What are your favorite current trends? WF: I love themed weddings. Whether it’s a rustic theme and the brides are wearing cowboy boots or “old Hollywood glamour” with bright red lipstick and long white gloves. Who should accompany a bride when selecting a gown? LB: The individuals near and dear to the bride that truly understand her vision and style are most suitable to share the day of selection. Attention seekers with strong opinions should be excluded. NM: Brides should make their first visit alone in order to focus on their own preferences and narrow down their initial choices to several favorite gowns. On a second visit, brides should bring a couple of close friends or family members.
Nordstrom, long synonymous with excellent service and
Feedback from others is important to most brides, but remember that too many
elegant goods, is adding a new department called The
opinions can lead to confusion! WF: Surrounding yourself with honest, caring, and supportive people will only
Wedding Suite to their company. Nordstrom has gathered
make the experience better. Everyone wants to feel confident in their selections and
all of their bridal-tailored brands and added a few new
this is a time where their gut feeling is very important so its great to have people
ones to create a bridal utopia.
who appreciate and encourage that. PB: Brides should always go with their gut feeling when selecting a gown by how she feels in it. Brides can be over bombarded with friends and family’s negative
The Wedding Suite is a one-stop shop for bridal attire
comments, which can be detrimental. Bring one to two people with you and then
and features wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, jewelry,
choose.
and shoes. Partnering with bridal big-names Jenny Yoo, Amsale, and Caroline DeVillo Couture, the timelessness
What are your thoughts regarding searching the web for “the one?” LB: Searching the web is a great initial step to educate oneself of current fashion trends, styles, and designers, however the best way to narrow the field is to go for
that defines Nordstrom is exemplified in its wedding gown selection. Brides with refined tastes (don’t think big or
a personal shopping experience at a reputable bridal boutique to actually try on
blinged out but rather sophisticated and stylish) will find
gowns.
simple A-lines, lacy sheaths and chic column gowns. Raw
WF: I think its great to get ideas from the web. It’s one of the best places to have
silk, light chiffons and silk satin are used throughout, lend-
trends and options at your fingertips. However, I would suggest not relying on the Internet to give you the experience of finding your gown. It really is a trial and
ing a luxurious feel to each dress. There is also a selection
error process. Everything looks different on each individual as it also looks different
of reception dresses for brides who want freedom more
on the hanger or on a mannequin. Keep an open-mind as this is fun and once in
than frills. A wide array of accessories will also be avail-
a lifetime.
able and take a page from old-world glamour. Brides will
PB: The web is overwhelming and trying to find “the one” dress online can be more frustrating. Bridal boutiques have loads of information and the owners (in
discover vintage cuffs in rose gold, long strings of pearls
some cases the designers) can give the bride a wealth of knowledge. To touch and
a la 1921, and tasteful teardrop earrings to go with their
feel fabrics, view laces and talk with the experts can give the bride exactly what she
gowns. Bridesmaid dresses in universally flattering cuts
is looking for in a dress. The web will never give a bride the personal connection
are featured as well and offered in a multitude of colors,
for viewing the top designers first hand.
from platinum to navy.
Do you see big weddings a la Kim Kardashian or Kate Middleton influencing bridal fashion? Do these weddings inspire you?
The Suite is showcased by appointment and each bride is
PB: Private label companies are inspired by celebrity weddings and that is a trend
assigned a Wedding Stylist to help navigate the fashion-
that last a few months then is gone. As a designer, I have never been inspired by TV show weddings, which are more melodrama than a tasteful affair between two
able inventory. For the bride who wants beautiful things
people who are in love. What inspires me the most is simply the bride’s warmth
all in one beautiful place, the Nordstrom Wedding Suite
she brings into Provence or to view the Allyson Simone collection. When the bride
should be her first stop.
smiles as she is trying on her gown for the first time – that love is real, which makes being inspired all the more worth it.
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