Carrie, Author at Caroline Clark Bridal Boutique

Helpful Tips for Wedding Dress Shopping

19th February 2020 by Carrie

7 Tips to make your Wedding Dress Shopping an Amazing Experience

Bridal shopping is so exciting! But I also know it can feel a little overwhelming- not knowing what to expect or what it will be like when you first enter a wedding dress shop.

At CCBB we are all about making your wedding dress shopping as fun and exciting as possible. Today I wanted to share with you some of the questions we get asked the most to make your wedding dress shopping as lovely as it can be.

1.How long do wedding dresses take to arrive?

Designer wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses are made to order. Each designers lead time varies although on average dresses take between 4 and 6 months to arrive. As your wedding dress will be made to order (to a standard size) you are likely to require some alterations, which normally begin 2 months before your wedding. They can be done quicker, however you normally need 3 appointments and the final weeks before your big day will get very busy! We always suggest you start looking at least 12 months in advance and this will mean you will have time to choose the perfect dress without any worry.

2.What if I want to loose weight?

We understand that you will want to look your very best on your wedding day. However we do not normally recommend crash diets. Instead we would much rather celebrate the person you are at this very moment. But if you are planning to change size, don’t worry the seamstresses our brides use can do amazing things, including taking dresses down 3 sizes. We therefore recommend you order the size you are now to save any extra stress!

3. I’m getting married in the next 4 months can I still get a dress?

If you are getting married quickly then don’t panic! We have had brides come into the shop who have been getting married in 4 days time! There are plenty of options for quicker weddings- there are some dresses in stock with our designers or you can take the sample dress with you the day you first see it.

4. Who should I bring with me?

After helping for 5 years we have seen brides bring in parties of 10 and brides who come with their Mum and a friend. The brides who limit the number of people who bring with them often enjoy the experience a lot more- as everyone can easily focus on finding the right dress for you. CCBB is also an exclusive boutique, and we are quite limited with space. You can always bring everyone else in when you have found your perfect dress.

5. What if nothing suits me?

Wedding dress shopping is unlike anything you have done before. At CCBB we have a carefully picked selection of wedding dresses in every shape and style, so we know you will fall in love with a wedding dress with us. Please don’t worry that nothing will suit you as wedding dresses are designed to flatter and with our extensive selection you will find a gorgeous gown.

6. I have fallen in love with a design in a magazine- can you get it in for me?

When you first try on wedding dresses, we always suggest coming into a boutique with an open mind. As once you try on the dresses you may be swept off your feet by a dress which you did not expect. The photos all look beautiful, and sometimes brides fall in love with the image rather than the dress.

If you have already started looking for dresses we are able to loan gowns in from our designers: Stella York, Aurora by Nicole, Ivory and Co and Romantica, if the dress is available. There is a charge for loaning dresses in which is redeemable against anything you buy. If for some reason we are unable to get the exact gown, we will always try and find something similar to help you decide.

7. I’m concerned the fashions will change- how often do you get new dresses in?

Bridal is unlike high street shopping. Although some dresses follow the latest fashions, bridal gowns often remain similar from season to season. There are 2 seasons in bridal and new dresses arrive into boutiques in August/ September and December/January. If you start shopping 12 months before it is very unlikely that fashions will drastically change between the date you begin looking and the date of your wedding. If you have started looking 24- 18 months before your wedding and you are still looking for your perfect, you could always wait until the next season of gowns have arrived.

I hope these answers help you in the search for your perfect wedding dress. Whenever you start shopping here at Caroline Clark Bridal Boutique we treat all brides as V.I.P.’s and we promise you an exclusive experience. If you would like to book an appointment simply click here.

If you have any more questions about wedding dress shopping, please let me know below or email me at info@carolineclarkbridalboutique.co.uk

Lots of love

Carrie xxx

How to store your Wedding Gown

5th February 2020 by Carrie

I get lots of questions from brides who purchase a wedding gown 12-24 months before their wedding and wonder if it is necessary to preserve the gown somehow to keep it from yellowing or getting damaged otherwise.

Here is our best advice for keeping your gown fresh and gorgeous.

1. Don’t store the gown in plastic. Either wrap it in a white cotton sheet or use a breathable gown bag (available from most boutiques or from us)

2. Don’t store the gown hanging for over 3 months. It’s best to store the gown flat, folded in the sheet or bag. Hanging can cause it to stretch or warp as the weight of the gown pulls itself down. When you do hang it, be sure to use the ribbon loops at the side seams to do so.

3. Don’t store your gown where there are extremes in temperature or humidity. Store it safely out of the reach of pets or curious children. And of course, no cigarette smoke! If there are smokers in the house, put your gown in the most secluded closet possible.

4. If your gown needs to be cleaned before the wedding, we suggest doing so 1-3 weeks before the big day. Contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

5. The same advice applies to veils, too!

I hope this helps you on your wedding dress journey. If you need any more advice or have any other questions please get in touch at info@carolineclarkbridalboutique.co.uk

Unique Bridal Extravaganza

28th August 2019 by Carrie

16th October 2019

6.30 p.m. doors open

Manor Hill House

I don’t know about you, but I love the end of Summer and the first days of Autumn. It’s the season of beautiful sunset leaves, long walks and the last days of summer sunshine. Of course it is the season of new wedding dresses too!

Now that we have introduced the new Italian wedding dresses, Aurora by Nicole, into CCBB I have teamed up with Manor Hill House, the award winning venue, to offer you a Unique Bridal Extravaganza.

I have created this event to offer you a relaxing and fun alternative to the traditional wedding fair, where you will be able to preview the latest collection of bridal and bridesmaid gowns. You will also have the chance to to meet and learn the best tips and techniques from some incredible local suppliers and preview the new wedding. It is perfect for brides marrying 2020 onwards.

Get your ticket for the event here to experience the delights of Manor Hill House, enjoy delicious canapes and Prosecco and celebrate with family and friends.

Some of the fabulous local suppliers who will be attending the event will be chatting to and learning tips from some incredible local suppliers including:

Harveys Formalwear

Elaine Cooper Hair and Makeup Artist

Stuart Myers Photography

Holly Williams Makeup Artist

Midlands Wedding DJ

Bluebells Florist

These wonderful suppliers will be on hand to share their tips and ideas to make sure your wedding is the most amazing day you can imagine.

Tickets are £10 per person, and all of the profits will go to two incredible and deserving local hospices Primrose Hospice and St. Richards House.

The event will be held on 8th October 2019 at Manor Hill House, Swan Lane, Upton Warren, Bromsgrove B61 9HE from 6.30 p.m with talks and catwalk at 7 p.m.

We know this event will be popular so in order not to miss this great event click here to order your ticket

If you order your ticket before 14th September the bride to be will receive a free goodybag.

Get your ticket here

We are so excited and can’t wait to meet you at this Unique Bridal Extravaganza.

Love,

Carrie x

August Wedding Dress Sample Sale

27th July 2019 by Carrie

Wedding Dress Sample Sale- 27th August- 31st August 2019- £699.00 and under

Get the boutique experience with heavily discounted prices!

To make way for our new collection of wedding dresses we have decided to hold a week long sample sale, where many designer samples will be available to purchase for under £699.00

The opportunity to purchase a designer wedding dress at a reduced price.

During this week long event we not be holding appointments- instead we will be operating on a first come, first served basis. In the instance of a queue we provide timed slots.

Our opening hours for the week will be:

Tuesday Noon- 4pm

Wednesday- 10am- 4pm

Thursday- 10am – 4pm

Friday- 10am – 4pm

Saturday 10am – 4pm

We are really excited to be welcoming new stock into the boutique, and sadly we have to say goodbye to some of our favourite gowns.

This means we will be offering some of our fabulous wedding dress samples at £699.00 or less for one day only.

The dresses include designs by Stella York, Opulence, Sadoni, Sacha James and Tres Chic

Sizes 10-22 will be available. However most gowns between a size 12-16.

We do request all dresses are paid for in full and collected on the same day. Therefore you can keep your precious gown at home!

Here are some of the gowns which will be on offer:

To enable us to have an idea for numbers please pre-register your interest here.

We can’t wait to see you at Droitwich’s award winning boutique Sample Sale.

Love Carrie xx

All About Wedding Makeup

11th June 2019 by Carrie

How to get the best wedding makeup

Working within the wedding industry not only do you meet lovely couples to be, you also meet some amazing wedding business owners. This month I spoke to Holly Williams an extremely talented Makeup Artist about her exciting role in your special day.

I wanted to share the interview with you and let you know Holly’s top makeup tips.

Holly, tell me a little bit about what you do

I am a professional MakeUp artist with nearly 17 years experience in the industry. I specialise in Bridal and Occasion Makeup. I also offer tuition on a 1-2-1 basis or to small groups, this makes a perfect Hen Do!

When and why did you start your business?

I became self employed in September 2011, shortly after my own wedding. As I struggled to find a professional that wouldn’t over apply makeup, I wanted to look and feel like myself. I also found the quotations extortionate. Therefore I saw a gap in the market to offer natural makeup to enhance a brides beauty rather than take over the bride.

What makes your business different?

I would like to think its me? I offer a welcoming yet proffesional approach to all of my customer. It so important that my clients can relax and trust me; that’s when we get the best results. I have 17 years experience in the beauty industry and nearly all of it has been client facing, and I love to utilise and share my knowledge and techniques to offer my clients the best of the best. I am pleased that many of my clients are now good friends and our relationship has gone far beyond their time as my client.

What do you love about your job?

I love to be able to give brides confidence and show the best they can be. I find it incredible how such a small selection of products makes the biggest difference to someone’s confidence, and being part of that transformation is a real privilege to be part of.

What has been your favourite wedding to be involved with and why?

This is such a difficult question. Every Bride has a piece of me.

I never sleep well the night before as I empathise with the brides and wonder how she is feeling. After I leave the bride and bridesmaids I spend the whole day thinking of them! My thoughts follow them through their day too; ceremony, speeches, first dance etc. My absolute favourite wedding has to be my very first one. It was small and intimate and close to where I live. I had just begun my business and I felt privileged the bride had chosen me and to be able to share her special morning with her. Her mum and I both stood in tears when she put on her dress. Even now, I still feel privileged to be part of the bride’s special day.

All of my weddings are individual and unique- I never see the same thing twice. The planning and love that goes into each wedding is immeasurable so picking a favourite is very hard. However my first one was very special to me. It confirmed my path as a professional.

Do you have any predictions for your industry this year? For example trends, colours, styles, ideas etc

Brows continue to dominate the industry and they really do make or break a look. A trainer told me 18 years ago, ‘Would you hang a picture on a wall, without a frame?!’ and that’s stuck with me. You’ll see celebs lightening their brows now in contrast to darkening and thickenings in recent times.

What are your top three tips for brides?

Exfoliate, moisturise and buy an eye cream! All brides want to look their absolute best on the day and you spend thousands on dresses and accessories so INVEST in your skin. The difference introducing a few products to form a regular routine before the big day is imperative. Your makeup will be so much more flawless and will last much longer without having to over apply products and look heavily made up; never a good look for Brides!

Any other tips, or things you want to tell brides to be?

Hire people that you feel or you can trust or are recommended to you. Then trust them! If someone close to you or another professional regards them highly enough to share them with you, they must be good at what they do.

They will be aware of considerations you won’t even have thought of, because it’s not your job, it’s ours! For me its timings of the morning; I know how much time to allow, when to involve the photographer, communicate with hairdresser etc. They are all things you pay us to worry about to spare yourself, so trust us.

Anything else you would like to share?

That your wedding is your day, but it also means a lot to people near to you. Take the time to enjoy the planning with them and share the load. It’s all such precious time and such wonderful memories to make. Congratulations Bride-to-be, I hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks for giving your time Holly, and we are extremely excited to announce we will be working with Holly very soon.

To get in touch with Holly to find out about her amazing Makeup services please visit:

www.hollywilliamsmua.com

https://www.facebook.com/hollywilmua

https://www.instagram.com/hollywil_mua/