stop the presses | hannelore's bridal blowout sale!

Brides... searching for that stunning gown? Make it a point to stop at Hannelore's in Old Town Alexandria, VA! Make your appointment today and mark your calenders for this exclusive bridal blow out event...

If you find the dress of your dreams at Hannelore's we'd love to see you in it! Please feel free to send us your fabulous pics... We'd love to feature you on our blog.

Happy shopping!

mrs. brewington confidential : gown | to sample or not? pt.2

My story picks up... That night I shared with my mom my hopes to have that authentic experience. In the way that only mothers can she quickly stated she didn't need a grand experience but rather preferred a final decision. She enjoyed our day but was ready to cross this off the list! This is how we got to Hannelores. I booked an early Sunday appointment provided my bridal vital statistics (name, wedding date/time, and budget) and set out to find my dress.

Hannelore's of Old Town Alexandria is a lovely bridal boutique; a mini Kleinfeld Manhattan bridal boutique for the DC area. The bridal dress consultant reviewed my information and selected several gowns for me to try. She didn't try to push me into something I couldn't afford. Best of all she had tons of experience and a listening ear. She suggested I may want to look at the sample gown selection. Sample gowns are gowns that were tried on in the salon and are now for sale. They are probably not the latest style from the runway but offer a cost effective way to purchase that runway look from famous designers. That's where I found my gown. It was absolutely gorgeous, lightly worn, and more than 50% off the original cost. Enter Rule #3- Leave no stone unturned. For the budget conscious bride definitely take time to try sample gown sales in your area. Do your research first. Know the cost of the gown to ensure you're getting a good deal and the general cost of alterations. This way you’ll be able to estimate the total cost of your investment.

I am happy to say, I absolutely LOVED my gown. While sample gowns may not be for you, this option truly worked for me. It gave me the glamour I was looking for while meeting my budget expectations.

Mrs. Brewington

photo courtesy of labor of love photography

mrs. brewington confidential : gowns | to sample or not? pt. 1

Do you imagine yourself as the hidden princess waiting for your pumpkin, a fairy godmother and the perfect glass slipper? Or maybe you're a graceful Audrey Hepburn full of whimsy and silent beauty; think Breakfast at Tiffany's meets Roman Holiday. Weddings bring out the inner diva in every bride. It's a time to wear a beautiful gown, sparkling jewels and glam it up on your personal red carpet. The choices for gowns, and their price points, are endless! Let me start by saying I fell all in. I was helplessly head-over-heels overwhelmed with all of the choices. Ball gown, empire waist, goddess, strapless; the list is astounding. Although I spent months flipping through magazines, when it actually came to looking there was nothing like trying it on firsthand.

To prep for this adventure, I spent time watching several wedding shows, Say Yes To the Dress, Whose Wedding Is It Anyway? and Platinum Weddings. I knew I wanted 'that' experience; slowly emerging from the dressing room turning the corner and seeing the reaction of your mom and closest girlfriends. As you turn to look in the mirrors to get the full effect you hear gasps and see the tears of joy while onlookers remark how beautiful you look and you know ‘This is the dress’. At least that’s how it always played out on television.

My first outing I was accompanied by my mom, maid of honor, my planner and her assistant. Rule #1 - Anytime you plan your gown shopping search definitely book an appointment. It saves time confusion and frustration. The bridal consultant can help you navigate the daunting and exciting task of narrowing your selection. We had great fun and I liked each gown I tried on, but didn't love any one in particular. My entourage was not short of varying opinions and patience. Rule #2 - "Too many cooks spoil a great meal." In the end I had tried no less than ten gowns and didn't select one. At the end of the day Samara (Fab Wedding Planner Extraordinaire) gave me that great pep talk and said "you have to be happy and most of all comfortable."

This is just the beginning of the adventure of finding my fabulous wedding dress... stay tuned to see what happened!

Mrs. Brewington

photo credit: labor of love photography