In our January/February 2016 issue, on the newsstands now, you’ll discover what some of the top trends are for weddings in the coming year.
We also invited Maggie Lord, wedding expert and author (Rustic Wedding Chic, Barn Weddings, and The Rustic Wedding Handbook) and founder of RusticWeddingChic.com, to weigh in on what to expect for next year’s nuptials.
“Shimmery neutral colors and beautiful natural settings and design elements will be popping up for weddings in 2016,” says Lord. “Here’s what wedding attendees, engaged couples and planners can look for in the year ahead:”
Metallic Color Themes
Expect plenty of shimmer and shine from weddings next year. Brides are finding new and exciting ways to incorporate metallic colors into their weddings, from beautiful bridesmaid dresses that sparkle:
Growing up, you may have dreamt about your wedding day as a little girl. The dress, the hairstyle, makeup and accessories you’d flaunt on your big day. However, you may not have considered the cost or considered the fact that you’ll only wear this gorgeous, but expensive, wedding gown once in your lifetime. A solution to that “problem” has been the increasingly popular trend of wedding dress rentals! Who knew you could pay a fraction of the price to get your dream wedding dress, jewelry, veil and other accessories for your big day?
We partnered up with Joy Lee, manager of Beautiful Day Wedding, a premiere bridal retailer in Los Angles, California, to get the scoop on wedding dress rentals.
Q: Please introduce Beautiful Day Wedding.
A: My family originally started the bridal and flower shop business in Koreatown, Los Angeles in 1984. Since then, we’ve expanded and moved to a new larger location. Both shops still operate under one roof today. With over 30 years of experience, we are industry experts in all things wedding.
Q: Wedding dress rentals seems to be an increasingly popular trend, how long has this trend been around?
A: I think this trend has been becoming increasingly popular over the last couple of years. Nowadays, brides are more interested in saving money by renting their gowns and putting that money into other areas of the wedding.
Q: What is the process of renting a dress?
A: First, the future bride needs to make an appointment for a consultation with one of our bridal experts who can help them find THE dress. Once the bride finds their dream dress, we will need to take a small deposit in order to hold the dress. Fittings usually start 3 to 4 weeks before the wedding date.
Q: Can this be done online? Or do I need to come into the store?
A: We highly recommend that you come into the shop to see our stunning array of selections and try on the dresses.
Q: What designers do you carry? What if I see a style or designer you don’t have?
A: We carry Pronovias, San Patrick, Augusta Jones, Stella York, Casablanca, Allure, Saison Blanche, Kitty Chen, Enzoani, Maggie Sottero, Bill Levkoff, Bari Jay, Jasmine and Da Vinci. If you have a specific style/designer in mind that we don’t carry, we can suggest very similar options for you.
Q: How much does it cost to rent a dress?
A: Depending on the dress, rentals can range anywhere from $600 to $2000. Alterations and accessories (veil, hair piece, necklace, bracelet and earrings) are all included.
Q: How long do I have the dress for?
A: The average rental period is about 5 days. We finish the final fitting and alterations 3 to 4 days prior to the wedding date. The dress needs to be returned to us the day after the wedding.
Q: Do you do alterations?
A: Yes, we do everything in-house. Our seamstress is amazing and will make sure you fit perfectly into your wedding gown.
Q: When buying a dress, they say you should start 10-12 months in advance. How far in advance do I need to start the process for renting a dress?
A: I would recommend 8-10 months in advance for rentals.
Q: What are the pros of renting a dress?
A: The biggest benefit of renting a dress is the savings. With us, there are no extra costs for the alterations and accessories. You don’t have to worry about dry cleaning fees. Just simply return it to our shop after your wedding.
Q: The cons?
A: The bride needs to take special care of the dress during the rental period. If the dress is damaged, they will need to pay for the repairs.