And now! A Little Note of Encouragement from Our Sponsor - Kelly, owner of Bridal Traditions....

Hi Ladies!
Bridal Traditions just finished hosting our year's biggest week - The National Bridal Sales Event [July 21 - 28] and it was as wonderful, busy, hectic and exhilarating as it always is. More about that in another blog where I'll share details. But it got me thinking about the excitement of planning your wedding or prom, of being a bride .... the excitement of buying a gown, of being the star on your day and how that too is exhilarating.
It's also busy, hectic and you - the bride or excited prom goer - are not only the center of the day - you are the one around whom a WHOLE LOTTA STRESS flows. 

I'm here to tell you that it doesn't have to be that way and YOU can control the process and the outcome by taking a breath and remembering what the day is about: celebrating.

Perfection is unattainable. I won't repeat that, but I will pause here so that you can read it again.
We bring a lot of stress on ourselves hoping to attain it. Your prom is a rite of passage. It's supposed to be fun. It's supposed to be about you celebrating that you're growing up and making memories with your friends before you move on after high school. Why would you want to disrupt all that joy and fun with unnecessary stress? Be you! Buy for you! Plan for you and those pals you love and go have an evening that is nothing short of a blast. That is, by the way, the whole point. 

The same is true for brides. Ladies, your wedding day is one of the single most exciting days of your life, but it may not be the biggest. Are you with me? There may be kids, travel, adventures you never dreamed of and you should start that life with your partner having The Best Time!

It's an important day, but that's because it's a celebration, so the planning and execution shouldn't swallow you up with anxiety. Don't ruin your wedding day by over-processing and worrying about the show/event.  It’s the beginning of your life. Don’t start it with stress. You and your partner need to come away with good memories. 

I see it all the time when we're helping girls and brides-to-be at BT find a gown and discussing details. In fact I see it enough that I'm dedicating this blog to speaking up. My pledge is that if I and my staff can do our part in reminding you that stress shouldn't be an equation in these life events, we'll do everything in our power to do so. We'll do everything we can to keep it fun and light and about the memories you're going to make. I promise.

These events are celebrations.
Remember that when you find yourself in a joy-killing, soul-sucking moment over something that will be forgotten long after the day is over. 

Much love,
Kelly

Bridal Traditions is not a men's formal wear shop that warehouses rack upon rack of styles, sizes and colors on site. BUT, we do cater to grooms and prom going guys and we take an enormous amount of pride in what we offer and our service record.

Renting Your Tux from the Best
Since 2005, BT has been an Authorized, Elite dealer with Jim's Formal Wear - one of the leading and largest tuxedo purveyors in the U.S. These guys are the best and they have high standards. Jim's, or JFW, only works with independent retailers who become authorized dealers. We have a great records with them based on the high volume of rentals that flow through our boutique and because there are fewer than 8% returns or "make goods" due to errors. We too try to do our best by every client and JFW has noticed. 

A Bit About Tux Rentals
Most guys choose to rent their tux no matter the occasion. For this, here's the breakdown, if you want to be prepared, gentlemen!
When men come in, we show them the JFW catalogs - in store and online if necessary - so that we can get a sense of what they're looking for. We also have some displays so that they can see, touch and get a feel for the options.
​We do sizing based on taking their measurements and we discuss the details around the event, most especially what their date is wearing or the bride's attire and naturally the date, time, season and other pertinent info that will allow us to help.
Tuxedos should be ordered around 6-8 weeks before the date and usually arrive 2-3 days before the event date. This allows customers time to try on, check for fit and move on to other things on their list.
It is possible to have something delivered overnight if you've really lost track of your calendar or waited until the last minute. That requires a bit of scurrying but nothing we haven't dealt with before and we're happy to save the day!

1. More often than not, you will receive more money for your dress if you sell it yourself. Just know that selling it can be a major hassle. You'll need to set up meetings with brides so that they can try on the dress and you'll need to answer questions.
2. You should have a realistic expectation about the worth of the dress. Remember that you've worn it and it isn't fresh off the rack. Even if you took excellent care of it, it's still pre-owned, as the car industry says. You should expect to get at least 50%-60% LESS than the original price if you sell it on your own.
   
3. If you decide to sell through a consignment boutique, and they are certainly out there. BT's research showed:​
   

• boutiques only accept dresses less than 5 years old and in pristine condition
• they will sell a used dress, in good condition for 50 - 60% less than its original price and most will split the proceeds 50/50 with you.
• A new dress with the tags still on it will be marked down 25% usually.

Boutiques and consignment shops are all different, so just be prepared to be flexible and consider the biggest upside is the new closet space.​

Laura and Wesley were married in March at Brown Mountain Beach Resort in March of 2018 in what Laura called "a very laidback and easy wedding."  It turned out exactly as they wanted. They gathered at the water, with their closest friends and family to say their vows on an unseasonably warm day. The ceremony was followed by a cocktail hour with popcorn and then a barbecue reception. "Our wedding cake was actually several different
flavors of cupcakes and lots of ice cream." The couple cut a single red velvet cupcake with an enormous sword, which cracked everyone up. 

Laura: "We were lucky enough to spend a few days with our family and friends at the venue, so everyone had a short, relaxing vacation and made it possible for us to make the best memories. Simply talking to everyone, enjoying good food, and being unplugged in a great atmosphere was the best!"

These two met in that circuitous way that many husbands and wives meet - through friends and introductions. With Laura in Virginia and Wesley in North Carolina they had to do the "Long Distance Relationship Couple" thing for over a year. Once they saw a future, Laura moved to NC, they got engaged, bought a house and had a cat. Actually, they adopted the cat.

We loved that Laura came to BT for her gown. She looks amazing in the photos and we are so happy to have played a role. 

Laura knew that they wanted to be married outside and that she didn't need a lot of sparkle or a long train, but she did want a dress that she wouldn't regret. She described her gown as "timeless" and it really is. 

Laura: "It was the only one of its kind and it just so happened to be in my size and fit me perfectly. I felt it was meant to be and with a few alterations, it was the best dress for me. I loved the poof and all the tulle! It's not too poofy and it looked like I was wearing the dress, not that the dress was wearing me. The sleeves on it were a great touch and the buttons going all the way down the back are ultimately what sold me.

BT wishes Laura and Wesley nothing but love, happiness and the simple pleasures of life. Congrats, you two!

The National Bridal Sale Event is just around the corner and Bridal Traditions is in prep mode. You may want to get ready too!
(Happy Independence Day, by the way. ..... Now FOCUS!!!)

From JULY 21st - 28th, BT will be holding the biggest sale of the year, with the lowest prices of the year, throughout our store. This sale is ONE WEEK ONLY, and kicks of on Saturday, the 21st. Our hours will be 10a - 4p and details on what you can expect to see and save are below.

~ BRIDAL ~
Cash Only Gowns are between $100 - $200, with savings up to 90%. Our off the Rack Gowns  are 25% - 40% off (savings up to $475) and Special Order Gowns are 10% off regular price. 
Even if you're just engaged and starting to look, you should come see what we have and what styles you like.