It was a Mikaella day!!

We were super busy this past Saturday, and, at one point, we had three girls wearing Mikaella bridal gowns at the same time. We had to snap a picture of them and their family/friends!

At The Wedding Bell, You’re Not Just a Number!

It was a flourishing May day when Jennifer and her mother came into The Wedding Bell in search of the perfect gown for her November 7th, 2009 wedding! Jennifer, only leaving herself with 6 months, knew we had to find her gown that day!! As we started off, I knew there was something different about this adorable pair! They were so sweet and gracious; working with them was a breeze! I went through our store process: telling her how the gowns were arranged, a little about the construction and styles, giving her the five clips… Then, we were off into the racks! When Jennifer first walked into the store, I thought of a specific dress in our store. Her wedding was going to take place in Seattle in the fall, and the dress was perfect for the event! I left the room briefly to grab the gown off of the mannequin and whisked it into the room! I told Jennifer “Now, I know this is the one!!” With excitement and anticipation in her eyes, I pulled the gown over her head and zipped the back of the gown up! Her mom was waiting patiently in the showroom, and I couldn’t wait to see her reaction! As I pulled the dressing room curtain back and gathered her train, butterflies ran threw my tummy. I knew it was the gown….

Jennifer’s mom’s eyes lit up! “Oh my goodness, this is the one,” she said! Jennifer walked up to the platform and stood facing the mirror. As I dropped the train, her face said it all! It was the dress!!! We had found it! The color was oyster and ivory with a dropped waist and sweet romantic lace and tulle over the soft satin! It was beautiful! As we starred in awe, I pulled a veil that just completed the whole look! She was ready for the big day! But, we weren’t finished by far!

The next step was her four bridesmaids. Jennifer knew she wanted them to be in long gowns and knew the color that she was looking for! I always say the bride should never leave the decision up to the bridesmaids. It’s their wedding, and, if you leave it up to them, you will have a hodge-podge look! We hit the bridesmaid rack, and I pulled three gowns that are always great for all different body styles and look great in pictures! Her mom was also looking for a gown for the event! I pulled a strapless corset gown that came with a shawl for her! We went back into the room, and her mom looked perfect as well! The dress had two sparkling broaches to set her apart from the bridesmaids! In no time, we had done it! Dressed the Bride, Mother of the Bride, and the Bridal party!

As I rang up the girls, we talked about one of The Wedding Bell’s great options for any of our brides, our Day of Package! The package consists of one of our great consultants (of course, it is the bride’s choice of who comes to her wedding) on hand and some other special services! The consultant comes to the wedding to steam the bridal gown, bridesmaids’ gowns, mother of the bride gown, and mother of the groom gown! We even bring water and treats as well as a sewing kit and other goodies! “Oh, yes, we would love to have you help out at the wedding,” says Jennifer’s mom! So, by the end of the day, we found all of the gowns plus me to be at the wedding to make sure all the gowns are perfect!

Time flew by! Months passed, and, before you knew it, November was here! Jennifer and I kept in contact throughout the months and even decided I was going to do her hair and makeup at the big event!

On the morning of November 7th, I woke up at 6 a.m., got ready, drove up to the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle, and got to work! When I walked into the suite, I was warmly greeted by Jennifer’s mother and sisters! The excitement and anticipation was in the air! Out walked Jennifer from the bathroom, and she was glowing! She was so calm for it being one of the biggest days in her life! I first steamed all of the gowns as the videographer roamed around the bustling room and photographers snapped candid shots of the bride and her family! It was such an honor to be able to watch a special time, not only Jennifer’s life, but her family’s life as well.

It was then time to put Jennifer together as she sat in her silk robe with Bride written in crystals on her back (just in case anyone wasn’t sure). We began with her hair. Soft curls was the look we were going for with it half swept up out of her face, so that all could see how beautiful she is! Her makeup was done with soft pinks, warm browns, and golds. Before we knew it, the time was there to put her gown on! The girls all gathered into the room and watched her mom and sisters zip her into the gown. It was PERFECT! All the planning had paid off, and it was time for Jennifer to be married!

I absolutely love my job! I am so blessed to be in an industry where I get to meet the women I do and make the friendships I have. The Wedding Bell is a small, family owned bridal boutique off 6th Avenue in Tacoma, Washington, where it has been for the past 65 years! Each day, I come to work knowing that I am one of the luckiest people to do what I do! It is a joy to provide a service we know our clients will remember forever, and we pride ourselves in doing so! Come, let the girls at The Wedding Bell not only help you find your perfect dress, but become a life-long friend! At The Wedding Bell, you’re not just another number, you’re a friend, and you are what matters!

Ashley Taylor
Manager

What Silhouettes Look Best for Different Shapes

When choosing what silhouette you want to wear, keep in mind what parts of your body you want to emphasize and show off.

An A-line is fitted through the waist and goes out with a defined waistline. A-lines tend to be the most flattering for all shapes. The cut of an A-line is good for larger hips as it flares out right above the hips and shows off the waist.

A ball gown has a very fitted waistline with a very large skirt. This style is the most traditional bridal silhouette. This style is flattering to most body shapes.

An empire is a high waistline, which is fitted right below the bust, and goes out into a thin skirt. This style is flattering for a girl with a larger bust and hips. It draws the eye to the smallest part of the waist and conceals the hips.

A mermaid is fitted all the way to the knee and flares out just below the knee. This style tends to look good on long and lean bodies. The shape of a mermaid can give the illusion of hips and more curves to the body.

A sheath is fitted and goes straight down the body. The sheath style is a relaxed look that tends to look best on a girl with a small bust and hips. This style shows off the shape of the body and its curves.

Marissa Fahnstrom
Bridal Consultant

marissa@theweddingbellbride.com

5 Benefits of Buying Your Dress Early...

1. The Dress Sets The Tone For Your Wedding!
You don’t want your theme, location, or decorations to limit your choices for bridal gowns. Choosing your dress first allows for you to really get to try on each style of dress and decide, without restraint, what dress you love most and looks the best on you. After you have the dress, then all of the other details will follow with ease. Girls are always surprised at what dress they think they want and the dress they actually get.

2. It’s Cheaper!
This is the reason we all love. Who doesn’t want to save a few when planning a wedding? Ordering early allows for a lot of brides to do layaway plans. Layaway is great because, instead of paying for the dress ½ and ½, you can spread out the payments and ease the blow of a lump sum. Let’s face it. Weddings are expensive. It’s nice to have small monthly payments that keep you on track and are more affordable. Also, ordering your dress early means you don’t have to pay rush fees! Who wants to tack on $150 dollars just to get it here?

3. Better Safe Than Sorry!
We have all heard a wedding nightmare story from a friend, of a friend, of a friend. Don’t let that be you. Ordering your dress early will give you time at the end to take care of disaster, if it should strike. If, for some reason, Godzilla breaks loose and goes on a dress eating rampage, you will have time to order another. Rest easy in knowing your dress is safe and sound in storage, waiting for your big day.

4. Less Stress!
Stress seems to be the leading cause of everything these days. It causes droopy eyes, pimples, sleeping disorders, and even…weight gain. By getting your dress early, you won’t have to worry about last minute shipping, fittings, cleaning, and hems. As a bride, you will have enough on your plate taking care of not only all of your little details, but his as well. Besides a prettier and more laid back you, less stress will allow you to really enjoy that last month before your wedding. You will have extra time to get that facial and massage, and really enjoy it. You won’t be secretly stressing the night of your rehearsal. And, you will even be more energized and rested the night of your bachelorette party. Everyone loves a calm and put together bride.

5. Because It Is Supposed To Be Fun!
Bridal shopping is one of the most important times of a girl’s life. You don’t want to spend this time worried and stressed. Shopping early will help you get an idea of what is out there, how much it costs, and what is the best fit for your wedding. Looking for a dress should be fun above all else. By purchasing your dress early, it will do away with all of those things we mentioned above that suck the fun out of finding “The One.” A lot of bridal shops offer after hours appointments to really get the most out of your shopping experience. We at The Wedding Bell offer champagne appointments. What is more fun than sitting with your closest friends and family, sipping champagne, and talking about your tiny waist. When else in life do you get to stand around while someone else dresses you in beautiful fancy dresses?

Danielle
Bridal Consultant
danielle@theweddingbellbride.com

Cool Book Photo Shoot

I had a great time with Kadie from North Thurston H.S., Janel from Foss H.S., and Jazmine from Steilacoom H.S. when I was in town a few weeks ago. This is the image we are going to use for the back cover of The Cool Book Prom magazine. It will be mailed out to all juniors and seniors in the the first week of January. If you don't receive one, just send an email to info@theweddingbellbride.com in mid-January, and we will mail one to you. Thanks again, girls! You looked beautiful! Also, this was shot on location at Hello Cupcake on Pacific Avenue in Tacoma, and the hair and makeup was done by Embellish Salon in Tacoma! Thanks to both of them as well!

Kim

Owner, The Wedding Bell and Miller Photography Studio

How to Prepare for your Appointment at The Wedding Bell

Ladies, there are all different kinds of brides out there. Maybe you’re the type that has a binder full of magazine and website photos, articles, and lists. Maybe you’re the type that has known what you want your wedding to look like since you were a little girl. Or, maybe you’re just seeing what types of dresses are out there. No matter what type of bride you are, we at The Wedding Bell are here to help you.

To be prepared for your appointment to try on dresses, there are a few universal preparations you should heed:

1) Wear undergarments you will be comfortable in. A consultant works with you to get the dresses on, and we will provide you with a bustier to wear. So, keep that in mind when making your undergarment choices for the day.

2) Take a few minutes to look at our website, and get an idea of the type of dress you think you would like to try. Your consultant will work with you to help you decide which silhouette you like best. This is easier to do if we have a jumping-off point to begin the search from.

3) Invite a few select people. We recommend no more than 3 people come with you, otherwise, the array of opinions can get overwhelming and confusing.

4) Know how much money you want to spend. If you have a budget in place, your consultant can work with you and make sure the dresses you love are within your price point.

5) Be open to new possibilities. Many times, brides come in with an idea in their head and are thrown off when something new comes along. Don’t be afraid to try lace, even if you don’t think you like it. You’ll be surprised what you’re drawn to once a gown is on you.

6) Get excited! This is a fun and exciting event, and we’ll do our best to make it as stress-free as possible for you and your guests.

7) Last, don’t get frustrated if you don’t have that “Ah-ha!” moment. Most brides don’t! Often, a bride puts on a gown, and loves it more and more after comparing it to other gowns. So, don’t think you haven’t found “the dress” if you weren’t brought to tears by anything immediately. Sometimes, you have to try on other gowns to realize exactly WHY you love another!

Jessie
Bridal Consultant
jessie@theweddingbellbride.com

National Bridal Market

The National Bridal Market was held 3-6 October in Chicago, IL. The National Bridal Market brings together some of the best manufacturers in the bridal and special occasions industry. I travel to bridal markets twice per year to do all of the buying for The Wedding Bell. It’s exciting to see what new fashion trends are headed our way and to be able to network with other stores.

It appears as though ball gowns, trumpets, and one shoulder gowns are headed our way. There were so many great gowns there that it really was difficult to do the buying. I just wanted to buy it all!

I picked up some new bridal lines that I am very excited about. We are going to start representing Jasmine Collection, Jasmine Couture, Pronovias White One, and Aire Barcelona. And, of course, we are going to continue to represent Mon Cheri Bridal, Sophia Tolli, 2Be Bride, and Mikaella Bridal. Speaking of Mikaella, all I can say is “Wow!” The gowns were beautiful, and we are going to host a Mikaella trunk show the last weekend of January.

I ran into Tony Bowls while I was there. He is one of the hottest prom and pageant designers out there, and he has a new reality show that will hit the networks early next year. I am trying to coordinate a time for him to come out to our store to do a Tony Bowls trunk show in February or March. Check out www.tonybowls.com to view all of his great dresses, and stay tuned for the big event!

Anyhow, new bridal and special occasion gowns are showing up almost daily. We will see the bulk of the gowns in November, December, and January. I hope you are all as excited about them as I am to show them to you!

Prom 2010

Just wanted to show a couple of the dresses that were debuted at Market for Prom 2010. We have so many beautiful dresses on the way! We are getting in short dresses for Homecoming, then the Prom gowns will start arriving right after Christmas.

Back From Market!

Kim (The Wedding Bell Owner) and Ashley (The Wedding Bell Manager) are back from prom market! We all can't wait to start getting our homecoming gowns in September!!! Make sure to come in early to get first pick for homecoming and Prom 2010! Also more Special Occasion gowns are on their way!

Summer Cleaning!

The Wedding Bell is off to Market in mid August and Needs to Make room for all the new arrivals we will have coming in! We have countless gowns on SALE! Huge Savings from 10% off all the way up to 50% off gowns select gowns! Some As low As $150.00!!! Items are selling Fast so make sure to come in and see all of the beautiful gowns!

Zoobilee

Zoobilee 2009!
Starting from the far left: Abram (Melissa's Husband), Melissa (Green Gown), Rebekah, Marissa (Yellow Gown), Danielle (Pink Gown), Nate (Melissa's Boyfriend), Charlottle (Black and White Gown/Ashley's Mom) Greg (Charlottes Husband/Ashley's Dad), Ashley's Date and Ashley (Sherbet Gown.)

Zoobilee was Great! All of the Wedding Bell staff fortunately was able to attend thanks to Kim the owner of The Wedding Bell, and Miller Photography Studios! We all purchased our gowns from our great selection of prom and spacial occasion gowns!

6Th Avenue Art Festival

Ashley and Marissa Modeling in our Store Window for the 6Th Ave Art Festival! It was a great experience for all involved! People out walking the ave passed by and were startled when realizing that they were in fact REAL PEOPLE! Danielle and Melissa also participated in the Fun! The store had many people stop in and checkout our Great Bridal and Special Occasion Gowns! We look forward to next year!

The Wedding Bell

Its that time of year again! There are so many occasions to shop for every thing from Military Balls, Zooblie, Quineanera, and all of your other events! The Wedding Bell has a great selection of special occasion gowns! Everything from a short cocktail dress, to a full on Ball Gown, all at great prices! Come in and check it all out!

Spring Wedding Expo

Come visit us at the Spring Wedding Expo sponsored by Brides Club.

Check out www.bridesclub.com for more information on times and pricing. Print off your discount coupons as well!

The fashion show featuring our hottest gowns will be daily at 2pm. Come join the fun!!

Sale Fun

Our sweat heart sale was great and we all had so much fun! Ashley and Marissa who are our very own employees outfitted themselves with gowns and promoted the store by walking up and down 6Th Avenue. The reactions were great!!

The sale was a big hit but there is still a ton of inventory available. The sale tags are still on many of the gowns and we are offering them to you. Stop by and check them out before they are gone!!

Valentine engagement?? Check us out for great savings!!

SWEATHEART SALE!!!!

Join us this afternoon (2/12) for a sweat heart sale!!

We have slashed the prices on our discontinued styles, clearance gowns and more!!

The store will close at 2pm so we can haul out the goods. We will then re-open at 4pm to bring you incredible savings!!

NO appointment needed just come in and go nuts!!

Bridal gowns as low as $99, bridesmaids as low as $30 as well as flower girls!!

Stock up on the savings!!

Any questions call the store
253-759-2513

2914 6Th ave.. We will see ya there!!