and anyone who says otherwise, beloved reader, is trying to sell you a lie. Math doesn't lie. Nor should a dress size mess with your head.
Consider this a Bridal Traditions pep talk disguised as a blog.

Have you ever felt amazing wearing something "ready to wear" or off the rack only to find out that the size was not your usual size? You look fab. You feel beautiful. So here's the big question: what do you care about the label? Seriously. Sit with that for a second. ​Is it your personality? Is that number you sense of style, your ability to show empathy, your love of family, your intelligence, your loyalty to friends? Nope. Ladies: it's just a number.

See this lady above? In Europe, her size is in the 40s. No kidding.
At BT, we hope you'll find a gown that you look beautiful in, that makes you feel like your best self and then buy it. Forget the tag. Forget what society says sizing means. It's meaningless. Size is irrelevant, my dears, and YOU are not.

Like lots of brides, Cassie had a sense of what she wanted and had seen several options on Pinterest, but she also wanted to try on some dresses just to get a better idea about what she truly liked and might look good in. She know she liked the fit and flare style and after trying on a couple of gowns in that style, her desire to wear that type of gown down the aisle was confirmed. What surprised her was that she chose a v-neck and rarely wears that style in anything else. You never know, ladies! 
Lace sleeves looked lovely on her, but due to the location and season, she stuck with the vision.  

"I loved the lace detailing on my dress, especially around the bottom and on the train. It was beautiful and I couldn’t have been happier with it!  Bridal Traditions was amazing in helping me find my dress. Kelly went through the dresses and pulled out exactly what I was looking for. I made a few changes to my dress and everything was very stress free and she was so helpful to making my dress exactly the way I wanted it. She picked out the perfect veil to go with my dress and helped me complete my bridal look. I had the best experience there and couldn’t be more thankful for all of the help I received."
Cassie and crew also rented all the men's tuxes from BT. 

We too are thrilled with how lovely a bride she made, how gloriously their day turned out, and we wish Cassie and Wesley nothing but years of happiness, fun and complete sunshine. 

At BT, we joked that this could be the shortest blog ever in the history of blogs about weddings, about fashion or about men wearing formal wear. We want to be clear. We want to show respect. We want to be careful and supportive and loving, but we also want to be honest.
So here goes, as succinctly as possible: 
Pull your pants up.
Gentlemen, we are all for you wearing what you want for your wedding day as much as we advocate for the brides to wear what they want, but if you are indeed going to wear a suit or tux please wear it the way it's intended to fit because it's formal wear. You can start by pulling your pants up. Seriously. 
It's your wedding day.

It's important - to us at least - to say that this is not about which generation you belong to, your race or ethnicity, which trends you embrace in your day-to-day life, your socioeconomic status, what is currently in style or even the theme of your wedding. It's about the day.
On your wedding day "the sag" has no place when you're standing next to a woman in a gown in front of the pastor or justice of the peace. It's a sacred moment and a sagging suit will not speak well of you in photos one week after the wedding or 20 years later. We promise. You'll regret not looking sharp because you thought you can sling your formal pants on your hips like you do your jeans.

It's all about the rise. Jeans have a shorter rise so they can be worn lower, but if you try to wear a higher rise pant in the same place, it just ends up looking super slouchy. 

Quick example: right now, jeans with shredded knees are back and we're seeing them on both girls and guys on weekends, at restaurants for dinner, on date nights and when running errands. They are edgy and fun and in this summer heat, maybe even a little cooler. But no one is getting married in shredded denim. You with us?

At BT, we stock styles of tuxes and suits and take you guys through an entire process to make sure that what you're wearing actually fits and makes you look your best when you say "I Do." We dedicated a blog in March of this year to what happens when you come to us for a tux or suit. Check it out. 

Bottom line: look your best. On your wedding day, you're going to shower, shave or if you're sporting a beard - give it a comb, put on clean socks, tie your shoes or polish your boots, get the knot tied perfectly and wear your suit or tux like a man. Stand up straight, and pull your pants up. ;)

is coming, ladies - so mark your calendars.
From Saturday to Saturday, July 20 - 27 Bridal Traditions hosts an annual sale that is targeted and big: the National Bridal Sale Event is our biggest sale of the year. 

Hours
Saturday, July 20 / 10a-4p
Reservations are Required for Brides on 7/20 , with a 1 Hour Time Limit
Go here to reserve your fitting room!

Buy More Save More
On Saturday, July 20th, purchase a dress, veil and one other accessory item of your choice and receive an additional $50 discount!
(Excludes Closeout Purchases)

Tuesday, July 23 - Friday, July 26 / 10a - 6p
by walk-in or reservation

Saturday, July 27
10a - 2p by walk-in or reservation
2p - 4p by reservation only

Does this pontoon boat go with my lace?

This blog is about encouraging brides to buy a wedding gown with their hearts and not their heads and believe it or not, this is becoming an epidemic in our industry: the immediate second guessing of your choice of gown. 

So, picture this: 
The bride-to-be is in a wedding gown she loves. She has stars in her eyes. She's gazing at herself in the mirror. She looks flushed, happy, gorgeous and ready to say yes. 
Then, like a needle on a vinyl record, her brain - with all of the details and facts she's gathered on her hunt for the right gown - begins to elbow in to disrupt all of the joy and excitement of that moment. 
And she processes.
​And she considers place, season and people.
And she weighs the expectations of others.
And she asks her team for their input.
And then she deflates.