Love is in the air as couples Start WEdding Planning!
At Sandra D’s Bridal Boutique, we are excited to ring in the new year with all of our couples as they start wedding planning! 2022 brought updates to our store, such as interior lighting and décor to better suit our brand and the experience we want to provide. In recent months, we have added new collections of gowns and accessories so we are ready and excited for 2023! Early the year, it’s a great time to continue wedding planning because many wedding expos and shows happen.
January is an exciting time in a bridal store! January is when we receive much of our bridal and prom pieces we purchased in August. It is exciting to open packages on a weekly basis to add to our store!
We are adding pieces to our Private Collection, Marjory Anne. This collection is specifically curated for our store. We love that these designs are special to our location and complement our brand.
Prom shopping also begins in January and adds another layer of excitement to our boutique! Our prom customers bring a different energy that is infectious and fun!
Let’s talk trends!
The 2023 wedding gowns hit both ends of the spectrum. From the sleek, elegant satin designs to full ballgowns that twinkle as you twirl—there is a style to fit your personality. One question we like to ask at your first appointment is “what is the feel of your wedding”. This tells us more than what silhouette you might be thinking of, but what details you envision for your special day. We can then pull specific styles that might fit that vision.
Your venue will also reflect the feel of your wedding. We are still seeing a lot of barn venues being booked, but we also see a trend in destination weddings. Destinations could include places like up north on a lake, Wisconsin Dells or Door County or they could be on an island in the Caribbean or in a castle on the ocean!
We have also seen a resurgence of winter weddings. The Spring and Fall months are typically the more popular dates but we have already booked several weddings for New Year’s Eve 2023!
One of the best parts of my job is getting to hear our couples’ plans and share in their excitement!
Many of our couples are now creating a special “first look” moment. A new trend is to do your first look at a special location. With some additional planning, your photographer can capture your first look at a place other than your venue. For example, you can have your first look in a beautiful garden or park, or at the bed and breakfast you are staying at for your wedding night or even at a castle! Some locations may have a fee for using their location for photos but they can be quite beautiful and memorable!
So far for 2023, we are seeing a return to a more formal look on the men’s side. We have seen an increase in complete rentals, which includes coat, pants, shirt, vest, tie and shoes. In the summer months, more couples opt for the coatless option making it more comfortable for the guys while remaining stylish.
New at Sandra D’s for 2023– tweed vests and matching ties! The tweed will pair nicely with the jeans and boots look!
It is easiest to choose the colors of the wedding including the bridesmaids’ colors before registering for the menswear. It is much easier to match the men’s accessory colors to the dress colors than the other way around.
With the menswear being rentals, there is not as much urgency as with ordering dresses. For example, bridesmaid dresses should be ordered 6 – 12 months prior to the wedding, whereas the measurements for the menswear rentals just need to be completed at least 2 months prior to the wedding.
Whether its wedding or prom, we love the saying “Leave a little sparkle wherever you go!” It is true that you will find glitter on our carpet (especially this time of year!), but we feel that our customers themselves leave a little sparkle with us! We love what we do! It’s truly the BEST job ever!