BRIDAL TRENDS OF 2012

Bridal gown fashion! Ahhh, my favorite topic in the whole wide world! Ever evolving, sometimes surprising, and always inspiring is the input of our brides. The influence they have on the gowns we carry and design, is priceless and who better to use for your design focus groups? With Idaho usually being slightly behind the national trend on style, I was surprised to see how right on the girls were in what they envision for their perfect dress in 2012. Classic, sophisticated, elegant. These are the top 3 words from our brides when we asked them to list words they would use to describe they way they look on their wedding day. Here are Rianne's Bridal top trend prediction for 2012:

10. LACE, LACE, LACE!!!
What says classic and elegant better than lace? The correct answer is absolutely nothing. Whether it's little touches of lace in the cap sleeve, or a full fledged lace gown, this classic trend is sure to be a hot topic at bridal consultations in 2012! And make no mistake, this is not your grandma's doilies. We are talking unique gorgeous fabric that will have even the most modern brides looking on with envy.

9. COLOR:
More and more brides are going for the color this season. Instead of the traditional oyster or champagne, we see brides asking for a more tan and blush tone in their gowns. With these rich gorgeous colors flattering all skin types, the bridal industry is seeing more color this season than we have ever seen!

8. ILLUSION NECKLINE and... BACK LINE!
You know the old saying less is more? Well this is absolutely true this season with the comeback of the oh so sexy illusion neck and back! Think strapless with a sexy peekaboo effect. Sheer netting or gorgeous lace, the illusion trend is elegant, sophisticated, and gives a sex appeal that can not be achieved with just a strapless gown.

7.FRINGE:
Fringe is all over the bridal runway this season bringing a little boho chic to the bridal world. Understated or in your face, this new trend is a unique beautiful detail to a bridal gown.

6. PLUNGE:
The oh, so sexy plunge in the front and back are making another stunning comeback. Sexy and inspired by the red carpet, this look is for the seductive bride. Keep in mind, if you are going to plunge in the front or back, a strap of some sort is almost always necessary!

5. DISCO BLING
A huge buzz word in the industry this season. For the bride that wants to sparkle on her special day, the disco bling is the way to go! Over the top bead work that tells the world, I AM HERE! Overall sparkle is for the bride who refuses to be anything less than fabulous on her day!

4. CAP SLEEVE:
The cap sleeve is hitting critical mass this season. With so many girls tired of the same old strapless gown, the cap sleeve offers a stunning alternative. With the ability to elongate the figure and add a unique quality to any gown, the cap sleeve will be huge this season. BONUS: Ask your boutique if the cap sleeve can be customized. Many designers will add/remove beading on the sleeve, change the width and often time make them removable!

3. SLITS:
SEXY,SEXY,SEXY! Inspired by the high slits all over the red carpet, this fashion forward trend is making it's big debut in the bridal world this season. A unexpected but pleasant surprise this shows off the brides gorgeous gams! TIP: Ask your boutique or designer if the slit can be made lower, if you feel it is too high for comfort. I also know that many of the designers will put an invisible zipper in the slit so you can walk down the isle modest, and have your guy unzip the slit during the garter toss!!!

2. CAPLETS
First came the stole, then the shrug, then the bolero...Now we have a beautiful take on this classic look: the caplet. With designers getting more creative on these stunning pieces, the caplet gives the fashion forward bride a way to get the strap feeling, with the freedom to remove and go strapless whenever she pleases!

AND OUR NUMBER ONE TREND THIS SEASON.............................................................................

1. CORSET GOWN:
The designer market took a little longer to catch on to this trend, but now that it has made it's bang on the runway, I believe it is a trend that is here to stay...for a very long time! This style gives any size bride the beautiful hourglass silhouette every girl wants. Making the boobs look big and the waist look small, what else could a bride ask for? This corset look gives the bride both a sweet and sexy feel on her wedding day and the best part? Alterations are usually minimal with a corset gown. The timeless elegance of the corset bodice makes this Rianne's Bridal # 1 pick for the 2012 bridal season!

-Sarah Hedlund
President/Designer
Rianne's Bridal
8206 N Government Way
Hayden, ID 83835
www.riannesbridal.com

Not your typical bridal fashion show...

Are you ready for the bridal fashion show of the year? Well mark your calendars because Rianne's Bridal's 2nd annual fashion show is set to kick off on May 21st at 7pm. Join us for a night of food, fashion and fun! Come mingle with the top vendors in the industry and enjoy some drinks and an amazing show.

After party following at Ciao Mambo. Call today to reserve a seat 208-635-5170.

Rianne's Bridal Spring Fashion Show

Join us May 21 at 7 pm for our annual spring fashion show -

Brides bring your friends and family to enjoy a fun and exciting evening of gowns, shoes, bridesmaid attire and so much more. Including dress designs by Rianne {Owner of Rianne's Bridal} Casablanca, Anjolique and more...

Many vendor will be joining us so get ready for an exciting evening.

All About You Weddings and Events - http://www.allaboutyouoccasions.com/
Rayla Kays Photography - www.raylakayphotography.com
Makeup by: Tiffany Williamson

BUYING EARLY= BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE

Coming off a busy summer last year and heading into busy bridal season next month, I thought I would take a few minutes to discuss the bridal gown time line. For most brides, reading in a bridal magazine that your gown should be ordered 6-9 months before your wedding can come as quite a shock! Without being educated and knowledgeable about the school of thought behind this, it can also make the bride feel like she is being rushed...something we all hate. While all shops do things a bit different, and work with different designers who have different policies, a few things remain true. Ordering a gown from a bridal boutique is a little different than purchasing from a large chain. In shops like mine, each special order gown is made from scratch when the order is put in. Whether you are ordering a "custom gown" or a "couture" gown (CUSTOM: your measurements are compared to the designers size chart and a size is picked. COUTURE: Your gown is cut to your specific measurements) the gown is ordered in your color, your length your size and any changes that you want to make in order to make the gown perfect for you. This process takes time. From the material ordering to the hours and hours of handwork done for the beading...this isn't something that is done overnight. So, keeping in mind that the production time alone, depending on the designer, can take anywhere from 4-6 months, it becomes clear why purchasing early is important.

WHY ORDERING EARLY MEANS BETTER SERVICE:

What I would like to dive a little deeper into is the customer service aspect of early ordering. Wedding planning is stressful, and trust me...worrying about whether your gown will be ready in time, is a stress you and I both would like to avoid. The fact of the matter is while it is rare...mistakes happen. If a glitch happens during the gown process, making sure there is plenty of time for the shop, the designer, or the producer to make things right, is critical. The bridal industry is customer service driven, and myself and my fellow bridal boutique owners and designers always strive to make sure each bride is happier than she could have imagined on her wedding day. We always work hard to make sure we satisfy each bride. When a bride procrastinates on ordering and waits until the last minute...this becomes difficult. We need enough time to make sure we can send the gown back and get a perfect one, in the event a bride isn't satisfied. We need enough time to give UPS, Fed Ex and other shipping companies room in the event there is a delay, for instance. We need enough time for alterations, which generally take about a month. We need enough time to make sure your gown is perfect and you are stress-free in the months leading up to your wedding!

In the end, our main goal is to provide all of our brides, bridesmaids, grooms, and groomsmen with AMAZING customer service, and the more time we have...the more ability we have to accomplish this!

-Sarah Hedlund
President/Designer
Rianne's Bridal
8206 N Government way
Hayden, ID 83835
208-635-5170
www. riannesbridal.com
sarah@riannesbridal.com

Who do I Bring Dress Shopping???

This question seems to have an obvious answer at first. Mom, sister best friend/s? All come to mind right away, but before you get your bridal gown "entourage" together, take a moment to ask yourself some key questions.

Opinions are something we all have, and for the most part our opinions are well-intended. When it comes to making a huge garment purchase, however, making sure you have people who care more about the smile you have coming out of the dressing room after putting on "the dress", is much more important than someone who will give their "honest" opinion no matter what. Let's face it, we all want everyone to think we look amazing in our wedding gown. One thing you need to consider however, is this: Is it more important that I love my dress and feel beautiful in it, or is it more important that everyone gives me their honest opinion? Now really think about this... I have had many a bride in my store that come out looking radiant in a gown grinning ear to ear, only to have the mother or maid of honor rain on her parade with a comment like " I don't like the ruffles", or "it makes your hips look bigger than they are". Even very opinionated brides can hear this, and settle for another dress, simply because they respect their family/friends opinion and know they are giving their "honest" opinion. Now when looking in the mirror, the bride see's only the ruffles, or her hips and the dress she loves is no longer an option.

I hate hearing friends and family make statements like "I'm just being honest". The biggest problem with this, is the same thing that applies to all fashion in general. Regardless of style, a bridal gown only has to meet one requirement, and that is: MAKE THE BRIDE FEEL STUNNING! Does the bride "FEEL" beautiful in it? When woman feel comfortable and beautiful, we could wear a gunny sack and still look fabulous. It's the attitude, the "swag" so to speak, is what makes a gown...the one!

When picking an entourage to take gown shopping ask yourself a couple questions:

1. Is having someone come with me who will give me their "honest"opinion (even if the dress makes me feel like a million bucks,) really a good thing? Or is bringing someone who can read me and know when I feel good about myself a better option? 2. Do I care so much about the opinion of the people coming with me, that I may not pick the gown I love because of it?

My recommendation on picking a group of gals?

1. First time out shopping either go alone, or take one or two people with you max. Visit 3 bridal shops tops. More than 3 stores makes the process exhausting and confusing. 2. Narrow your favorites down to no more than 3 gowns before you bring more people for opinions. 3. Make it clear to your group that you appreciate their opinions, but in the end it is YOUR decision and you mean no offense if you end up loving one that they don't particularly care for. 4. Regardless of silhouette, neckline, color,or length...choose the gown that you "feel" fabulous in. I promise that if you feel beautiful and confident, you will radiate beauty in a way that is impossible to achieve if you aren't comfortable.
Good luck in your shopping! If you are a summer 2011 bride...it's time to start narrowing down your choices and ordering your gown!!!

Sarah Bligh
President/Designer
Rianne's Bridal
8206 N Government Way
Hayden, ID 83838
208-635-5170
Book appt at :sarah@riannesbridal.com

3.

Is a custom designed gown affordable?????

With the launch of my new line "Designs by Rianne" I am starting to deal with a whole set of questions that I had never dealt with before. The biggest dilemma most girls are having is the fear of a custom gown costing them a fortune! Like in everything, having something customized is always a little pricier, however, I think it will pleasantly surprise girls to know that having a customized gown can still be affordable! Well that is... if you do it right. The truth about bridal gowns is that once you hit the mid level gown (price range $1000-1500) there is not much difference between that and a $10,000 gown. After the mid level range, you start paying more for the name and the experience than anything else. While there is a lot to be said for the Amsale, Angel Sanchez, Carolina Herrera etc... gown AND experience...most gals in my neck of the woods, don't have that option. At my shop, the clientele generally are hard working ladies, that are working over time so they can afford that $1500 dream gown for their special day. They tend to be much more conscious of how hard they worked to save a dime, and buying a $10,000 dress is not only not an option, it's not practical ( let's face it, $10k could be a down payment on a house). But, what happens when these girls shop, shop, shop and can't find a gown that they want to put that hard earned money into? This is where my new line comes into play. With my line ranging from about $1000-1500.00 I can help you come up with the perfect gown for your wedding day at an affordable price. When you come in and see the quality and unique style of this line, I know you will be pleasantly surprised! Don't like the neckline or silhouette, but love the beading and fabric? Let me sketch you up the perfect combination of all the elements you love! You won't be disappointed and that is MY personal guarantee! DISCLOSURE: If I get a celebrity to wear my gown at some point, and my name gets out there...prices are subject to change LOL!!!! :)

-Rianne

Year in Business/Fashion Show

Rianne's Bridal is celebrating a year in business! Please come join us May 22nd at 7pm for a fashion show, featuring a new line "Designs by Rianne". To RSVP please email sarah@riannesbridal.com or call 208-635-5170