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Bridal Traditions is excited to share images from a Wilkes County Wedding Vendors photo shoot earlier this year, and today we're featuring those shared with us from photographer Heather Cardwell of Times Treasured Studios. Enjoy these lovely images, and don't miss the list of vendors at the end, especially if you're in the planning mode! The Wedding AttireDetailsThe VendorsHosted by: Wilkes County Wedding Vendors @wilkescountyweddings
Venue: The 1915 @the1915events Photography: Times Treasured Studios @the1915events Rentals: A & J Rental Cake & Catering: Dom Bakeries @dombakeriesnc Flowers: The Tilted Tulip @the.tilted.tulip.nc Stationery: Morgan Harris Design @morganharrisdesign Hair: Kaylee Davis @styledby.kaylee Cotton Candy Bar: The Sugarsmith @thesugarsmithnc Marquee Letters: Alpha Lit High Country @alphalit_highcoutry Attire: Bridal Traditions @bridaltraditions Makeup: Brianna Rash @hair_by_bri_13 Models: McKenzie Law, Kaylee Davis, Barbara Dixon @cullenmckenzieq @styledby.kaylee @dixon042
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These are not "pretty little maids, all in a row." These dresses are the main event. Ladies: meet the Little White Dress. It's black counterpart has been a staple for decades, but now brides are considering pivoting from the ball gowns and mountains of fabric and trim for something sophisticated, cute, and oh-so-novel. At Bridal Traditions, we say YES to these dresses. From texture and lace, to drop waists, and puffy sleeves, these are far from boring. Brides love these dresses to set their bridal season in motion. There are oh-so-many parties, bridal festivities, bridal brunches, showers, bachelorette parties, the rehearsal dinner, and more. These dresses make great "quick change" options for the reception, and are perfect for elopements, second weddings, or even courthouse weddings. Ladies also purchase these for their maternity photos, for homecoming events, graduation, sorority events, and the list goes on. Variations on a ThemeCreams, beiges, mochas and pale pinks have also made their way into the mix and we found LOADS of bling options as well. Still need a little more color, but like the idea of shirking the traditional? We've got you. All of these little white dresses, and variations of it, range from $60 - $90, are sold off the rack only. We do not special order these, but we will replenish inventory with new styles as needed. And - BONUS - BT Brides receive 15% off the entire collection, so if you're purchasing a gown, consider another little number to add to you wedding attire. Interested? Curious? Come see us at Bridal Traditions.
We can all recognize the merits of shopping online. The ease has made it so common it's almost a default when buying most household and personal items. We can also agree that a wedding gown is not a multi-pack of health supplements or a set of King sized sheets. So, with that in mind, we're revisiting this topic in today's blog. We want to remind our beloved brides that they get way more when they shop local. Rolling the diceWhen you buy your wedding gown online, you are rolling the dice. You may get some semblance of the gown you wanted and you may end up with something that is not even remotely close to the quality, the look, the shape that you dreamt of. Most of those gowns are made in overseas in Asia, and when they ship, there is no guarantees. You've scrolled, chosen, paid, and now you wait to see if your gamble paid off. Does that sound overly dramatic? Check out the internet for horror stories; there are many! Hi, My name is "Order Number."When you shop and purchase at Bridal Traditions, we know you. We know your name, your fiance's name, your ideas and preferences, what you've tried on already, your wedding date, and more. Owner, Kelly Shumate: "We consider it our job at BT to serve our customers from start to finish. In fact, I truly believe that it's an honor. Since we're blessed with customers, you may have to jog my memory, but ultimately it's important that every bride feels valued. Plus, WE MAKE IT FUN. Shopping at BT is about creating a relationship with our clients so that their experience during this exciting time is just that - exciting!" REMINDER: This should be a time of joy, but often bridal spirits crash when a mail-order dress arrives and it's sub-par or just plain wrong. And this is where service come in. If you've ordered online, and there is enough time, you'll still have to return or exchange the gown, and unfortunate brides have found that getting a representative to fix what is wrong is not always easy. Remember, you're an order number, not a bride-to-be. While we also purchase gowns from reputable manufacturers overseas, we have relationships and systems in place to assist our brides. And, mostly importantly, we have our team and our knack for service. When you shop locally, like at BT, we inspect your dress to make sure the quality is on point. We will press it for you. And we will troubleshoot for you and advocate if something has gone wrong through our factory connections. Will some person in a factory overseas run around behind the scenes finding out what went wrong and ensuring that it gets fixed? Will they have your wedding date in mind? They won't iron or alter your gown, and your arrangements and timetable are none of their concern. To us, when you shop and buy locally, the service you receive on both sides of the purchase is priceless. Buying Local Supports Your NeighborsIt supports your neighbors, certainly, but it also supports other affiliated American businesses and American jobs. Bridal Traditions has been in business for over 20 years, and our factory and vendor relationships span for 10 to 15+ of those years. When we go to the markets to shop widely, they know us by name. Our factory partners take our calls when things go wrong, which means they indirectly serve our brides. When brides buy from us, they are also supporting the sales reps and designers with U.S. based workers. Everything from the people in shipping to customer service to delivery drivers, if it happens on our shores, your purchase from us supports other American jobs, either directly or indirectly.
Buy local, and feel good about what you're giving and what you're getting when planning one of the biggest milestones of your life. For the GuysProm market had plenty for the gentlemen, as well, and this is thanks to Jim's Formal Wear, a brand we love at BT. We work exclusively with JFW, and have for years. Their selections range from traditional to contemporary, with a variety of cuts, colors and styles. They have accessories and shoes and showed off their best looks this year. Shoes That Complete the LookAs always, we know that our prom goers love elegance and sparkle and we found both! We hope you'll revisit the first two blogs in this series, and follow us on our social media accounts to see more in the coming months!
Prom Shopping at Atlanta's MarketIt's not just a job, it's AN ADVENTURE, especially when it includes BT Owner Kelly Shumate and her long-time friend, pro photographer, and BT employee Misty Case. These two get it done! They're organized, they have lists made, they're open-minded and curious - and they love to shop for the prom goers in Wilkes County! The trip there and the set ups this year were as awesome as ever. There was plenty to view, lots of great runway moments, and so much to see! The GownsSide slits in skirts, lace up details, and asymmetrical silhouettes all shined at this year's show in Atlanta. There was structure, movement, loads of color, sparkle and shimmer. These gowns make statements. COLOR, COLOR, COLORPinks/Blushes/Nudes of all shadesIf you haven't checked out Part One of this series, we hope you will! Part Three is coming next week and is our last installment celebrating the Atlanta Prom Market of 2023! Do NOT forget to follow our social media accounts during the coming months so that you can keep up with what is coming in to Bridal Traditions in the Prom world!
Dear Promers: Buckle up, because this will be the first in a series celebrating prom gowns and looks for 2023. We are beyond excited about what we found at Atlanta's Prom Market this year. Tune in to this blog for sneak peeks of what is to come and start thinking about what YOU want. Above: Bridal Traditions Owner and guru, Kelly Shumate (left), along with pro photographer and BT staffer Misty Case went to Atlanta, Georgia and saw all that there was to see! They made proper selections of prom gowns for the ladies of Wilkes County and surrounding areas. And what did they see...? Kelly: "This was one of the most exciting collections we've seen in a while. After a couple of years of pandemic and recovery, this was the freshest year with new takes and variations. I'm excited about what we saw." ... In a word: GlaMThe Prom Market this year was a revival of texture met with riffs on classic colors, loads of fabric, detailing, creativity, and flattering shapes. It felt fresh, and yes - there was plenty of glam. Not only did we buy new gowns for BT and the BeYoutiful Prom selections, but we were reminded that prom isn't a "phone-it-in" kind of event. It's a milestone and a chance to show who you are, experiment, and have fun. Above: An absolute stunner, in sophisticated pink, with a hint of jewel detail at the bodice, a wrapped waistline and a statement, flowing skirt. Below: This gown says Cinderella and Barbie at once. The bejeweled bodice with ribbing and sequins, and flowing skirt are incredible. This gown is a fairytale come to life. For our prom clients who want to evoke an era, an ethos, or just try something new... we've got you too. Gowns with large graphic flowers, beading, ribbed bodices, super-skinny straps and wild color variations are all on the menu. Be adventurous... it's more memorable. Above: Dynamic and fun, this dress is a party all by itself. Below: Chic, rich, an artistic bodice, and pretty in deep pink. Above: Another stunning blue number with sparkle, shine, a side slit and lots of movement! Below: This periwinkle gown, with tiers and shimmer is an absolute knockout. There are so many elements, including the waistline, spaghetti straps and exceptional color! Above: If you love fuchsia, purple, ... if you love Mardi Gras, magic or just whimsy - check out this gown. Gold accent and layers upon layers make it so MUCH FUN! Below: Can you say "adding sleeves?!" Are you picking up on the blues in the mix? Midnight blue, sparkle, flowing skirt and an elegant silhouette with tulle? Yes, please. Don't fret if you're frothing at the mouth and cannot buy yet. These gowns won't be in stock for months. It's also important to know that Bridal Traditions did not buy all of these gowns, nor do we buy each gown in an array of sizes. More on that in the next Prom Market blog!
Bridal Traditions' Owner Kelly Shumate recently received the sweetest note, along with these images, regarding her recent wedding in Seattle, Washington. We love hearing from all of our brides about their day, what they loved about their gown on the day, and their experience at BT. tHE wEDDING dAYHi Kelly! I hope you are doing well. I just got married in Seattle, WA last weekend and wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU for helping me find the most beautiful dress for my wedding day!!! My grandparents live in Hays, NC and we would drive by Bridal Traditions every time we went to visit them. I grew up seeing your store and always wondering what my wedding day would be like. You helped me feel like an absolute princess and I could not be more grateful and happy. My cousin-in-law Alexa was there and she got her wedding dress from you too!!). Thank you again!!! Cheers, Emily tHE dRESSEmily's gown had the perfect amount of lace for a traditional vibe, a fitted waist that led to a gorgeous skirt and built-in train, an epic lace detail on the back and beautiful straps and bodice. With her bouquet, jewelry, and lovely smile, she was a knockout bride. cONGRATULATIONSWe could not be happier for this beautiful bride and her new husband!
If you're ready to buy your dress, book a visit using the button below. If you purchased your gown at Bridal Traditions, we would LOVE to share your story and images in our blog. Send us a quick message by clicking the Share Your Story button below and we'll be in touch. Isn't she lovely? Yes. The glow says it all! This bride, and ALL of the brides who found their gowns during our 2023 NBSE, were such a pleasure to work with as we helped them find the dress they wanted, while saving money. If you are not familiar with the NBSE - or our annual National Bridal Summer Event - then please ask us. It's always a time to find beautiful attire at a savings. Our National Bridal Summer Event in July of this year was once again, a wonderful success and we wanted to share some of the gorgeous ladies that found their gowns! Disclaimer: The gowns pictured are NOT the actual gowns they chose; we would never kiss and tell like that. ;) Our ladies were greeted with signs for their appointments, and several brought friends and family to support and council. We loved being able to explore options with our brides based on their preferences, budget, theme, season or just whims. Below are just some of the gowns and girls from this year. Our NBSE's are dynamic and watching bride after bride figure out exactly what she wants is what we love and live to do well. Another year is in the books! Phew!
Even if you missed our sale this year we still have amazing pricing, service, and in store experiences all year long, so book today and we can help you find your yes dress! OUR PROM DRESSING ROOM MAKE-OVERWhen neon is involved: it's serious. Bridal Traditions has re-designed the dressing suites we use for clients going to proms, our moms looking for wedding attire, and our bridesmaids, and we had a couple of goals: 1) update and restyle the space, and 2) empower our clients to be bold. And who doesn't love a make-over?? Before Images of Our Dressing SuitesBefore we could begin, we had to reimagine the space and then create some chaos while moving around this part of our boutique. We wanted a sense of more space, more light and more room to walk and see yourself shine. Trying on a new look can feel crackling with fun or intimidating and we are going for the former: have fun, feel supported, look amazing! The Transformation ProcessWe created a wall of greenery, added lighting to the mirrors, and made a space for prom goers, mothers of brides, and bridemaids to see themselves and get excited about the event. The room feels much bigger and we're excited to have clients come see it. After Images of our Dressing suitesOwner Kelly Shumate: "I'm really happy with the results! It was time to freshen up this space and we've added touches that our customers are going to appreciate." Finally, ladies: wait until you see what we found in Atlanta at this year's prom gown buying conference. Buckle up! In the meantime, we're excited about this renewed space, so come see us!
We want to shine some light on our fellows at WCWV, so we're sharing each on the BT blog. Today, our Wilkes County Wedding Vendors deal in greenery and flowers, and sugar and butter, and all of them have creative heft. FloralsApril Flowers and Holy Cow Farms specializes in wedding flowers and florals for events and their work is gorgeous. It's lush, abundant, and elegant. Our other floral vendor is The Pearl and The Petal. They are incredibly talented with custom bouquets and arrangements, as well as ideas for any event or spaces. CakesIn the WCWV cohort, we have a singular baker: Dom Bakeries. They can deliver based on your theme and in budget. If you want to know more about the Wilkes County Wedding Vendors, and how to become a member, we hope you will!
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