BRIDAL FAIR!: Contemporary Bride would like to say thank you to all the brides that attended our Bridal Fair on June 26, 2003. Amy Fernadez was our Grand Prize Winner. She won over $5,000 worth of Prizes from the following: Contemporary Bride, The Tux Shop, Jay Browne Photography jaybrownephotography, American Floral, Eagle Television, Freyja Hair Salon and Spa, Hampton Inn in the Vista hamptoninncolumbia, B&A Travel, Naturally Elegant Events naturallyelegant, Cherished Heirlooming, and Queen's Cupbaord. Door prizes were also given away throughout the night. Special thanks to Lite 96.7 and 20/20 Columbia.
Southern
Living Weddings: Contemporary Bride is proud to be featured
in the summer 2001 issue of Southern Living Weddings. Look for
our article on page 115. The article features three of their
favorite shops in the South to find your perfect gown. You may
also purchase this issue at our store for $5.99. We are honored
for this distinction, and hope you come by to see us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Congratulations on your wedding plans. We at Contemporary Bride would be honored to be one of the full service bridal salons you plan to visit. We would like to have the opportunity to help make your wedding day special. We want you to be truly satisfied with your choices, and your shopping experience. Here are some important thoughts for you to consider before you start your wedding shopping experience. |
Try to familiarize yourself with the bridal styles before you come in to try on dresses. Simply flipping through a bridal magazine or two will give you a good idea of what styles are "in" and which ones you instantly like. Also, bring in pictures of the gowns you like. Without a starting point, our racks can be overwhelming. Also, have a firm wedding date before you shop for the gown. The time and place of the ceremony often influence the dress choice. That being said...
2) When is the best time to go shopping?
During the week, we are less busy than on Saturdays. Try to come at a time when you can spend an hour with us. Some brides try to fit it in on their lunch break, and are rushed. We have over 300 unique gowns for you to look at, so take your time.
If you can't visit our store during the week, then Saturdays are your best day. Just be aware that a lot of other people will be there on Saturdays as well. You shouldn't be surprised if there is a wait for a fitting room. Full service bridal stores help their brides into gowns, so you may have to wait for their help. We have a Sign-in Sheet at the front of our store to help ease the wait and avoid confusion of who came in first. We don’t take appointments. We don’t want to limit the time we spend with you. So come on in and we will get started…
3) Don't limit yourself to any one style before you shop.
If you like something enough to take a second look, but still don't love it on the hanger, keep an open mind anyway. (Especially if your bridal consultant recommends it! We have the advantage of knowing what all of our gowns looks like on!) Some gowns have great body appeal once they're tried on but not much "hanger appeal" and some dresses that look fabulous in pictures don't fit at all the way you'd expect.
4) Do limit the number of shops you visit in a day.
This could be our best advice. Every dress will blur together if you see too many at once! We recommend no more than two stores during any one shopping excursion. Then give your mind a break and see which gowns - and which stores have stuck in your memory. We will be happy to write down and get track of all the gowns you tried on and liked, so you can come back and re-try them on.
5) Understand that, while we may get close, we aren't trying to crowd.
We often assist brides in and around the dressing rooms, even helping to slip gowns on and off, and this is not an attempt to pressure you. Simply put; our gowns are delicate and we're trying to protect them from wear and tear as much as possible. Lipstick and perfume, especially, tend to cling to bridal fabrics and we do our best to keep each gown pristine for the next bride.
6) Know that a few valued opinions are better than a slew of them.
If other people are involved, try to narrow your choices before you add different (and often contradictory) opinions to your decision. Finally, decide on the store where you feel most comfortable and are likely to buy. You may even narrow your dress choices to two or three before bringing in an audience. So when you find the one…
7) How long does it take to order a dress?
Wedding gowns take approximately 4 months to order. Many companies off a ‘Rush Cut’ for an extra fee that gets the gown in sooner. Also, keep in mind that alterations usually take about 3 weeks, and most photographers want to do a portrait 6-8 weeks before your wedding. Most manufacturers recommend ordering your gown 7-9 months ahead of time to allow for all of this. In a time crunch? All of our gowns are available to purchase off-the-rack, and some at real savings.
8) Bridesmaids dresses.
When shopping for bridesmaids’ dresses, we believe there are some important things you should know before you start. First, you'll be pleased to know that today's styles are very useable for other social occasions. We suggest ordering all of your bridesmaid's dresses from one store so that the color ordered comes from the same dye lot. We will make sure your party is measured properly and your order is handled in the most efficient manner. If you have out-of-town bridesmaids, we have forms for you to send to them, and we can ship their dress once it arrives at our store. Keep in mind, most bridesmaid dresses take 12 weeks to order, so be sure to allow enough time to order and for alterations. In a time crunch? Many companies offer ‘Express’ dresses that take anywhere from 2-8 weeks to come in.
9) Realize that bridal gowns and bridesmaid's dresses are sized differently than everyday clothing. (WE hate it, too!)
Don't be surprised if you find the dress and then find you need to order it in a bigger size than you have every worn before. This is not your body. This is bridal sizing!
We utilize each designer's size chart as well as our staff's knowledge of how different lines fit. Then, you choose the size to order, based on your measurements (bust, waist, or hips) and the chart provided. After all, you can always take in a dress, but we have real trouble adding to one that won't zip up when it arrives.
Good luck shopping! We hope these tips get you started on the right foot -
and that we can help you from here.
July Special
Our 14th Annual July Special is going on now! Any Wedding Gown, Bridesmaid Dress, or Flower Girl Dress ordered in July is 20% OFF! Come in and look at the new styles! Why buy a gown that everyone else will have on in the paper? We have over 300 unique gowns, so you are sure to find the perfect one just for you! Why buy off the rack when you can order a brand new gown that no one else has tried on? Order NOW for your Fall/Winter or early Spring Wedding! Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer, special, or package. See store for details.
Brides on a Budget
For all you brides on a budget, come by our store and look at all the savings! Select in-stock one-of-a-kind wedding gowns on sale for $99 and up! Sizes range from 4-26. Original prices of these gowns are $500 - $1195. Select in-stock bridesmaid, Prom, and Special Occasion gowns on sale for $19.99 and up! Flower girl dresses are $50 and up! Select in-stock veils and headpieces $35-$50. Come browse through our over 300 UNIQUE bridal gowns and find the perfect one just for you! Offer CAN NOT be used in conjunction with any other offer, special, or package. See store for details.
Due to the customer volume and the individualized nature of the services we offer, you and your bridesmaids may have a long wait if you choose to come on Saturday. Volume is considerably lighter during the week. If Saturday is the only day you can come, dress comfortably and take advantage of the extra time to work on your wedding plans.
