Bridal Advice
By: Justin Avery
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The Right Attitude
It is a funny business, this thing of making women beautiful. As a designer, I find that I must be, in part, a counselor as well. Emotionally, it can be dangerous and unhealthy if you approach your personal beauty in the wrong way. Unfortunately, some women are fooled into thinking that some inanimate (or more graphically, a dead) object will be the determining factor of their beauty. I feel it is my responsibility to make sure that I do not lead women down this road when making clothing for them.They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For the most part, this is a very true statement. All of us have the ability to determine what is beautiful to us. However, I believe this is a poor perspective when you are trying to find that which makes you beautiful. You see, this perspective requires that there is a contingency of people who do not find you beautiful. As true as that may be, it is hardly an encouraging thought. Sadly, there are some who do not think that they are beautiful
I believe that there are many things in this world that are inherently beautiful. They are uncontested, non-debatable facts. You will never really hear anyone say that beaches are unattractive. Tell me the last time you ever heard someone say that a sunset was ugly. Try to name one lake that is not peaceful or doesn't soothe you with its beauty. While it is true that some people appreciate these things more than others, you would be hard pressed to find someone who would dare challenge their inherent beauty. In the exact same way, there is a profound beauty to be found in every human being. Though it may be different for everyone, I believe it is as inherent as the beauty found in nature as described above. In short, I am saying that there is a beauty about you that is undeniable and not subject to another’s opinion (Even your own opinion). It will always be beautiful and it will always belong to you.
JRA designs’ primary goal is to bring out that beauty in all of our brides. Every bridal gown is a thrilling journey to this end. We are very disinterested in seeking out beautiful things by way of trends and “the latest thing” out there. Trends and current styles have their place. There is absolutely nothing wrong with them. Only realize they do not necessarily represent your beauty inside. They typically represent what is passing. Things like heart, passion, emotion, details, effort and creativity all reveal this kind of beauty. Though these things are not tangible or physically visible, they can be felt. These elements are the determining factors between “pretty” and “radiant”. “Pretty” is simply nice to look at whereas “radiant” affects people around you. It is infectious and people desire it. This is what we pour into our dresses. It is different with every bride and it is amazing to see every single time.
It's Your Day
Everyone has an opinion regarding your wedding. Do not make the mistake of thinking you need to listen to everything. Gracefully take what applies and leave the rest. You are the only one who will remember as much of your wedding as you will. Those memories should be of what you wanted and not what everyone else wanted
You'll Thank Me
Don't change your bra after the last fitting. It rarely fits.
Bring sticky tape to your wedding. It works for all things.
Don't let anyone handle your dress after their make-up is on or if hands are not washed.
Bring sticky tape to your wedding. It works for all things.
Don't let anyone handle your dress after their make-up is on or if hands are not washed.
Lastly
Do not store your dress when it is bustled
Verbal agreements with wedding vendors mean nothing. No matter how good of friends they may be, keep everything in writing and professional.
The worst things you can do is buy a dress that is too small and say "I'll fit into it by the time the wedding comes". This is an unhealthy approach and a poor way to treat your body.
Verbal agreements with wedding vendors mean nothing. No matter how good of friends they may be, keep everything in writing and professional.
The worst things you can do is buy a dress that is too small and say "I'll fit into it by the time the wedding comes". This is an unhealthy approach and a poor way to treat your body.
Know Your Bridal Types
Shopping for a dress is the hard and overwhelming to begin. My best tip to start is to just go try stuff. The second is to know who the bride is (You :).
Traditional Bride
The bride who honors tradition, and prefers simple elegance. You who might opt to have the wedding in her childhood home. Although traditions vary, simplicity is key with the dress and not necessarily influenced by trends. Create a list of things you like and don't like to compare. This will narrow down the more traditional options that may peak your interest.
Romantic Bride
You've been dreaming about your wedding day since you were little. You fantasized about being a princess and marrying your Prince Charming. If you had it your way, you would get married in a castle. This bride type most often like a time period or era themed event that fits their personality.
Chic Bride
You are a trend setter. You are always one step ahead of the crowd. Style and fashion are the priority to you. you look for styles that are typically "all the rage". This bride type I would recommend to firstview.com. They have every designer known to man and are a perfect place for inspiration.
Theatrical Bride
This is the women who desires a certain flair. She liked to make a big entrance and loves to take center stage. This bride could wear just about anything depending on how she feels at any given moment. She is best served having her dress custom made. This is so she can add all the elements together into one astounding masterpiece of a dress.
Shopping Archetypes
It may surprise you, but the way you shop will effect which dress you end up saying yes for you big day. Here's what some shopping archetypes say about you:
"That's The One!"
This bride knows exactly what she wants, even if it is just a dream that needs to be made reality through custom work. By all means, go get it girl! Be wary of over-opinionated advise, find a designer who is slow to speak and quick to listen. Your best designer choice must have problem solving skills. Review their past work to see the quality of their design and construction.
"Gee, I Don't Know..."
I recommend this bride to clip out 30 clippings from magazines or printouts that catch her eye. It could be of anything. When you lay them all out, you will notice themes and consistencies that catch your eye. Let those themes guide your decision.
"Does It Look Good? No Really?"
This bride wants others to tell her what she wants/looks good in. She may resist making the choice unless at least a few others agree with the dress as well. There is nothing wrong with this, however, find three people with opinions you trust and value and take them with you. At the end of the day, it is you who is wearing the dress.
Yes To All The Dresses
This bride wants them all! This can lead to a choice not being made in a timely manner. I would recommend the 30 clipping challenge as I stated earlier. Discover which themes you love and match them with a dress. This bride may also benefit from a custom made dress.
"Can I Just Order Online?"
This bride would rather not try on any dresses. If this is the case, that's ok. The biggest challenge for most women with fitting closing has to do with 'shape' rather than 'size'. For example, size 10-12 women can try on the same dress as a size 2-3 and are likely to fit it. Shape has little to do with size. To the brides who relate to this, I would recommend a consultation. A custom made dress will solve this issue very nicely.
The Right Attitude
arrow_drop_down_circle
Divider Text
It is a funny business, this thing of making women beautiful. As a designer, I find that I must be, in part, a counselor as well. Emotionally, it can be dangerous and unhealthy if you approach your personal beauty in the wrong way. Unfortunately, some women are fooled into thinking that some inanimate (or more graphically, a dead) object will be the determining factor of their beauty. I feel it is my responsibility to make sure that I do not lead women down this road when making clothing for them.They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For the most part, this is a very true statement. All of us have the ability to determine what is beautiful to us. However, I believe this is a poor perspective when you are trying to find that which makes you beautiful. You see, this perspective requires that there is a contingency of people who do not find you beautiful. As true as that may be, it is hardly an encouraging thought. Sadly, there are some who do not think that they are beautiful
I believe that there are many things in this world that are inherently beautiful. They are uncontested, non-debatable facts. You will never really hear anyone say that beaches are unattractive. Tell me the last time you ever heard someone say that a sunset was ugly. Try to name one lake that is not peaceful or doesn't soothe you with its beauty. While it is true that some people appreciate these things more than others, you would be hard pressed to find someone who would dare challenge their inherent beauty. In the exact same way, there is a profound beauty to be found in every human being. Though it may be different for everyone, I believe it is as inherent as the beauty found in nature as described above. In short, I am saying that there is a beauty about you that is undeniable and not subject to another’s opinion (Even your own opinion). It will always be beautiful and it will always belong to you.
JRA designs’ primary goal is to bring out that beauty in all of our brides. Every bridal gown is a thrilling journey to this end. We are very disinterested in seeking out beautiful things by way of trends and “the latest thing” out there. Trends and current styles have their place. There is absolutely nothing wrong with them. Only realize they do not necessarily represent your beauty inside. They typically represent what is passing. Things like heart, passion, emotion, details, effort and creativity all reveal this kind of beauty. Though these things are not tangible or physically visible, they can be felt. These elements are the determining factors between “pretty” and “radiant”. “Pretty” is simply nice to look at whereas “radiant” affects people around you. It is infectious and people desire it. This is what we pour into our dresses. It is different with every bride and it is amazing to see every single time.