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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.  photo credit: Artem 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.  Brides often get freaked out about their gown size because at some point, they end up in a dress they love and that dress has a number on it. That number can bring a sense of ratification or mortification, and frankly it shouldn't provide either. It is just a number that the fashion and bridal industry - or some sub-set of the industry - decided was a "size." That size was assigned. It is not who you are.  At BT, what we want brides - and women everywhere - to hear is that an inch is an inch. Some dress manufacturers decide that a 32 inch waist means you are a size 6. Some say that a 32 inch waist makes you a size 12. If you purchased clothes in another country, your head would explode if you saw sizes in the 40s, but there they are. And extraordinarily chic French and Italian ladies don dresses that say 40 and 46 every day and leave their homes with their heads held high.  photo credit: Снежана 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.
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The Day"Our wedding day was the most magical day of my life. Our ceremony was in a beautiful open chapel with a breathtaking view. We wanted our wedding to be traditional and simple. The night before our wedding, during the rehearsal, the weather was horrible! It was foggy, the wind was blowing really hard and it was freezing! But the next day, when I was heading up the mountain, it was a whole different weather change and I couldn’t have been more thankful." And so it begins. You wonder if you've planned for something that won't happen and things change for the best. We're so glad that they did for Cassie Mathis and Wesley Johnson who had a gorgeous spring wedding on April 6 of this year at Camp Cheerio Chapel (also known as Pretty Place) and High Meadows Country Club. The photos (from Waterhouse Studios) tell the story of the day and it was indeed spectacular. The CoupleThese have known each other since they were little kids, but didn't start becoming aware of the other enough to start talking until high school. It's always fascinating to see the shift that occurs when teenagers mature and begin to notice people "for the first time." Wesley's father sells cars and when Cassie found one she liked, she messaged Wesley about it and their lifelong conversation started. They began dating on June 12 of 2011 and exactly one year later, to the day, he asked her to marry him. This teaching assistant and young car dealer now live in Hays, NC with their English Coonhound, Waylon. When they aren't working or at church they are playing outdoors, fishing and hanging with their family and friends. Cassie shared that during the wedding ceremony, while their song “This is it” by Scotty McCreery was playing, the sun came out completely and everyone felt the moment. "It was like God blessing us and several people told me at the reception that it gave them goosebumps."  The GownLike 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. ;) A Week of Wow & Savingsis 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.  The HoursHours 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   The Sales - Get the DetailsWedding Dresses Closeouts (Cash Only) - Starting at $100 = Savings up to $795 Current Styles Including New Arrivals - up to 50% off = Savings up to $475 Special Orders 10% off regular price = Savings up to $100 Prom Dresses Closeouts (Cash Only) - $10-$50 = Savings up to 90% All Other Prom Dresses 25% - 40% off = Savings up to $200 Accessories Closeouts (Cash Only) - $1 - $25 Regular price veils, headpieces, jewelry, and men's accessories 15% off  Important Reminders All Sales Final - No Holds or Layaways
Some restrictions & exclusions apply - See store associate for details See a sampling of sale dresses and prices on our event page! Bridesmaid dresses are not included in the sale. Reservations for July 20 are limited to 1 hour time slots. *Dress selection subject to availability at time of sale.* Grab your girlfriends and we'll see you there! 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.  At BT, we think this stinks. If we've seen it once, we've seen it a hundred times. And we hate it, because it's just not necessary. "I can't wear this gown, because it's strapless and I'm getting married in November." WRONG. "I can't wear this gown, because it's bohemian chic and more casual and I'm getting married in my home church." WRONG. "It's not formal enough for a wedding." WRONG. "My mom, grandmother, great-grandmother and female relatives all wore long sleeves. I love this dress, but it has cap sleeves. I can't get married in it." WRONG.  Ladies: listen up. There is nothing wrong with your dreams for your wedding day and there is nothing wrong with your instincts. What is wrong is getting a case of Second Guessing sydrome and talking yourself out of a gown that is going to make you truly happy on one of the biggest days of your life. If there is a place to be cautious, then it's price and with BT, we help with that. Our gowns are under $1000. We promise to speak up gently to guide you if we think you're going to do something you'll TRULY regret. The only thing wrong is you believing these little deceptive lies that you're telling yourself.  Here are times to use your head:
Don't get in a car with someone you don't know or someone who has been drinking alcohol. Pay your bills on time to keep your credit score up and respectable. Show up at least 10 minutes early to a job interview. Stay late at work to finish what you started. Don't interfere in other people's business. When it comes to your wedding gown, don't give the season, the theme and (not to anger anyone out there, but...) ESPECIALLY don't give your decision away to the posse who's come with you. Take their council, but remember that it is YOUR DAY. Find your dream gown and wear it. |
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