Asymmetrical hemlines, daring slits, puffy sleeves, flowery fabrics.
Those are just a few of the trends in wedding dresses. But whether a bride-to-be opts for minimal and modern or vintage-inspired, one of the biggest shifts in wedding dresses may not be the style, but how they’re being purchased.
Supply chain issues, rising inflation and a surge in weddings caused by pandemic-related delays have combined to alter how some brides are saying yes to the dress.
Custom dresses are now requiring longer lead times. Instead of allowing the typical four to six months for special orders, “We like to play it safe and say six to eight months,” said Colby Tredway, CEO and creative director of Ivory Bridal in St. Louis Park, Minn., and Flutter in Minneapolis.
Those whose weddings are planned for 2023 or
2024 may not mind the wait for a couture gown, custom design or a rightoff-the-runway dress.
Others have been frustrated that fallout from the pandemic made wedding planning a contradiction in terms. They want their dresses and they want them now. That has led to a surge in buying off-therack or opting for vintage or rental dresses.
Marie Suchy, a wedding dress maker, has witnessed the change firsthand.
Before COVID-19, she sold both special-order as well as off-the-rack dresses. But the lockdowns that shuttered shops, churches and most venues caused some couples to cancel and reschedule their weddings once, twice or even three times.
When the world — and the wedding shops — opened up again, Suchy realized that some brides were shopping for certainty as well as style.
“I noticed women were coming in and wanting to buy dresses off the
rack,” she said. “Brides weren’t necessarily set on dates and places now. They wanted to have the dresses with them so they could get married in a year — or in a month.”
Malia Henschel was one of them. She knew it would be hard to get the dress of her dreams with a six-month turnaround. She was right. She visited four bridal stores, which had wait times ranging from nine to 11 months.
After 12 years in business, Suchy shifted to selling primarily new sample dresses from designers or other stores. Business, said Suchy, is good.
To have and to share Business isn’t just good at Freya Wilde, a Minneapolis wedding dress rental shop.
“It’s been crazy,” said co-owner Andrea Collins.
The 300-plus gowns at Freya Wilde (which Collins describes as “the Airbnb of wedding dresses”) are privately owned. In the matrimonial version of the sharing economy, owners get a percentage
of the “booking fee” for a dress, which can run from $350 to $750 depending on its design and retail value.
Collins said her clients — both the owners who offer their dresses and the brides who rent them — are not a part of the “old mentality around wedding dresses, the ‘Oh, I’m going to keep it and I’m going to give it to my daughter.’ “
Whether driven by a desire to be sustainable, cost-conscious or to outsmart supply chain issues, rentals are finding their place in the wedding market.
“Somebody can come in with a month’s notice and walk out with a designer dress,” she said. “There’s no hesitation about rental whatsoever.”
Finding a dress at Andrea’s Vintage Bridal is a “very curated experience,” said proprietor Nikolina Erickson-Gunther.
“I prefer booking through e-mail because I barrage our brides with a
laundry list of questions,” she said. Then, she pulls 10 to 20 dresses for each bride to try on.
The dresses, which range in price from $700 to $1,800, date from the 1930s through the 1990s (“Yes,” she said, “ ‘90s dresses are considered vintage”). In addition to being cleaned and restored, many of the dresses are updated — with long sleeves, high collars and “fluffy bows” removed.
Like most wedding dresses, vintage dresses often need to be adjusted to fit modern brides. Those alterations, which are fairly standard, are done by a seamstress who specializes in vintage clothing and
construction.
“We’re a fully sustainable bridal studio,” said Erickson-Gunther of the family-owned Minneapolis shop.
Dress shopping isn’t the only aspect of weddings that has changed, of course. With churches and reception venues booked, many celebrations have become smaller and simpler. Some couples have taken a two-stage approach.
Instead of a large, lavish affair, some couples are sharing their vows in backyard or courthouse ceremonies, then holding one or more receptions later.
“I’ve never had so many
requests for dresses that can be flexible” to be worn to more than one event, daytime or nighttime, even in different seasons, said Erickson-Gunther. While the upheaval in the wedding industry has undoubtedly created stress
for some engaged couples, not all of the changes are for the worse.
“It’s shifted away from those huge weddings to what it’s really about,” said Suchy. “The dress is still important, but it’s about marrying your partner.”
Sew Much More of Coudersport is a formal wear shop that offers bridal gowns as well as dresses for bridesmaids and mothers of the bride and groom. Sew Much More is at 127 N. Main St., Coudersport, Pa., (814) 335-8681 Sewwhizz@yahoo.com.
With the approach of the 2023 bridal season, most wedding parties are thinking along the lines of the “slim fit” tuxedo to outfit the groom and his groomsmen.
This new style of tuxedos doesn’t propose to stuff the larger man in tuxes that will slim him down, instead they’re designed to give the appearance of a slimmer, stylish individual.
Mike Butler, longtime owner of Man’s World at 105 Main St. in Bradford, said the new style of tux is being requested by many wedding parties, and even by the younger guys attending proms in the spring.
“If you’re size 48 normally, and your daughter wants you to wear a tux for her wedding, I’m bumping you up a size if it’s a slim fit,” Butler commented. “You kind of have to do that” to ensure the suit will fit.
Armond’s Fashions of North Union Street in Olean also offers a selection of tuxedos for the groom and his party, from traditional to unique.
Armond’s offers early arrival of all tuxedos for fitting and a tailor is available for any last-minute alterations. Call (716)-3721733 or go to armondsfashion.com.
At Man’s World, Butler noted the slim fit coat, as
well as the arms of the coat, are tapered and the pant legs and seat are also tapered.
“It just has that sleeker look,” he explained. “If you watch TV, you see all these guys in slim fit tuxes, it almost looks like this stuff is too small for them.”
He said a number of new tuxedos also look more like a suit than a tux; for example some of these styles are minus the satin lapels and trim on pant legs. That said, the new styles are still worn with an array of colored vests,
bow ties or Windsors that compliment the bride’s and bridesmaids’ outfits, or the prom dresses.
As for the preferred colors of tuxes this season, gray, charcoal gray, silver gray, navy and blue are most requested over the traditional black tuxedos, which will never go away, he added..
“Many, many of my orders are for the gray tuxes and the navy tuxes, that’s a big part of it,” he stated. “There’s a new blue that is more of the French blueit’s the new navy, but not as blue.”
For wedding parties that are hopeful of economizing, Man’s World offers rental prices for tuxedos that won’t break the budget. Tuxedos can be rented from as low as $100 up to $170. This compares to shops in larger cities, or rental warehouses, that charge as much as $280 for a rental, on average.
Butler advises wedding parties to order the tuxedos a month before the nuptials, as this will allow plenty of time for delivery.
Call Man’s World at (814)368-6520.
Considering an outdoor wedding? State parks in the region — both in Pennsylvania and New York — have venues that couples have turned to in celebrating their nuptials.
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has some gorgeous locations for one-of-a-kind scenic backdrops.
“Pennsylvania state parks offer a wide range of facilities and services from pavilion rentals at almost any park to full wedding facilities including food services at Kings Gap Environmental Education Center in Cumberland County,” the DCNR states on its website.
“For all your wedding ceremony inquiries and questions, please contact the state park office where you are interested in having the ceremony. All weddings require preapproval. If your wedding includes the use of a commercial photographer or catering company, please be certain to discuss these details with the park office,” the site indicated. “If your wedding service is approved, most parks will charge a small administrative fee for processing the necessary paperwork.”
A list of parks with accommodations that would suit a wedding are available on the website, like the main overlook at
Leonard Harrison State Park in Wellsboro — the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon; Chapman State Park near Warren, with an amphitheater that would accommodate 130 people, and a pavilion that would accommodate 150 people; and Presque Isle State Park in Erie, where the Perry Monument, Rotary Pavilion, Beach 7 ADA deck, pavilions and beaches all accommodate 100 people.
Looking for something spectacular and closer to home? The Kinzua Bridge State Park allows weddings, too.
A spokesperson told The Era that those planning the wedding should contact the park office. “We have a little information sheet we provide. We do not close down the bridge for a wedding,” she said. In the past, visitors haven’t interrupted proceedings, but have
stopped to watch the nuptials take place.
“We try not to (have weddings) during September or October,” the spokesperson said, explaining those are the busiest times of the year for the park. If those are the dates chosen, they may ask the wedding be held early in the day or later in the day to avoid the highest visitation times.
“We’re technically not involved in the wed-
dings,” the spokesperson said, explaining the wedding party is responsible for bringing the officiant and so forth. The Visitors Center cannot be used, and no seating can be used. The spokesperson cautioned, too, that some guests may be afraid of heights.
“We have maybe a dozen weddings a year,” she explained. “We probably have lots of engagements out on the bridge that we don’t know about, too,” she added, laughing.
Some couples choose a small, intimate ceremony at a meaningful place, like a state park, and hold a larger reception after at a separate location. Others may incorporate a nearby state park into their wedding photos.
In New York state, Allegany State Park has pavilions and other sites that may be rented for special events. Letchworth State Park is also a potential site for weddings.
Contact the park offices for information.
•
•
•
Weddings are such momentous occasions that it’s no wonder couples want to share their big days with as many people as possible. Though a wedding where all friends, family members and acquaintances are in attendance may be a dream scenario, reality often calls for a more carefully curated guest list.
Data from The Wedding Report indicates that the average cost of a wedding is slightly more than $20,000, though that figure could be substantially higher, or even lower, depending on where couples tie the knot. Both The Wedding Report and The Knot report that a wedding venue and catering make up a significant percentage of the overall cost of a wedding, with some figures indicating that these expenses account for around 65 percent of the final price tag. The number of guests couples will host on their wedding day will affect which venue they book and how much food and beverages they’ll need to satisfy guests. Couples who hope to stay within budget can consider these tips as they try to build a guest list that won’t break the bank.
• Accept input. Parents may no longer foot the entire bill for their children’s weddings,
but couples who are accepting some financial help from parents must also accept Mom’s and Dad’s input regarding the guest list. Even if parents’ desired guests do not ultimately make the cut, it’s best to respect their wishes and consider who they want to invite. Couples who are financing their own weddings without outside help need not feel beholden to invite anyone who does not meet their invitation criteria.
• Make a preliminary list without regard to budget. Couples can have fun making preliminary guest lists without considering
their budgets. A preliminary list can serve as a solid starting point, and couples may even realize that their list is within budget. Once the preliminary lists have been created, couples can categorize guests (i.e., distant cousins, coworkers, etc.) and then work together to determine if any categories can be eliminated from the invitation list. For example, couples who may be going over budget with their guest lists can each agree to remove distant cousins from their prospective invitees.
• Seek advice. Many couples face difficult decisions regarding
their wedding day guest lists, so it can be helpful to speak to a recently married friend or relative to see how they handled paring down their guest lists. Some might have done it by category, while others might have limited guest lists to local friends and family. When taking this approach, couples can speak to friends about how they approached handling people who were surprised that they were not on the final list of invitees.
• Throw a less formal party down the road. A less expensive backyard barbecue within weeks of tying the knot can serve as a less costly alternative to a large wedding reception. Couples who take this approach can keep their wedding day guest lists to a minimum, but invite everyone they hope to see to a post-wedding day backyard barbecue or pot luck picnic so they can celebrate with everyone they love.
Curating a wedding day guest list is no small task. However, couples can try various approaches to keep a guest list more manageable and less expensive.
Much goes into being photo-ready on your wedding day. After months of planning, the wedding day is the couple’s time to really shine, and many go to extraordinary lengths to look their best. Gowns and tuxes may garner their fair share of attention, but hairstyles also can help couples look their best.
Couples can wear their hair how they see fit, but certain hairstyles have exhibited some serious staying power and can look timeless in photos and videos for years to come.
• Classic low bun or chignon: This is one hairstyle that certainly has withstood the test of time. A bun can be as sleek as a bride desires, or tendrils can be pulled out to frame the face, and the bun can be anything from minimal to messy. Pulling hair back may be more comfortable on warm days and there’s no frizz to worry about if Mother Nature fails to cooperate.
• Vintage curls: Brides whose dresses harken back to a bygone era may want to complement that style with a hairdo that also speaks to that moment in time. For example,
the intricate pin curls of the 1920s likely will tie into a gown with an umpire waist.
• Fancy ponytail: Like a bun, a ponytail can pull hair away from the face for comfort and style. It’s a bit less formal than a bun and can be styled in many different fashions, even incorporating braids.
• Side-swept waves: Evoke movie-star drama with a hairstyle that features hair pulled to one side and cascading waves down the length of the face.
• Loose waterfall braids: Carefree boho looks run the
gamut of styles. One to consider is loosely plaited waterfall braids that add whimsy. Additional braided options also work well for less formal weddings.
• Half-up, half-down: This hairstyle offers the best of both worlds. It enables the hair to be pulled back on top, and then the bottom is left loose, whether straight or in curls or waves.
• Ballerina top knot: This is a take on the bun. But rather than pinned at the nape, it is high on the crown of the head.
• Short bob or pixie with accents: Shorter hair also can look stunning. A bob or pixie cut can be enhanced with sparkling barrettes or woven-in flowers.
• Halo braid: This braid is fashioned so that it goes over the top of the head and mimics the look of a crown or halo. It may negate the need for a tiara.
Men also have plenty of options to get their hair wedding day-ready. Classic shorter cuts feature close-cut sides and more length on top, which can be spiked, tousled or even slicked back depending on personal preference. However, any length hair is in fashion, and grooms can don buns, ponytails, natural texture, and much more.
Many special moments unfold during a couple’s wedding day. A bride’s walk down the aisle, a married couple’s first dance together and, of course, the moment couples say “I do” are just a few of the many memorable moments to take place during a wedding. Another memorable moment, and one that couples have little to no control over, is the wedding toast. Toasting is a tradition that some historians trace to ancient Greece, which should give nervous toasters-to-be a little more confidence as the wedding day approaches. After all, given the lengthy history of toasting, it’s likely that millions of people have toasted happy couples over the years. If millions of others can do it, then so can this year’s crop of best men, maids of honor and proud parents who will be asked to raise a glass to happy couples. As a couple’s big day draws near, those trusted with toasting the newlyweds can consider these tips.
• Introduce yourself. Unless it’s a very intimate affair with only a handful of wellacquainted guests, introduce yourself before beginning your toast. This not only ensures everyone recognizes who you are, but also provides a simple way to begin your comments without feeling a need to impress.
• Keep things lighthearted. Though it’s best to avoid being too informal, a lighthearted toast with a funny anecdote and/or a joke or two can help to maintain the jovial vibe of the reception.
• Explain your relationship. Maids of honor and best men are often chosen because they have a special relationship with the bride or groom. So it’s alright to give a brief explanation of that relationship and explain how much it means to you during the toast.
• Toast the couple. Even though most people toasting at a wedding have a special connection with just one half of the newly married couple, it’s normal to
toast the new couple and their happiness before closing your remarks. If you want to toast each person when delivering your remarks, speak to your counterpart (i.e., a maid of honor if you’re the best man, or vice versa) for some special insight.
• Keep your toast short. Toasts need not be lengthy. In fact, toasts should be on the shorter side so everyone tasked with delivering a toast can do so in a reasonable amount of time.
• Avoid winging it. Plan your remarks ahead of time, even writing down your toast or at least organizing your ideas before you’re handed the microphone. Winging it might seem like an option, but if you speak
off-the-cuff you’ll likely find yourself rambling and going off course. Planning also allows time to practice your remarks before the big day, which also can help to calm your nerves.
• Remember you’re among friends. If need be, remind yourself before your toast that you’re among friends.
Speaking to a room full of people you know or are at least familiar with should help you avoid the nervousness that can come with speaking to a room filled with strangers. Toasts are a beloved wedding tradition. People tasked with toasting the happy couple can follow some simple strategies to stay calm and deliver remarks couples will remember forever.
Stop worrying, and enjoy your day. Top-Of-The-Line Catering has been helping brides relax while their guests enjoy a fantastic meal for over many years. Ask for Sharon at (814) 362-1588 Chef with over 25 years of experience and culinary degrees! Fully Licensed and insured.
