Bridal Gown Planning Guide

 Copyright ©2015 Howerton+Wooten Events
Wedding Gown Planning Guide
Written by Kawania H. Wooten, CMP
Howerton+Wooten Events, LLC
15480 Annapolis Road, Suite 202
Bowie, Maryland 20715
www.hwevents.com
(202) 706-7953
sayhello@hwevents.com
Copyright ©2015 Howerton+Wooten Events
Cover Image ©2015 Documentary Associates
Second Image ©2014 Mike Sperlak Photography
Third Image ©2014 Natarsha Wright Photography
Fourth Image ©2014 Natarsha Wright Photography
Fifth Image ©2010 Michelle Lindsay Photography
This guide is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License
Copyright ©2015 Howerton+Wooten Events
BRIDAL GOWN CHECKLIST
WHAT TO BRING TO YOUR SALON APPOINTMENT.
o Your Appointment. Bridal Salons are incredibly busy (especially on the weekend), so it is highly recommended that
you book an appointment in advance to get you the undivided attention you deserve as a consumer.
o Your Budget. Focus on the wedding gowns within your financial comfort zone. Please remember that your budget
should include the cost of the dress, the cost of alterations, taxes and shipping fees.
o Pictures of your Preferred Wedding Gowns. You can bring pictures from magazines or you can bring a tablet
with a Pinterest board of your gown preferences.
o Your Church’s Wedding Gown Rules. If your ceremony is in a place of worship, find out whether there are any
attire guidelines you must follow, such as dress length or shoulder coverage BEFORE you purchase your wedding gown.
o Shoes That Match Your Preferred Wedding Day Shoe Height.
o The Proper Undergarments (strapless bra, shape wear, etc.)
o One to three family members or friends.
o A Bottle of Water. This will help you if you find that you are getting hungry.
WHAT NOT TO BRING TO YOUR SALON APPOINTMENT.
o An Entourage. Too many opinions can overwhelm your own thoughts and preferences.
o A Face full of Make-Up. You don’t want to worry about foundation or bright lipstick on expensive gowns.
o Your Weight Loss Plans. We are not saying you cannot lose weight! But, you should buy a wedding gown that fits
you now. It’s easier (not to mention less expensive) to take in a gown than it is to make a “too small” gown larger.
DID YOU FIND THE PERFECT GOWN? COLLECT THIS INFORMATION NEXT.
o Gown Details (Designer, Color Name, Style Number, Fabric, Length, Size Measurements) ____________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
o Bridal Gown Order Date (Attach the receipt to this checklist) _______________________________________
o Bridal Gown Cost (The deposit paid and the pending balance) ) _____________________________________
o Expected Date of Delivery ________________________________________________________________
Copyright ©2015 Howerton+Wooten Events
BRIDAL GOWN CHECKLIST
(Page 2 of 2)
BOUTIQUE DETAILS WORTH KNOWING.
o Bridal Salon Name ___________________________________________________________________
o Bridal Salon Address __________________________________________________________________
o Bridal Salon Sales Consultant __________________________________________________________
o Bridal Salon Sales Consultant E-Mail ___________________________________________________
o Bridal Salon Telephone Number _______________________________________________________
BRIDAL GOWN FITTING DETAILS.
Please note date and times below.
o Bridal Gown Fitting Appointment #1 ____________________________________________________
o Bridal Gown Fitting Appointment #2 ____________________________________________________
o Bridal Grown Final Fitting Appointment ________________________________________________
WEDDING GOWN TO DO LIST.
o The Fine Print. Before pay the deposit and sign on the dotted line, triple-check the sales contract. Read it carefully, so
you don't end up with the wrong size or color. And, make sure that your sales contract includes the price of the gown,
the deposit payment amount, the name of the dress designer, the gown’s style number, your size measurements, the
delivery date, the price of the gown and the number of fittings included in the price.
o Bustling Instructions. Be sure that someone other than the bride knows how to bustle the gown. Ask a bridesmaid,
planner or family member to join you at your final fitting. Take pictures or a video of the gown while it is being bustled.
WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED TO PURCHASE?
o Veil. The style and formality of your veil should be similar to the style and formality of your wedding gown.
o Jewelry
o Shoes. When purchasing shoes, take the flooring or the ground at your wedding venue into consideration.
o Undergarments. Your undergarments should support you AND they should feel comfortable.
Copyright ©2015 Howerton+Wooten Events
BRIDAL GOWN SILHOUETTES
A-Line. A gown with an A-Line Silhouette is fitted bodice through the waist that highlights the
narrowness of the midsection. It flows out from the waist to the ground and resembles the outline of
an uppercase "A." This gown is a nice way to wear a full skit without the drama of a ball gown. This
gown is ideal for brides with pear shape bodies – smaller upper body and large hips.
Ball Gown. The wedding gown is perfect for a princess in a fairytale wedding! The top of this
beautiful gown is fitted, but the gown flairs at the waist with a full skirt. It is ideal for most body types.
However, it doesn’t typically work on petites because the skirt can be overwhelming on a small frame.
Em pire Gown. A wedding gown with an Empire waistline is great for plus-sized brides. An Empire
gown has a waistline that begins just under your bust line. The skirt of the gown flows into a gradual
floor-length A-line wedding gown.
M ermaid. A Mermaid-style wedding gown has a silhouette that is fitted and hugs your curves. This
gown flairs out at the bottom of your wedding gown like a mermaid’s fin. This gown is ideal for
curvaceous brides with hourglass and/or slender body types. It’s not very becoming on plus-size
brides or brides with apple-shaped body types.
Sheath. A sheath-style gown has a narrow shape that flows
straight down from the neckline to the hemline. This
wedding dress is ideal for lean frames, such as petites. The
silhouette of this dress is not very flattering on brides with
pear-shaped bodies.
Tea-Length. The skirt on a tea-length wedding dress falls
in between a bride’s knees and her ankles. This dress is
ideal for all body types, but it is perfect for brides who love
to dance!
Trum pet. The trumpet wedding is often confused with the
Mermaid-style wedding gown. The trumpet-style wedding
gown has a trumpet silhouette (hence its name). This gown
is fitted from your breast to your knees, and it gradually
flares out to above your knees. This gown is ideal for brides
with hourglass and/or slender body types.
Copyright ©2015 Howerton+Wooten Events
4 HELPFUL STEPS FOR GETTING INTO A LIMOSOUNE
WHILE WEARING YOUR WEDDING GOWN
Step 1 – Let go of the bouquet. If you are holding your bouquet, hand it over to your
bridesmaid, mother, planner or the limousine driver before you attempt to get in the car.
Step 2 – Hold someone’s hand. A wedding gown is a lot larger and heavier than your average
dress, so this is no time to be super independent! Take someone’s hand before you attempt to get
into the limousine. This will allow you to remain steady as you attempt to get into the vehicle.
Step 3 – Start with the “end” first. Do not try to “step into” the limousine. Turn around (with
your back facing the vehicle) and sit down on the car seat first. Then, bring your feet into the car.
Step 4 – M ake sure your entire wedding gown (and your veil) is in the car. Before
someone shuts the door, make sure that all of your wedding gown (train included) and your wedding
veil are inside of the car. If it is too difficult for you to pull in your train and/or your veil, ask for
assistance.
Copyright ©2015 Howerton+Wooten Events
5 HELPFUL STEPS FOR GETTING OUT OF A LIMOSINE
WHILE WEARING YOUR WEDDING GOWN
Step 1 – Don’t attem pt to open the door. Allow the driver to open the door for you before you
get out of the vehicle.
Step 2 – Look before you leap. Before you get out of the car, check out the ground in the
immediate area to ensure you are not stepping into mud or a puddle or debris or a pothole.
Step 3 – Let go of the bouquet (again). If you are holding your bouquet, hand it over to your
bridesmaid, mother, planner or the limousine driver before you attempt to get out of the car. Better
yet, leave it on the seat next to you.
Step 4 – Start with your both feet first. Swivel your body around and place both of your feet
out of the car. Then, take someone’s hand before you attempt to get out of the limousine. This will
keep you steady if you lose your “footing” as you get out of the vehicle. Once you have both of your
feet out of the car AND you take someone’s hand, you can step out of the car – Watch your head!
Step 5 – M ake sure your entire dress is out of the car. Before someone shuts the door,
make sure that your entire gown and your veil is outside of the car. If it is too difficult for you to grab
your train and/or veil, ask for assistance.
Voila! You are out of the car!
Copyright ©2015 Howerton+Wooten Events
HOW TO SIT DOWN IN A BRIDAL GOWN
How does a bride sit in her wedding gown after the bustle is buttoned? Who is supposed to
help with this? And, what is the proper way to sit in a bridal gown?
It turns out there are a number of different things to consider such as the style of the wedding
gown and the wedding gown’s train. Sitting in a mermaid dress, as you can imagine, can be
much easier than sitting in a ball gown. Larger dresses will most likely require some assistance
from your maid of honor or mother. Here are some things to consider when sitting in your
gown –
•
H o w i s y o u r p o s t u r e ? No matter what type of dress is, make sure you have good
posture. It will become very uncomfortable if you slouch and your ribs will be thanking you
later. Besides, you don’t want to be slouching in your wedding photos!
•
W h o i s g o i n g t o h e l p y o u o n - s i t e ? When you go to sit down, make sure your maid of
honor is handy so she can grab your train and pull it to one side.
•
H o w d o y o u g o f r o m s i t t i n g t o m i n g l i n g ? Ideally, you want to pull your dress to the
opposite side of your groom. This will make getting in and out of your seat a lot easier as
you will not have to trip over your gown to get out and mingle with your guests.
Copyright ©2015 Howerton+Wooten Events
BRIDAL GOWN RESOURCES
(Disclaimer: Howerton+Wooten Events is not an employee of the companies listed below. Nor does
Howerton+Wooten Events receive any compensation for listing the companies below.)
W ashington DC Area W edding Gown Salon O ptions –
BHLDN at Anthropologie
(202) 337-1363
www.bhldn.com
Bridal Salon at Saks Jandel
(301) 652-2250
www.thebridalsalonatsaksjandel.com
Carine’s Bridal Atelier
(202) 965-4696
www.carinnesbridal.com
Cherry Blossom Bridal
(202) 544-2400
www.cherryblossombridal.com
Ellie’s Bridal Boutique
(703) 683-8697
www.elliesbridal.com
Garnish Boutique
(410) 321-1406
www.garnishboutique.com
Hannelore’s of Old Town
(703) 549-0387
www.hannelores.com
Hitched Salon
(202) 333-6162
www.hitchedsalon.com
Love Couture Bridal
(301) 610-5683
www.lovecouturebridal.com
Lovely Bride
(202) 735-0674
www.lovelybride.com
Rent the Runway
(202) 774-5380
www.renttherunway.com
Soliloquy Bridal Couture
(571) 449-2580
www.soliloquybridal.com
W ashington DC Area W edding Gown Dry Cleaners/Preservation –
Parkway Custom Dry Cleaning
8402 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD
(301) 652-3377
www.parkwaydrycleaning.com
Copyright ©2015 Howerton+Wooten Events
NOTES
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Copyright ©2015 Howerton+Wooten Events