girls choose from a variety of colors. If your wedding is bright and cheery, you might want to incorporate multiple shades of the same color. Or go wild and let the girls choose their own complimentary colors. Not every girl can pull of bright yellow, but for the one who can, let her rock it. For the others, choose colors of the same saturation.

*Let the maid or matron of honor be different than everyone else. This usually means the maids in the same style and color and the MOH in a different style of the same color, or a dress in a completely different hue that compliments your color scheme.

Keep in mind that your ladies might not all love the same dress and a comfortable girl is a happy girl!

Now for some tips on bridesmaids shopping…

*Keep in mind the season of your wedding. Summer weddings call for tea or knee length dresses. Putting your maids in long dresses, regardless of the fabric, will add to their discomfort. If the wedding is formal, stick to tea length.

*Remember bridesmaids dresses take the same amount of time wedding dresses do to come in (3-4 months!). And if you want to get a rush cut on your bridesmaids dresses, the fee is usually per dress. Do the math: even a low $20 rush cut fee with 5 girls can add an unexpected $100 to your wedding budget. Yikes!

*Find your dress first. The bride and her gown are the centerpieces of the wedding. Looking for bridesmaids dresses before you’ve found your gown is like shopping for curtains before you’ve found the house: it just doesn’t make much sense. The bridesmaids dresses should compliment your gown as much as possible. Similar fabrics, necklines, or cuts are easy and create a lovely asthetic.

*If your girls are out of town, don’t panic. The companies we carry are  national brands, which means your out-of-staters can type in their zip codes on the designers’ websites and find stores near them to try on and get measured. We do, however, recommend ordering all of the gowns from the same store at the same time and this is why:

*Dye lot variations! Because high-quality designers use natural dyes, the colors can vary per bolt of fabric.These slight differences in shade are usually only noticeable if another bridesmaid ordered her dress from a different bolt – something you do not want in pictures. Sometimes it looks really off!  By ordering all of your gowns from the same place at the same time, you ensure your dresses will be cut from the same bolt and avoid the problem altogether.

*Getting measured is a snap. Don’t be fooled by bridal stores that charge to measure you or charge to try on gowns. These things should be given to customers – we provide both of these services for free, even for out-of-town weddings.

*Sizes run funky. Just like bridal gowns, bridesmaids dresses run small. That means you take your jean size and go up (yes, I said up.) one or two sizes and that’s usually your size. Don’t be offended – higher fashion means smaller sizes. We will order what we think will fit you the best. Alterations might be needed on every gown – especially if they are long!

*Plus sizes often have an additional charge. It’s unfortunate that many designers charge more for plus sizes, but there’s nothing bridal stores can do about it. Usually plus sizes (size 20+) add at least a $20 charge. The company’s reasoning is that often they use more fabric making plus size gowns, adding to the cost. Bummer.

*Bringing in everyone at the same time is good  – as long as you make an appointment. On weekends and weekdays, you don’t want to be stuck waiting with your entire wedding party because we are booked with other appointments. By making one of your own, you ensure you have a consultant ready to help you and space available.

Check out the links to our favorite bridesmaids gowns, and see you soon!

http://www.morilee.com

http://www.billlevkoff.com

http://www.jasminebridal.com

http://www.davincibridal.com

http://www.andrewadela.com

http://www.foreverbridals.com

AND as we mentioned last week, we have another clue to figure out what our new line is!

Clue #2: These dresses are as exquisite as a Faberge egg, if only by name alone.

Love and dresses,

Dress Gallery

Just a few things we are very excited about:

*Mori Lee’s reintroduction of organza bridesmaids dresses. (They were discontinued a few years ago and they’re baaack!!)

*A one-of-a-kind dress from Jasmine that no one else in the nation will have.

*Private Label’s return to their roots with classic fabrics, heavy embellishments, and stunning silhouettes.

*Maxie Morrell’s gorgeous prom dresses – coming soon for you high school ladies!

*Alfred Angelo’s new season of Disney Princess gowns. (AND we got to meet the designer! How sweet!)

*Patterned bridesmaids dresses from B2 by Jasmine. (They will be so sweet for spring weddings!)

*A lower-priced line from one of our favorite designers, DaVinci, for brides on a budget who still want quality.

And a few trends to look out for:

*Sleeves, capes, straps, and covers: almost every line is offering capelets and long sleeves for our brides. We have a very unique lace jacket coming that’s to die for!

*3-D flowers, ruffles, and Marie Antoinette-esque details: we know the haute couture trends hit Kansas a little later than other states, but we are excited for such exquisite detail that’s popular for the new season!

*Blush: for the bride looking for something different, put ivory and blush together.We love the romantic combination and the slightest hint of pink on your bridal gown really adds a feminine touch.

*Corset tops: of course we carry corset-back lace up dresses, but the next few seasons will incorporate structured vertical lines and intricate lace detailing on corsets. Some of you have asked for the corset look, so be ready for them!

AND…

The most exciting thing we have coming will be a surprise in January.

 Brides who attend the January bridal fair will hopefully be able to get a sneak peek at a new line of dresses unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. You will drool. You will gasp. You might get teary-eyed.

But we are going to make you wait for them. Trust us, it’s worth it!!

In the mean time, we are going to give a few hints and have a big reveal soon.  See if you can guess what the line is before we reveal! I guarantee you will all be blown away when you see these fantastic dresses!

So hint #1….

   When ordering these dresses, we have to call the most romantic city in the world.

And for you visually stimulated people out there…here are a few images from market for you

PS Here’s another homecoming queen candidate: Jess Turley from Andover High. She looked stunning in this XOXO cream-colored dress. We added gold accents to really make it special. What a down-to-earth cool girl! Good luck Jess, knock ‘em dead!

Love and dresses,

Dress Gallery