Charm School (for Brides!) with CSE, p. 4: Dress Shopping, Continued

CSE's Charm School is back in session! Today we're joining the girls at Modern Trousseau, a sweet wedding boutique in downtown Nashville, where our faux bride, Megan, tries on dress after dress! Morgan, of Commerce Street Events, and Megan's friend (and faux maid of honor), Lilly, are her cheerleaders and are helping to guide her in choosing the perfect wedding dress. CSE is also dishing on the top dress trends of the season! Enjoy!

Says Morgan, of CSE, "Megan was whisked away into the dressing room after making her selections with champagne in hand, and with her first step out of the room Lilly and the rest of the CSE team gasped. When Megan looked at herself in the floor-to-ceiling mirror she exclaimed that she never wanted to take the gown off. The team and the Modern Trousseau ladies didn't think that a different dress could top the first, but dress after dress was just as enchanting. It was difficult for everyone to decide which gown was best for the Fall wedding shoot.

Top (classic) wedding trends of the season
No. 1 | Lace is always a simple and elegant fabric choice for any bride.
No. 2 | Colored wedding gowns are a new trend for the bride that wants to make a statement. Think blush pink, pale mint green or a dusty blue. Adding a sprinkle of colored sequins on a full tulle skirt could be fun, too (think gold!).
No. 3 | 1920s styled dresses are always a classic choice for any bride.
No. 4 | A call back to black tie is also huge this year - look for long trains and flowing veils.

The morning at Modern Trousseau was a fun start to the Charm School series, and Commerce Street Events is so grateful to Modern Trousseau for sharing the gorgeous gown that Megan will be wearing in our faux wedding shoot in the fall."

Which dress is your favorite? You'll have to wait until the fall to see which dress the girls chose but don't worry, there will be lots more ahead that the CSE team will be happy to dish on so stay tuned for the next installment of the Charm School series!

ps. Just click on "Bridal Charm School" in the label section of this post to catch up on all of the Charm School posts.

Credits: Photographer: Commerce Street Events 

Charm School (for Brides!) with CSE, p. 3: Dress Shopping

As promised on Friday, CSE's Charm School is back in session once again today (and tomorrow!). The sweet gals from Commerce Street Events, of Nashville, are going dress shopping today with our faux bride, Megan, and they're sharing all their intel on finding that perfect dress! Hope you enjoy their adventure and great tips!

The girls chose to visit Modern Trousseau, a cute, little wedding dress boutique in downtown Nashville. 

Says Morgan, of CSE, "The right side of the store is covered with white dresses of every kind that could leave brides overwhelmed with bridal madness. It's often helpful for the bride to bring her planner along. With the planner at her side, the bride will be able to gain insight into which dress would coordinate with the wedding venue, flowers and season. Those little details can often be the furthest thing from a bride’s mind which is why it's helpful to have the trusty planner in tow. I had way too much fun with Megan and her faux maid of honor, Lilly, picking out gowns that would flatter her the most.

Tips on choosing the perfect dress

No. 1 | Find a dress that fits your personality and that you feel comfortable wearing. 

No. 2 | Make sure the fit of the dress flatters every aspect of your body

No. 3 | Bring the appropriate amount of people along whose opinions you trust

No. 4 | Have a family member or friends take photos of each dress you try on so you can look back later and compare for yourself without letting other opinions influence you.

No. 5 | Don't feel pressured to "say yes to the dress" at the first boutique you visit. It's an important decision. Give yourself time to think about the styles and how you felt in the dresses. Visit several shops to get an idea of what's available to you (price points, styles, labels, etc.)

No. 6 | Don't forget about accessories. Sometimes, a simple sash or veil can really complete the look and make you feel like a bride!

Thanks so much for this great installment to the series, girls! And tune in tomorrow to see which dresses Megan tries on + CSE's advice on the top wedding trends of the season! See you tomorrow!

ps. Read their first post on wedding planning basics if you missed it! And just click on "Bridal Charm School" in the label section of this post to read all of the Charm School posts.

Credits: Photographer: Commerce Street Events

Charm School (for Brides!) with CSE, p.2 : Homework Before Dress Shopping

Hey friends, we're back with a new Charm School Series Post! As you know, the talented gals from Commerce Street Events, of Nashville, are guiding us through the entire process of planning a wedding from start to finish! Today, the girls are prepping to go wedding dress shopping and they're sharing all the homework you should do before you hit the shops! 

  

Bridal Homework Before Going Dress Shopping

Bridal gown shopping can be very overwhelming and emotional for not just the bride, but also mothers and friends. It can also be a frustrating experience if the bride is not happy with her body or not sure what she wants. We always suggest the bride do a little homework before shopping to help make it a positive experience. Follow these tips before going dress shopping:  

1 | Browse wedding magazines, blogs and Pinterest to get an idea of what style of wedding gown you may like. Make a portfolio of your favorite styles and bring it with you to the bridal salon so they can get a visual sense of what you like.

2 | For the first time trying on dresses, be warned that wedding gowns run small. Do not pay attention to the size; most bridal stores have sample gowns in sample sizes. Focus on how you look in the gown.

3 | Allow the consultant to pull some dresses that s/he may believe will fit your body and the style of wedding.

4 | Bring appropriate undergarments with you to the bridal salon as well as similar shoes you will be wearing on the big day.

5 | Lastly, it’s fun trying on wedding gowns, enjoy yourself and have a glass of champagne!

Make sure you tune in Monday + Tuesday to see the girls hit Modern Trousseau, a darling wedding dress boutique in downtown Nashville while they cheer our faux bride, Megan, on as she tries on dress after dress. The team will also be dishing on top dress trends and tips for choosing the perfect dress! 

ps. Read their first post on wedding planning basics if you missed it! And just click on "Bridal Charm School" in the label section of this post to read all of the Charm School posts.

Credits: Photographer: Commerce Street Events

FOR SALE | My Mom's 1960s Emma Domb Wedding Dress {& it was featured in Matchbook!}

Like I teased on Friday, I've got a bombshell to drop, my loves! After a lot of talk, my Mom has decided she's ready to part with her incredibly chic 1960s Emma Domb wedding dress (that's her in the flirty frock above). And yep, that's the same gorge dress I wore for my Parisian Love Shoot which was showcased in a 16-page feature in Matchbook magazine last February.

My Mom and I are hoping the story of this dress will continue to unfold by finding a third legacy and love story. :) We know it won't find that by sitting pretty in the closet so if you're interested, I've put together some photos from my Parisian Shoot that showcase almost all angles of the lovely dress, as well as detail shots {+1 of my Mom in the dress!}. Peruse at your leisure and if you still find yourself interested or with questions, shoot me an e-mail. Serious inquiries only, please!

About the Dress

The dress is a true vintage gem from the 1960s. My mother purchased the sweet A-line dress in 1969 from a beachfront boutique in Southern California. The designer is Emma Domb and the ivory dress is a true size 5. The dress features a wide bateau neckline and has a darling bow on the center bodice with exquisite ivory floral lace accenting the sleeves and down the front center panel. Below the bow, the dress features an inverted pleat showcasing the ivory floral lace. The floral lace really pops as it is just a shade darker than the dress fabric. The dress has a relaxed fit below the bust and hits right above the knee. In the back, the dress features a concealed zipper which runs from the lower back up to the neckline with a hook-and-eye closure at the neck.

Measurements 
34" bust | Relaxed 39" waist/hips | Length - 31.5" | Sleeves - 8"

Fabric
Peau de soie [French: A soft silk fabric of satin weave displaying a dull finish]

The dress has only been worn twice - once by my mom on her wedding day in 1969 and again by me for our Parisian Love Shoot last year. The dress is in fantastic vintage condition as it has been well-cared for and protected over the years.

Press
16-page feature in Matchbook magazine
I have long been enamored with my Mom's amazingly mod wedding dress and while living in Europe, I got the idea to style and model a wedding inspiration shoot in Paris with my husband. After almost a year of prepping, it finally came to fruition along with the help of talented photographer Juliane Berry. Soon after the shoot, our hard work was celebrated by a generous 16-page spread in Matchbook magazine. You can see my Mom's beautiful bridal attire spotlighted front and center in the lovely Matchbook feature here. The shoot has also been shared by many kind blogs, as well.

Want more?
Read the 16-page feature in Matchbook magazine showcasing the dress.
Check out the complete story of my Parisian Love shoot here {with lots more photos of the dress!}.
See the couture fashion illustration I had made of the dress for my Mom.
And if you're in the Parisian state of mind, check out my top tips for visiting Paris. ;)

Images: 1- unknown; 5+10- moi; + the rest were taken by Juliane Berry.