Wedding Dresses, Bridesmaid Gowns, Mother of the Bride Dresses, Prom Dresses - Charlotte's Weddings and More » Blog

Maggie Sottero Trunk Show

Lindsey — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:26:40 +0000

Join us at Charlotte’s for the Maggie Sottero Spring 2012 Trunk Show!

When: Friday and Saturday, February 10th and 11th

What: A Trunk Show is when a designer sends us gowns from their newest collection (in this case, Spring 2012) for a preview, before the sample gowns are in stores! You will be able to try on the most current styles from Maggie Sottero, and we’ll have almost the whole collection for that weekend only!

Visit our website to view Maggie Sottero’s gowns (as well as our other designers). You can make a favorites list and send them to your consultant before your appointment! And give us a call (or click here now!) to book your appointment for the Trunk Show today – they’re going fast!

Gone to Paradise

Lindsey — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:39:35 +0000

Over Christmas, my husband and I traveled back to Nebraska to visit his side of the family. While there, my sister-in-law took me shopping. She was shocked that I’d never been to Charming Charlie, but apparently they have yet to spread past Reno. If you haven’t been there, this place is awesome!!! Here’s their website. But, I have to say, the stores are way more fun. They’re perfectly eclectic, yet structured, because they’re organized by color. Never mind going by item, earrings here, purses there. No way! At Charming Charlie, you need something to go with your black sparkly New Year’s dress? You can browse color kiosk by alcove. It’s a beautiful thing! While they offer only limited apparel, their accessory spectrum is amazing: shoes, purses, tons of jewelry, hats, even contact lense cases. Plus (and this is one of the biggest bonuses for me), they are very reasonably priced. Earrings are typically under $10, shoes and purses under $40. Totally budget friendly.
I haven’t heard whether or not CC has plans to expand to Portland, or Oregon in general. But when/if they do, I will be among the first in line!

Corinne

Prom Is Here!

Lindsey — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:34:25 +0000

Prom season is just around the corner! Stop by Charlotte’s to see this year’s hottest trends and to find your perfect prom dress!

Try it On!

Lindsey — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:29:01 +0000

“Before making any decision about what dress is best for your body, consider these three words: Try it on!” – Randy Fenoli, star of TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress

We read this great article by Randy Fenoli from TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress at a staff meeting recently, and we wanted to share it with you guys because it’s so great! It seems to be a new trend with brides coming in, being opposed to different styles because they are afraid it won’t be flattering on their body. Well ladies, I’m with Randy on this one…don’t be afraid to try on different styles!! I can’t tell you how many times a bride has fallen in love with a style she would’ve never thought to try!
Since most brides are concerned about what gowns would be most flattering for their body type, Randy has provided a list of suggestions and guidelines in the chapter “Dressing for Your Body” from his new book, It’s All About the Dress. He’s broken it down in sections (or body parts!), giving suggestions on what you should try for different shapes:

1. Shoulders

*Your shoulders should be in balance with your hips.
NARROW SHOULDERS: try a tip-of-the-shoulder (where the shoulder meets the top of the arm) gown, or an off-the-shoulder gown.
BROAD SHOULDERS: try an A-line or a full skirt to balance out your top.

2. Arms

THIN ARMS: cover them with a sleeve, bolero, jacket or shrug, if you want them to appear larger.
FULL ARMS: wear a sleeve made with a light or sheer fabric to avoid adding bulk, if you cover your arms. Consider a cap sleeve or tip-of-the-shoulder gown. Strapless gowns can actually draw less attention to their size, as well.

3. Bust

*Your bust should be relatively equal in proportion to your hips.
SMALL BUST…try sweetheart necklines, gowns with ruching or embellishments across the bust, v-necklines, halters, and empire waists.
LARGE BUST…try necklines with a slight dip to soften the bustline, a-lines or full skirts, or a tip-of-the-shoulder gown to give you more coverage.

4. Waist

*As a general rule, you want your waist to be the smallest part of your torso.
SMALL WAIST: try adding a beaded belt or sash to accentuate your tiny waist.
AVERAGE WAIST: look for a dress that balances your bust, waist and hips.
THICK WAIST: try diagonally ruched gowns to camouflage a fuller midsection, a tip-of-the-shoulder with a full a-line skirt, adding a sash or beaded belt, and gowns with a corset or lace-up back to create more shape.

5. Hips

*Your hips should look like they are in proportion with your bust.
FULL HIPS: try an a-line or ball-gown, fit-to-flare gowns, tip-of-the-shoulder, or a gown with a natural waist and full skirt.
AVERAGE HIPS: as long as they are in proportion to your bust and waist, you can wear most silhouettes.
SLIM HIPS: Try an a-line or ball-gown with a large skirt or gowns with a horizontal seam or detail.

“These are just guidelines! For every rule I have given you, trust me, I can show you a gown that breaks the rules. This is why you absolutely must try a gown on to see how it fits your body!” – Randy Fenoli

As Randy stressed several times in the article/chapter, there really aren’t any rules when it comes to your body shape! I know there are tons of articles and websites out there that will try to categorize you in a certain body type… take those articles with a grain of salt! The information Randy has provided are just guidelines. Tell your consultant any concerns about your body, tell her what dress shape you think would be best for you, but then be open-minded if she suggests something else. You could be pleasantly surprised!

Good Luck!

-Raimi

January Events

Lindsey — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:41:42 +0000

The big annual Portland Bridal Show is over… but don’t worry! There are several other bridal shows in the Portland area throughout the year, and two of them are happening this week!

Art of Weddings: Charlotte’s was selected this year as a featured vendor at the Art of Weddings Bridal Show, a more intimate event with some of Portland’s most creative wedding vendors!

When: Thursday, Januray 19th 6pm – 9:30pm

Where: Pure Space Portland

Bravo! Wedding Affair: Get specific ideas for all the details of your wedding at this event. Experience extraordinary wedding vignettes featuring unique styles and personalities.

When: Sunday, January 22nd 11am – 4pm

Where: Embassy Suites Hotel Downtown Portland

Both of these shows are great resources for newly engaged couples to meet Portland wedding vendors personally and get some great ideas for your upcoming wedding! Visit Charlotte’s at both of these events this week to see some of the latest trends in bridal fashion, and visit the event websites for more information and to buy your tickets today!

Click for more information on The Art of Weddings and Bravo! Wedding Affair.

Charlotte’s Best of 2011

Lindsey — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:11:27 +0000

As we begin a new year, let’s take a minute to reflect on the highlights of 2011 for Charlotte’s Weddings and the bridal industry.

1. Wedding of the year. 2011 will always be remembered (at least in the bridal world) as the year of the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Every day from January 1^st until April 29^th the nation counted down, speculating on every detail, the main focus being the dress. Who would design it? What would it look like? Would it resemble – in any way – Princess Diana’s over-the-top gown? And then, the big reveal! Kate’s elegant satin and lace gown, designed by Sarah Burton (of Alexander McQueen), was every bit as royal as you’d expect for the future princess!

2. New Designers. We introduced a few new designers at Charlotte’s Weddings in 2011: Justin Alexander (as well as his other lines: Sweetheart and Sincerity) and Martina Liana. Justin Alexander is the “every-bride’s designer.” Poofy ballgowns, sleek lines, intricate lace and unique details, Justin Alexander has a wide variety of styles that will work for any bride. His gowns are well-constructed and his prices are extremely reasonable! Martina Liana is for the more glamorous bride who has a bit of a higher budget. J Gorgeous and intricate beadwork, lots of texture, rich fabrics, and unique designs, Martina Liana’s gowns are the definition of elegance! Check out our bridal gallery to see these new designers for yourselves!

3. The trends. 2011 saw a lot of texture in its gowns: ruffles, feathers, rag skirts, raw edges, 3D flower motifs, crocheted lace, etc. We saw different necklines and the return of straps/sleeves. And towards the end of the year we saw a trend in gowns that were any color but white/ivory! Champagne, oyster, alabaster, blush, oatmeal, pink, lavender, gold, etc.

Here’s to 2012: new gowns, new trends, and lots and lots of weddings!

Happy New Year,

Lindsey

Vintage Color Palettes

Lindsey — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 02:30:15 +0000

Love the old fashioned lace, bird cage veil, and shabby-chic antique feel? Vintage style weddings have been popping up everywhere in the northwest recently, and picking a wedding color palette to match that can sometimes be difficult. Here are a few examples of color combo’s that have a great vintage feel and are so fun!
     *Black: Almost any color done with black has a classic, timeless feel. Even when used alone it can give your wedding a sexy and sophisticated vibe. Just make sure not to go overboard, otherwise your guest will mistake your big day for a funeral!
     *Dusty Pink and Grey: Manly meets flirty! This is all about the balance between the colors so that they dont blend together. Use one more than the other so that there is a defined base color and accent color.
     *Lilac and Soft Yellow: Traditional and classic! To spice things up, add a darker hue with one of the colors as another accent color. It will give a nice twist to this common combination!
     *Chocolate and Cream: These colors together may seem boring and dull, but the softness between the two shades is very sophsticated and can be used in many different wedding day settings. (And they are so Portland too!!)
     *Peach and Turqouise: Bright, happy, relaxed and fresh. This is a great way to brighten everything up and give a laid back vibe to the whole day!

Whatever your theme or color palette may be, make sure to choose wisely. There are so many fun and unique options to use!

-Tiff

I Do! Take Two

Lindsey — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 02:28:33 +0000

You’ve been married before, and you’re wondering what wedding gowns would be appropriate. I’ve had a few brides lately who were concerned about where the boundaries are and what people will think if they have a “traditional” gown. I’m here to tell you that the rules are not as strict as they used to be, if they are existent at all. You deserve to be happy and feel beautiful at your wedding, without any limitations. Don’t worry about what the guests may think – select a gown that reflects both your personality and your wedding.

Brides who are shopping for their second wedding gown seem to either want to upstage their previous gown completely, or they want a simpler, more casual look. If you are seeking a less traditional look, try ordering a gown in a different color, such as champagne, blush or oyster. If you are wanting something more fun and casual, try some tea-length gowns.

Whichever wedding gown you choose for your new marriage is your decision, but please don’t limit your options and have fun!!

For a more classic, elegant look…check out these gowns we have:

For a fun, tea-length style…try these:

More tips are available in an article on I Do! Take Two’s website. Happy holidays!!

- Raimi

Getaway Timeline

Lindsey — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:30:15 +0000

We’ve had lots of conversations about wedding timelines. How far in advance to order your gown, your bridesmaids dresses, your Mother-of dress. How quickly in advance wedding/reception venues, florists, photographers, and caterers book up.
One question we’ve forgotten to ask is how much time before the big day should be allotted to book the honeymoon?
There are a few key elements to take into consideration in order to answer this question. First, are you going somewhere outside the continental US? Is your honeymoon scheduled for the busy tourist season or an off season for your destination (this can vary depending on where you want to go)? Don’t forget to take into account the weather of your destination, for example: even if you’re going during our summer, that means rainy season in some parts of the world.
There are lots of options for booking your honeymoon: going through a travel agent, monitoring discount ticket sites like Orbitz or Travelocity, all-inclusive resorts like Sandals. It’s never too early to start researching, that’s for sure! One of the best timeline suggestions I’ve found was on the Wedding Channel website. This site offers a basic time frame to give you the least stress and most comprehensive structure for planning your first married getaway. There’s always exceptions (if you’re just going camping in your local state park, you can probably ignore a lot of that information) and new deals out there, but it helps to know the recommendations of those who do this for a living!
Happy Honeymooning,
Corinne

Bridesmaids

Lindsey — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 23:27:00 +0000

I have noticed that in the last year bridal parties have been getting increasingly larger, and the ordering process seems to be an area of stress for many brides and bridesmaids. I know that with the holiday season fast approaching, bridesmaids may be the last thing on your mind! However, a few facts and tips can make the whole process so much smoother for you, your bridesmaids, and the store where you are purchasing the gowns!

1. Someone needs to be in charge of the bridesmaids order on your end. If you don’t have time or if you would like to delegate the task, choose a responsible bridesmaid to be the contact and communicate to the ordering store and all the bridesmaids who the contact person is. Just putting one person in charge will eliminate much of the conflict that can occur with the ordering process!

2. If you are allowing your bridesmaids to choose their own gowns, give them clear boundaries. If you want them to be able to choose a style they feel comfortable in, choose a designer, a fabric, and a color. Make sure you communicate that information to the store so they are clear on the boundaries.

4. In general, bridesmaid gowns take 4 months of actual order time, not counting time for alterations. There are rush options available for most designers for an additonal fee, but most parties want to avoid extra fees.

5. If you have out of town bridesmaids, make sure you choose a store that is comfortable working with out of town bridesmaids. Ask them questions about the process and make sure they have a system in place that you are happy with.

6. Be honest! Communicate your expectations upfront to both your bridesmaids and the ordering store. This gives your bridesmaids and the ordering store an opportunity to address your concerns and ask any clarifying questions.

Lastly, If you plan to order your bridesmaids at Charlotte’s, please know that we love questions and we are here to offer advice! We would be happy to sit down with you at the store, or reply to an email with all your questions and concerns. Do you have a pregnant bridesmaid due two days before the wedding? What about a bridesmaid who is living overseas and will not be arriving until the week of the wedding? A bridesmaid who refuses to order her gown by the deadline you set because she is losing weight? Just ask! No question is too silly or too difficult. We have seen it all! Just rememeber, the more questions you ask and the more clarification you get before you start the process, the less complications and stress you will encounter throughout. Most of all, good luck and have fun! We love being part of your special day!

-Suzanne