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When to Say Yes to the Dress!: Your Go-To Gown Shopping Timeline

June 21, 2020 darianna Leave a comment

Congratulations on your engagement! This is such an exciting time for you, your fiance and your family! One of the first things that comes to mind for a newly engaged Bride is of course, to get THE dress!

You made the decision to commit a lifetime together and now it’s time to pick out your dream gown to say YES to forever in! We are honored to be a part of one of the most exciting experiences as a soon-to-be Bride and we are here to help make the process fun and stress free, and provide an efficient timeline to make the wedding dress process a total success so you feel confident on when to say YES!

The best timeline to buy a dress is 9-12 months from your big day. This gives enough time for the dress to come in from the designer, as well as efficient time to schedule fittings for alterations. We do get your measurements to order your dress so it fits as perfect as possible. Many of our designer’s gowns are made-to-order. It’s very important to give yourself adequate time to avoid late fees and so we can get the dress you love in. If you are working with a shorter lead time or engagement of 4-6 months, it’s no problem. They are typically considered rush orders, and may just incur expedited shipping fees.

There is no right or wrong order as to what sequence in the wedding planning process you get your dress. It may be the first priority on your wedding check-list, or it may be after you select your venue to fit an overall style and feel. Every bride has their own unique approach and we welcome you with open arms whenever you are ready to make your appointment!

Before you come in for your appointment, we recommend you browse some style dresses you like. This is the time where you can get inspired by Pinterest and create a Wedding Gown board! You can get lost in Pinterest for hours… maybe even days! When we schedule your appointment you can even send us a link to your Pinterest Board or you can share images of dresses you like. This allows us to envision exactly what you are looking for and help us find the perfect dresses for you to try on when you get in!

Now that you know the timeline you should be dress shopping, it’s important to know WHEN to say yes to the dress. You will absolutely know WHEN you have your moment. There will be tears, oooh’s, ahhs, and cheers! Our biggest piece of advice is once you have THE gown picked out that you absolutely adore and cannot live without DO NOT second guess it. Stop looking for dresses. Second-guessing will only stress you out, over complicate the situation, and set-you-back in the dress selecting process.

Once the dress is into our store, you get to come in for a try on appointment! Which truly is the most magical moment because you are trying on YOUR own wedding gown for the very first time!! We know how important this is for you, and we even give you an estimated time of arrival via text.

Then voila! You get to bring home your gorgeous gown and can get alterations so it fits your silhouette ever so perfectly. Here at Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo we also have tuxedo and bridesmaid dresses to complete the full look. Text the owners directly at 215-491-8500 for more details!

Black Tie Attire, tuxedos

Should I Wear a Bow Tie Or Long Tie?

June 17, 2020 darianna Leave a comment

We are often asked whether a groom and the groomsmen should wear a bow tie or long tie on the wedding day.

This is a great question and Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo has a lot of experience and advice on answering it.

So let’s get right to the answer and then we’ll dive deeper into various things you should consider when deciding which type of tie to choose for yourself and your wedding party.

The general answer that we give is do not do something you are not comfortable with. If you are not a bow tie kind of guy, then do not wear one. If you are not comfortable in a bow tie, either it’s look or feel, then you are probably not going to be comfortable wearing one. You will also not be happy with the look.

Allure Mens Box Check Bow Tie with Mulberry Tuxedo

However, things are not always that simple so let’s talk about some other things you may want to consider when deciding. We also have a process that we take customers through to help brides and grooms make their choice. You can read all about that process here.

Usually when we meet with brides and grooms during their tuxedo and suit consultation, we can pretty immediately tell if the couple prefers one type of tie over another. Sometimes, though, they aren’t sure which type of tie they want. We’ll go into how we help them determine which type to choose later in this blog if the couple is not sure.

If we see that either the bride or groom is not keen on a bow tie, we highly encourage them to stick with the 500 or so different long ties that we offer.

On the other hand, bow ties are not commonly worn by most people and wearing one on your wedding day is a nice way of switching up your look and creating timeless and classy photos.

Best of Both Worlds

In many cases, if a bride and groom are open to a bow tie, we often introduce the idea of the groom wearing the one, say bow tie, and the groomsmen wearing the other type, in this case a long tie. The first thing that this does is help further distinguish the groom from the rest of the wedding party beyond just having a different color tie. The bride and groom sometimes choose to do the reverse and have the groom wear a long tie and the groomsmen wear a bow tie. While this second option is not as popular as the groom wearing the bow tie, we do see it in approximately 5% of the wedding parties.

Tuxedos, Suits and Ties

Several years ago, it was rare that you would see a groom wearing a tuxedo with a long tie. Today that is completely acceptable. We have many wedding parties and prom goers wearing long ties with their tuxedos and suits. On a few occasions, we will have a groom wear a bow tie with his suit that he purchased or rented from us. So if you want to wear a long tie with your tuxedo that is perfectly acceptable. Again, we advise you doing what is most comfortable for you. Anyone who has worked with us knows that we will tell our customers if their attire choice or combination is not a good idea.

Free Groom Try On

The best way to determine if you prefer a bow or long tie is to try some of each on at your groom try on. We offer all of our grooms the ability to choose up to two different full tuxedos and/or suits with various accessory choices to try on. This is one of our most popular services because the bride and groom get to see what the groom and groomsmen will look like in all attire they choose in the groom’s exact size. During this try on, we will exchange several long and bow ties on the groom so that you can see what they will look like. We even encourage the bride to take pictures of the groom so that you can go home and see what everything looked like and make a decision from there. Read about our full groom try on HERE.

Trends

What are we seeing for tie choices right now? Many grooms are currently choosing bow ties. Why? We think they like the look and it’s a bit different and more formal. Five to seven years ago we saw more long ties for wedding parties but for now, that seems to have changed.

What If I Don’t Know How to Tie a Long or Bow Tie

You are in luck if you do not know how to tie a long or a bow tie. All of ours (almost 500 different colors and styles) are pre-tied and clip ons. They are beautiful and look like someone actually tied the bow tie without you needing to know how to do it! We do sell some bow ties that you can tie yourself if that is what you are looking for. Our long ties come in two different styles: ones that are pre-tied that you do not need to tie and ones that you tie yourself. If you choose a long tie that must be tied, we can tie it for you and leave it in your garment bag so that all you have to do is slip it around your neck and tighten it. We do this all of the time and the guys are very grateful for this free added service.

Navy Textured Blow Tie on Sandstone Tuxedo

Bottom Line

So the true answer as to whether you should wear a bow or long tie comes down to 100% personal choice. Both will work and we are sure you’ll know pretty immediately what you prefer once you do your groom try on with Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo.

Comment on this blog and tell us what you prefer, a bow or long tie?

Take a look at the 70 or so suits and tuxedos that we offer for rent and sale. You’ll enjoy seeing all of the styles and coming up with your own look. Do you have out of town wedding guests? Not a problem for Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo. We arrange to have your guys measured for free anywhere in the country and can even ship them the tuxedo or suit. They can submit their measurements on our website and even make payment online. It’s as simple as that! You can even text our store telephone number for questions and help: 215-491-8500. Make your appointment with us online to talk to a formal wear specialist.

Relationship Advice, wedding dress shopping

Mom, She Wants Your Opinion

June 7, 2020 darianna Leave a comment

Few situations are as important to a girl as choosing her wedding dress, and few opinions matter more to her than her Mom’s.

While this is not true in every case, our experience shows it is in an overwhelming majority. Let’s dive into this crazy dynamic of mother-daughter shopping for a wedding dress.

Regardless of who else bride brings to the appointment – sister, best friends, grandmother, godmother, brother, father, wedding planner – the bride will ask, “What do you all think?” The opinions fly, the bride gets confused, the stylist regains control by refocusing the bride in the mirror. The next question is always, “Mom, what do you think?”

To me, this is one of the sweetest moments.

There are four ways this is answered:

“I love it!”

Some moms love pretty much every dress her daughter tries on. It is so cute to watch her excitement as she takes pictures and gushes. This doesn’t help the bride make her decision, but it definitely adds to the fun and excitement of trying on.

2. “I don’t like that at all.”

This dress is typically removed immediately. With this dress, the bride usually knows the response and tells us in the dressing room, “My mom isn’t going to like this.”

3. “Eh, it’s not my favorite but if you like it that’s all that matters.”

This is a great one, because we get to dive into ‘why’ it isn’t her favorite. Mom treads very lightly here, in case it is her daughter’s favorite. She doesn’t want to upset her or cloud her judgement. Nevertheless, the bride does want to know what her mom sees in this dress versus others.

4. “It’s your dress, I’m not giving my opinion.”

This is the worst answer a mother can give. Mom may think she is being helpful, but the bride needs her support – especially if there is a group giving opinions. When the bride asks everyone, and then specifically asks for mom, she needs her help. If mom won’t ever answer, the bride can’t get excited about any of them.

Why would this one opinion be so important to a bride?

TRUST.

Mom has known her daughter the longest, has felt the ups and downs of her daughter’s life harder than her daughter, has her back, and will never steer her in the wrong direction. Bride knows this and is relying on her.

This is not to say that the bride and mom have the same taste, they rarely do, but they both know when it’s the right dress.

It also doesn’t mean the bride won’t say yes to a dress that isn’t mom’s favorite. When mom gives her opinion and bride can weigh that out with her own, it is far more helpful than when mom won’t give any opinion.

The reason brides bring their mothers to this meaningful event is not only to share the experience, it is also for guidance, reassurance, and assistance. The stylist will help choose, answer questions, and give pros and cons, but mom’s approval of her choice is a weight off the bride’s shoulders.

Again this is not true in every case, some girls will come alone to choose their favorites and then bring Mom back to select from those. Some brides unfortunately don’t get along with or have lost their mothers and will bring a different trusted person and rely on him/her the same way.

This is why we suggest limiting the group helping the bride shop. The number of opinions can be overwhelming when really it’s just one or two that truly matter and the most important opinion is the bride’s. So Mom, if she asks for your opinion, she really wants it. It doesn’t mean she’s going to listen to it (probably like she didn’t listen to you sometimes growing up…), but she definitely wants to know what you think because you matter very much. She wants your yes, so she can say yes!

Bridesmaids, wedding planning

The Color Of Your Wedding

June 5, 2020 darianna Leave a comment

Color sets the mood. The right colors in your home can create a calming oasis, the right colors on your clothes can bring out your best features. What about the colors of your wedding?

We’ve often wondered where these color palette “trends” come from year after year. Some seem to last two months, yet others are classic and never go out.

For 2020, the color is Pantone’s classic blue:

Instills calm, confidence, and connection

Which is quite different from 2019’s color, which was Pantone’s living coral:

If you’re trendy and like to follow these guidelines, there are hundreds of palettes already put together that will make a lovely statement. And because there are hundreds, it can also give you a massive headache.

Maybe you have no interest in what the color of the year is (um, me?!) and your Pinterest board is full of many lovely colors and you don’t know where to start.

Here is some help!

Look at your setting and season. Are you getting married at a rustic stone property in June, a woodland setting in October, a winter wonderland in January? Clearly all three of these have their own flavor and colors that will lend perfectly to them, regardless of what is trendy. Think about your venue, the season, and get inspired that way!

Think about the mood you want to set. For instance, you may want to have a small wedding reception, but still want glamour. This can definitely be done and in a striking way with the right palette. Metallic colors lend beautifully to this! Or maybe you want soft and romantic. Fire engine red may not be your best choice to set that mood, but it would be a perfect color to display a classic love story full of passion and emotion.

If you’re so inclined you can look up what each color means and maybe be inspired that way. Maybe one of these colors really represents your relationship and you can build around that as well.

Always consider at least one nature color so your flowers can blend.

Once you have an idea of colors, choose your favorite as your base. That color will be used predominately throughout your wedding. Then you will want to use the other 2 to 3 as coordinating accent colors. These can be either contrasting or neutral which ever you prefer. Your maids, flowers, linens, invitations, and possibly even your cake will have these colors as well.

If you are having trouble picking additional accent colors, consider ombre or gradient colors in different shades of your favorite, or neutrals that tie everything together.

A neutral color will work with any palette

Choosing your colors is an important part of planning your wedding! Put some thought into it, and be sure it makes sense to you. Enjoy the process!