Wedding Dress Advice During COVID-19

At Andria Leigh Events, we love helping our brides with their wedding gown experience as much as we can -- ultimately we want them to find that perfect dress that expresses their personal style, makes them feel fantastic, and fits the vibe of their venue. The bridal gown can really be a key player in the mood and design of the big day! 

And because we love fresh, fun, and fashion-forward styles, we love turning to WildBride. Located in between Alamo Square and Hayes Valley in San Francisco, WildBride is a boutique for the unique, unconventional, and free-spirited bride who wants to feel like the best (but also most authentic) version of herself. 

Fun fact - our lead planner, Jessica, is a former WildBride stylist, and I found my own wedding dress there around this time last year! 

It has a special place in our heart and is owned and operated by a seriously cool gal - Samira Araghi. Today on the blog, Samira answers the key questions we get from brides about their gowns while in Shelter-in-Place and how to resume dress shopping during COVID-19 concerns.

Photo by Buena Lane Photography

For brides who ordered a dress before Shelter-in-Place and are waiting for it to arrive, is there anything they should be doing or asking their boutique? 

As soon as we heard about SIP from the city, I immediately contacted all of our brides about their gown orders. I informed them that we weren't experiencing any delays so far, and that I was in constant communication with the designers, as some designers ship out orders based on wedding dates. I would suggest to brides who have not heard from their shop already, to email them and ensure their gowns are still being made on time. Also, it’s so important to inform their bridal shop if they have postponed their wedding, so they can make sure to prioritize orders with the designer.

For brides who have an early 2021 wedding who have not started shopping, or were early in the process before Shelter-in-Place, what do you recommend? 

There are few great options for brides who are getting married late 2020 or early 2021. Most bridal shops are offering new online options with sample sale gowns readily available to purchase at discounted prices. WildBride is offering this, plus we also have NEW samples that we have ordered from our designers’ stock inventory at discounted prices for this exact purpose, with flat rate shipping fees. Another option is to take advantage of virtual styling appointments in order to speak to a stylist, which can be so helpful when starting the dress hunt. With less time to find the perfect gown, brides should more than ever do their online research (via Pinterest, Instagram, online blogs), so that when shops re-open, they can be much closer to knowing what style and type of gown they are looking for, and can have a narrowed list of shops they want to visit. As a bridal shop owner, I will make sure that the dress shopping experience remains as special as it always has been, but brides who can be more decisive will have an easier time navigating limited timelines and appointments. 

For brides who have already received their dress, but their wedding is getting postponed to 2021, where is the safest place to store it?

Most gowns can be stored in the gown bag and safely hung in a closet. The important thing is to make sure the gown is properly hung with the hanger tape (not the actual straps!) so there’s no stress on the gown. However for lighter fabric gowns (i.e. mesh bodices or lightweight lace), these should be stored  flat under a bed or a couch if possible, to avoid any sort of stretching.

For brides planning an elopement, either in lieu of a large wedding, or to recognize their original wedding date, we'd love to send them to WildBride's sample sale page to shop online! How can they expect that process to work?  

Our sample sale shop is super convenient for brides who are looking for a dress with quick turnaround at amazing prices, and they can find one-of-a-kind gowns that are not easily available elsewhere. The shop features very detailed information about the styles including the description, size, collection year, sample condition, and measurements. The most important element to review is the "fit & styling" info--this tells brides about the fit of the gown and how they can expect it to look on them, plus gives useful tips for how it can be styled, tailored and what type of body it would work well for. We have measurements available for each gown, but if a bride is unsure if the gown will be the right size for her, she can email us with her measurements, images and any other info so that we can assist! For our slightly more "seasoned" samples, we can recommend our preferred local bridal gown cleaning service,  who are offering great deals for gown cleaning during COVID-19. And of course after each purchase, we offer our amazing list of local (and some national) bridal alterations specialists for the tailoring. 

Any tips for taking measurements at home? 

This is actually much easier than some brides think! All they need is a flexible measuring tape or string. There are three key measurements usually needed to determine the size — bust, waist, and hips, depending on the selected gown. If you’re taking at-home measurements, it’s best to ask someone to do it for you so that you can stand with good posture, relaxed shoulders, bare feet and ideally no clothing. If possible, let your shop owner know which dress you are considering before you take the measurements, in case there are any additional spots that could be useful (low hip, height, torso length, etc).

Any recommendations for unconventional, comfortable bridal shoes for an adventurous, outdoor elopement? 

For outdoor weddings, we love booties, clogs and playful square heels with ankle straps (not slip on). Few of our favorite local and international brands are: Bryr Clogs, Freda Salvador, Flordeasoka. 

Samira thank you so much for contributing, and brides, head over to Wilbdride and shop their sample sale now!

How To Have A Friend Or Family Member Officiate Your Wedding

While some of our clients envision a religious ceremony, and choose to invite a very special community leader to sanction their union, many of our clients feel more comfortable inviting a friend or family member to officiate their wedding. We’ve had the pleasure of working with parents, friends, siblings and cousins as the chosen officiant for our clients, and we love the interwoven personal anecdotes, emotion and jokes that always ensue. 

If you’ve asked that person to be a part of your day (and try to give them as much lead time as possible!) it can be tough to know what needs to happen next - especially if this is the first wedding they’ve officiated! We recommend carving out time to chat as a group (you + your partner + your officiant), and making sure that you cover three key things: 

• How do you want to feel during your ceremony? 

• What do you want to share with your guests? 

• How do you make sure the ceremony is actually legally binding?! 

How do you want to feel? 

This can be tough to put your finger on, but it’s a good idea to spend a little time here. Envision the moment that you’re squeezing hands with your partner, and your dear friend or relative is guiding you through your vows and ‘I Do’s.’ This is THE moment! Do you want to laugh? How do you feel about jokes or swearing? Do you want reminders of the commitment you’re making? Do you want it to be short and sweet?

What do you want to share with your guests? 

This can be super helpful if your officiant is unsure where to begin - as telling the story of your relationship is a great focal point for a ceremony script. However, are there parts of the story you don’t want them to mention? Are there parts that you don’t want left out? Your officiant may not know all of the different ways in which you and your partner have sacrificed and committed to one another over the years, but those can be beautiful stories to share on this special day. On the flip side, the last thing you want is to feel ‘on edge’ during your ceremony, wondering if your officiant may mention something sensitive or private. 

How do you make sure the ceremony is actually legally binding?! 

A somewhat important detail ;) And don’t worry, if you’re reading this at the last-minute, you still have time! Four elements will make this official…

Before the ceremony: 

1. The Ordination: Your officiant must be ‘ordained.’ You have a few options here, but we often recommend Universal Life Church online for a quick (same-day) ordination and helpful resources. 

During the ceremony: 

2. The Witness: One 18+ person present beyond just your officiant. Some states require two witnesses, so it’s always a good idea to check with your county clerk’s office if you are planning an intimate elopement. 

3. The Declaration of Intent: "(Name), do you take (Name), to be your wife…’ + the corresponding “I do’s.” This can be written however you want, as the only required phrasing are the actual words of intent “I do.” 

• The Pronouncement: The moment when your officiant states ‘By the power vested in me, I now pronouce you husband and wife/wife and wife/husband and husband/partners for life, etc)!’ 

After the ceremony: 

4. The Signatures: Ask your planner to allot ~15 minutes for you to sit with your officiant and sign your marriage license (any time after the ceremony). On the paperwork (if your officiant is ordained through the Universal Life Church, your officiant’s title will be "Minister"; the ceremony type is actually "Religious," and the denomination is Non-Denominational." If prompted to provide an address of ministry, your officiant should put their home address. Once this is complete, make sure to return the signed version to your county clerk’s office within 10 days. 

Congratulations on inviting a loved one into such a special fold of your wedding day experience. While of course you two will remember that moment forever - so will they!

xoxo Jessica

Ways To Still Honor Your Wedding Date

If your wedding was postponed to a later date in 2020 or next year, this post is for YOU!

Wedding dates are a funny thing. You essentially are “married” to one specific date all throughout the planning process, from that moment you lock in your wedding venue and put down the initial deposit. Your date paints a roadmap for the rest of the planning process as you reach out to vendors, centralize your design theme, and create a timeline of action-items and due dates. With past ALE weddings, our clients picked their date for numerical reasons or because the date simply “had a nice ring to it” such as 7/11 and 10/10. For others, they selected their date for symbolic and sentimental reasons. Last November, one of our brides was married on her grandmother’s birthday and this meant a lot to the couple because grandma was the reason they got together in the first place (she set them up!). The bride asked her grandpa to officiate and it was one of the most heartfelt ceremonies we’ve witnessed!

No matter your attachment or reasoning, wedding dates become symbolic and may potentially impact how you feel leading up to your big day. As a bride, you go into what we like to call “bridal mode” during those several months leading up to your wedding. You mentally prepare yourself for what’s about to be the biggest day of your life. For many, this includes upping the self care routine, incorporating more workouts, or sticking to a balanced diet. Aside from physically and mentally getting into shape, you also have the many social and celebratory events on your calendar…your bachelorette party, bridal shower, dress fittings, hair and makeup trial, and more. It can be very surreal having to cancel all of these long-awaited dates…

However, among the many emotions you may be feeling right now, it’s important to realize the one thing that’s not being cancelled. And that’s LOVE. We’ve been encouraging our clients to still celebrate and embrace a love-filled day. Here are a few ideas we’ve brainstormed that you can do from the comfort of your home — feel free to share with any brides you know!

Honor the Wedding Morning

First, allow yourself to sleep in and get all the beauty rest possible! Wake up and begin the day as if it were your wedding morning - turn on an uplifting playlist, put on your wedding robe or pjs, throw on a face mask, and maybe take a bubble bath with candles. Pamper and relax. You deserve it all.

Plan A Joyful Itinerary

What kind of activities do you enjoy doing together and what will make the day feel extra special? Maybe it’s cooking breakfast together, playing cards, listening to music, walking your dog, making art, or putting on your favorite movie. Whatever they are, make sure they bring you both joy and weave them into the day’s itinerary.

Celebrate Virtually

Plan a virtual date with your families, best friends, or the wedding party. Trust us, your guests will be thinking of you when the date arrives so why not do a mini celebration and toast each other with champagne.

Set The Evening Scene

We believe ambiance is everything. Candles, a nice bottle of wine, a favorite home-cooked meal…need we say more? Heck, maybe even get a little dressed up for your ‘wedding night in’. Amidst quarantine living, there’s something kind of special now about showering, doing your hair, and throwing on a little makeup. Turn up your wedding playlist, attempt a new cocktail recipe, and twirl to your First Dance song. Make the evening FUN for the two of you!

We hope reading through these ideas will spark some others in mind. As always, we are here for you.

Sending virtual hugs,
Team ALE

Dress Hunting

Hey guys!

It’s been awhile but I’m here to share all about my wedding dress shopping experience and some helpful tips I learned along the way. I hope to both inspire and educate those currently engaged...and those who might be getting engaged over the holiday season ;)

TAKE YOUR TIME

Can’t stress this one enough. Do not feel rushed or pressured to begin dress shopping! You’re typically advised to place your wedding dress order 7+ months before the big day, so if you can, slow down and take the time to research various styles you have been pinning over the years (let’s face it, we all do it) and also consider landing your venue first. I got engaged July 2018 and I didn’t try on my first wedding dress until February 2019. During my first appointment, I found it super helpful to already know my venue and what the setting was going to look like. I’ve always known we would have an outdoor wedding, but after choosing our exact location and villa in Tuscany, I realized I wanted a more understated dress that wouldn’t take away from the venue’s natural beauty and its old world features.

KEEP IT LOWKEY 

Believe it or not, the first time I tried on dresses I was by myself and when I said YES to my dress I was by myself! I personally felt the most relaxed and at ease during the times I shopped alone, so don’t be afraid to book that solo appointment you’ve been thinking about! If you are including guests during your fitting, I recommend having 2-3 people at most in attendance. I promise you will not regret having just a few close people with you. Fewer opinions means an easier decision, and make sure there’s a little champagne before and during..because champagne is always a good idea.

LOOK YOUR BEST, FEEL YOUR BEST

My biggest takeaway from trying on dresses (…seven shops and 40 gowns later) is to make sure you have a little makeup on and your hair done! It sounds like a given, but trust me, there were a few times when I threw my hair up in a messy bun with no makeup on a Sunday morning. It makes a HUGE difference in how you feel stepping into such gorgeous, elaborate dresses.

Lastly, I want to give a huge thank you to WildBride in San Francisco for providing the most lovely, cozy, and chill experience I could have ever anticipated. The owner, Samira, pours her heart and soul into WildBride’s brick and mortar, aesthetic, and bridal vibe, and I feel so lucky to have found not one, but two dresses (rehearsal and wedding day!) for Tuscany.

xo Andria