Bridal Expo

A long time ago there was a very strict dress code for each and every event. Seriously, people got dressed up in suits to go to baseball games and ladies were in stockings and heels at the grocery store. Today, it seems, people have trouble knowing how to dress for dinner at a casual restaurant much less a wedding.  I see  people of all ages  wearing pajama pants in public and generally speaking, casual attire has gotten out of control. So when  my friend called me today and asked what she should wear to a wedding I thought it might be a good time to go over what is acceptable and what is not acceptable in wedding guest attire.

So in this day of casual wear how do you tell your wedding guests that jeans are not acceptable (even with a dinner jacket for men) and that you fully expect them to dress appropriately? It is not that hard, actually. The place to let your guests know what is expected of them is in the invitation or, even better, on your website if you have one.  I have defined some of the more common dress code terms so you can use them to let guests know what to expect.

“Casual Attire”- If you are having a destination wedding on the beach, your female guests should wear a sundress, cruise-wear, not beachwear. Espadrilles, sandals and a dressier flip flop ( if that exists) are all appropriate footwear. The beach is no place for stilettos, anyway. Men can get away with a nice shirt, maybe Tommy Bahama or a stylish Cubavera  shirt  with linen pants.

“Informal Wedding Attire” is a step up from casual. A nicer dress, made of nicer fabric – something you would wear to a college graduation or to meet the first lady. Floor length is out. Men should wear a suit but still no need to wear a tie if the shirt is nice enough. For a preppy look try a navy blazer with Khaki pants and a pastel print tie.

“Formal Attire” means men have the choice of a tuxedo or dark suit. Ladies can wear either short or long gowns but, it needs to be dressy. Break out the glam but, don’t worry if you prefer the casual side of formal. Cocktail dresses are fine.

“Black Tie” or Ultra Formal is defined as cocktail or long dresses (only)for women and tuxedos (only)for men. Break out the fine jewelry, sparkly accessories and beaded purses. Men do not have to wear a bow tie as long as they have a tuxedo or a fine suit with contrasting fabric on the lapels. Dress like you are headed for the red carpet at the Academy Awards.

If your guests do not have the good sense  to know the definition of ‘Casual Wedding Attire’ ( for example), how do you enforce the dress code? That is entirely up to you. You could either have security to make sure everyone is  up to par and those who aren’t are turned away or  tell the photographer not to take photos of anyone dressed inappropriately. Or you could just let it go.  With any luck at all, you could have someone dressed so oddly that it will entertain you for years to come. 

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

Can you believe 2012 is almost over?!  It’s time to look back on 2012 and some of the fabulous wedding trends that sprouted from the imagination an creativity of seasoned professionals. Of course some may be passing fads … but,  some are definitely worth keeping! In no particular order, here are the ones we would like to stick around for at least another year:

Inspiration Boards

Thanks in large part to Pinterest, this trend has enabled brides to see the big picture when it comes to their wedding story.

Unique Venues

Less than 5% of couples have their ceremony in a house of worship. Finding just the right place to celebrate your love is a charming way to spend time and express your individuality.

Colored Wedding Dresses

Jessica Biel and Reese Witherspoon both tied the knot in subtle shades of pink. Color is hot and you are guaranteed to see a lot more of it in 2013.

Mix It Up

Bridesmaids wearing different (but matching) gowns, making every single groomsmen’s boutonniere slightly different, brides wearing cowboy boots, having homespun touches at the reception. Breaking tradition is the new tradition!

Delaying the Honeymoon

According to Theknot.com about 25% of all couples delay their honeymoon by  more than a week. It gives you time to unwind and prepare for the journey without feeling rushed.

Excited to see what 2013 has in store for weddings? Tune in tomorrow when I explore some 2013 wedding predictions!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

I got a phone call today from a friend who is getting married in 2 weeks. She ordered her gown  9 months before the wedding date just as she was told , she gave a 1/2 deposit just as she was told, and now she sits less than 14 days before her wedding without a gown, worrying where it is and wondering why it took so long. Worrying if she is going to have a gown before her wedding, wondering if it is going to fit. Worrying if she should go somewhere else and buy a backup gown and wondering how she got into this mess in the first place.

In no particular order, here are some step you can take to make sure you are not ever in her shoes:

 Earlier is better. Give yourself as much time as you can. 1 year? No problem! 18 months, even better!!! Start shopping for your gown as soon as you become engaged.  Designers take a minimum of 6 months to complete an order and can take even longer depending upon the style, fabric and beading.

 Reputation is everything. Shop at a trusted salon, one that you have heard great things about. Go on the internet and do a little snooping around. Good recommendations are golden and word of mouth is the best referral. Decide which is more important; savings or service! Working with bridal professionals makes your journey a lot more enjoyable.

 Do your Research. Find out the  designer of your gown, where their company is located, where the garments are made and what their standard shipping time is. 

 Ask Questions. When you have a question, do not hesitate to ask your salon bridal consultant. They are familiar with the stock, the designers, the alterations, every aspect of the business. They get customers from referrals and they know that you will be their biggest advocate if you are happy with your service.

 Back Scratching. Take care of your consultant and your consultant will take care of you. I’m not saying to bribe your consultant. I’m saying a nice note and a kind word all go a very long way when it comes to service.

 Plan ahead. If you do not have a gown within 2 months of your wedding date, you will need to have a backup plan in place. Remember that there are scores of salons that deal in consignment bridal gowns from major designers.

Remember, the worst thing you can do weeks (days) before your wedding is to stress and worry. It will trigger all kinds of physical symptoms; weight gain or loss, bags under your eyes, breakouts, hair loss, mood swings and more.  Most importantly, you are in control of the situation, the situation is not going to control you.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

The recent news of the engagement of two-time Grammy winner and American Idol alumni Kelly Clarkson to Nashville talent manager Brandon Blackstock got our creative juices flowing, imagining what kind of wedding this “Southern  Belle” might have in mind!

For the rest of the world who does not live in the Southern part of the United States, there are very distinct differences between South Carolina Style, Kentucky Style, Louisiana Style and  Texas Style. So, the fact that Ms. Clarkson hails from Texas and has planted her roots in Tennessee poses a ‘Southern Style’ challenge. However, there are some must -haves for any true Southern Wedding:

It’s all about the family. Expect to see cousins, kids, aunts, uncles and  relatives from every corner of the globe – even Yankees! The more the merrier, Southern weddings are known for being large and friendly so, when it comes to family; there is always room for more.

Grooms Cake. A groom’s cake  presents an opportunity for the bride to get creative & really WOW her groom. Since so much of the wedding is about the bride & her style, this is a great way to honor the most important man in the room.This tradition has really been embraced by people across the globe.

Beverages. Southern brides love to honor their heritage, & the quintessential beverages of the South are the great way to do so. From mint juleps & neat bourbon to sweet tea & Coca-Cola, there’s a Southern beverage to quench the thirst of young & old wedding guests alike.

Charming Accents. Glowing votives, floating magnolias, mason jars, old fashioned lanterns, parasols; all touches that remind you of a simpler era are abundant. Think of timeless elements that would work as easily in 2012 as they would have in 1954.

Most of all, the Southern culture is steeped in beauty, elegance, and grace. Whether your wedding is Sweet Home Alabama or Sweet Home Chicago, you can always incorporate some of these elements to make your celebration ooze with Southern Hospitality.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

What do brides really expect from their wedding vendors? Great customer service!  At Bridal Expo Chicago, we do everything within our power to make sure our “to-be-weds’ are the most well informed and pampered customers in the wedding market. We scour the  wedding market thoroughly to bring to you the best vendors available… all in one place. What we give our clients is what we expect them to pass on to our brides; the best customer service available. So what (exactly) does great customer service entail?

1) Contact – If you have called a vendor more than once and haven’t gotten a  call back, this is a red flag. If they can’t be on the phone to schedule an appointment before they book your event, what will happen once you have paid? Vendors – Get in touch with your clients even if you are swamped. It only takes a few minutes to book an appointment or to explain why you can’t. If you don’t have time to call them back, don’t be shocked if they feel the same.

2) Too Much – Inundating your potential clients with mass emails, constant phone calls and all kinds of direct mail can be a little much. If you are filling their inbox, mailbox and voicemail with offers or discounts (no matter how good they are) they could become frustrated. Some might see it as desperate and even worse,  annoying.  Remember there is a difference between being persistent and being pushy! Find a balance by asking for customer feedback and always have an ‘opt out of offers’ button, as required by the FCC. 3 emails per week might be just right but, 3 emails every hour might be a little too much.

3) Offers – If you are going to advertise a promotion, make sure it is valid and easy to understand. Tricky numbers and faux discounts is a huge turn-off. Another turn-off is gimmicky offers that have more fine print than a Chicago phone book. Everyone loves to save money so offering incentives is always a great idea…. unless the customer can’t understand the terms. When you are handed a prize onstage at a Bridal Expo Chicago event, you are handed a prize with no strings attached.

4) Remember- If you can’t remember the name of the person you are speaking to, there is a problem. Keep a notepad and jot down important information about their event so you can refer to this when you are speaking to them. Never pick up the phone without picking up their file so you can stay on top of  changes, making notes each time. Clients book vendors based on a feeling of familiarity and comfort more than price-shopping alone.

5) Go the extra mile. Knowing the colors, flowers, favorite songs or other details of the wedding, will show your customer that they are  important. One vendor in particular always presents the bride and groom with a gift that signifies their relationship.  Whether they play golf, or tennis or are big NASCAR fans, he goes the extra mile to make sure they know how much time and love he has invested in them and their event.

We are all consumers so we know how important customer service is for our brides and grooms. Rather than worrying about whether or not the customer is always or even sometimes right; it  might be a little more helpful to conduct your business according to the golden rule: “Treat others the way you want to be treated”  Be honest, be reliable, be efficient and willing to work  to produce the most desirable outcome.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

Bridal Expo Chicago does not sell or share  email lists or personal information with any other companies. If you ever have a problem, please contact our offices at 847-428-3320.