Dear Dulce:

I purchased a gown and no longer like the style. The store will not return my deposit. What is the policy of your store in this case?

Dear Jeannine:

Sales are final. When you purchased your gown you gave the store a deposit and also signed a binding contract. I believe this policy is the same with all bridal stores.

Most of the time the dress is ordered from the manufacturer that requires the gown to be ordered by size and color, but the sale could also be a sample gown that is usually a discontinued style from a previous season. In any case is a final sale.

My recommendation to the bride is: Do not allow other persons’ taste to influence your final decision. It is your gown, and your personality and taste are reflected in it. Let your heart decide. Do not continue to look or even worse, to try on other gowns after you have already bought yours.

Best regards,

Dulce

Dear Christine, there will be no reason for you to feel confused if you follow certain steps l have learned through my 30 years helping brides choose their dream gown.

Step 1 – Even though there are hundreds of gowns to choose from you should limit the number you actually try on to around 20, perhaps 5 or 6 per store.
The reason is that when you visit a store, the expert bridal consultants, such as ours, will ask you several questions and show you beautiful selections based on their experience in interpreting your desires together with their own observation of your body, your personality and your reactions to the different styles.
Most of the times, brides, after trying on five or six gowns, find the winning gown, but most brides want to be 100% sure that they have found “the gown”, so it’s fine to go ahead and try more gowns for reassurance. Other brides are very decisive and do not wish to go through the lengthier process.

Step 2 – Do not bring to the store too many people to hear their opinions. Many times, subjective opinions could keep you from choosing your “dreamed gown”

Step 3 – Do not try on gowns whose prices are beyond your budget. There are beautiful gowns from moderate to very expensive prices. You can be sure, that you will find your gown within your comfortable price range.

Step 4 – And, as every bride knows, the location and the time of the wedding are important elements to be considered when looking for the perfect gown.

Hoping this advice will help you in your search for “dream wedding gown” and wishing to be given the opportunity to help you find it.

Best regards,

Dulce

Time: Saturday, February 19th, 2011 at 10:00am-5:00pm
Location: Coral Gables Bridals
www.angelsanchezusa.com

Angel Sanchez has been captivated by fashion since childhood. He grew up in his mother’s atelier in his native Venezuela surrounded by dress forms and fabrics.

Today Angel Sanchez is renowned worldwide for both bridal and evening wear designs that reflect his architectural discipline and structure while creating new shapes and proportions that hold true to the timeless perfection of traditional couture dressmaking. His elegant designs are architectural, contemporary and feminine and always include a touch of drama and impact along with innovative details. Through his linear precision Angel creates definition to flatter and enhance the figure allowing a woman to feel the freedom and beauty that comes from confidence alone.

In 2005, Angel designed Sandra Bullock’s wedding gown and Eva Longoria’s Emmy Awards dress for which she received a best dressed nod. In 2006 Sandra wore an Angel Sanchez gown to the Oscars and in 2007 Angel designed Eva Longoria’s wedding gown.

Dear Dulce:

I have enjoyed very much your beautiful website. I would like to ask you what to do without offending anyone in the following situation: my two closest friends and my future sister-in-law want to be part of my wedding gown selection. I only would like to do it with my mom and grandma. Please, help!

Vanessa

Dear Vanessa:

It’s very simple. You have the perfect answer: you have always dreamed of walking down the aisle and surprising everyone. You assure them how much you appreciate their love and friendship. No one should be offended with a loving and reasonable explanation for your decision.

Also, I would like to add, to confirm your decision, that no matter how much a friend or a sister loves you, sometimes is very difficult for us women to be totally objective and sometimes, even without being aware, our opinions on the gowns are influenced by personal preference (subjective). In addition, several opinions could add confusion in your final selection. Always remember that your heart will confirm your “DREAM GOWN”. Best of luck!

Dulce

FAUNA:
Stunning one-shoulder gown with draped body in Roman organza. The gown is enhanced with a soft ruffled cascading skirt.

FINISTERRE:
Exquisite fitted lace gown with delicately draped bust line. The gown has a flowing overlay of tulle and lace that lend a romantic look to this very unique dress.

FRESNO:
Timeless elegance in this A-line laced gown with a wonderful fitting sure to please most brides’ body type.

Dear Dulce:

I am losing weight. Goal 20 pounds. My wedding is in six months and I do not want to order my gown at my present weight.

I have been told it takes anywhere between four and five months from the time you place the order until the time it is sent by the manufacturer and arrives at the store.

What should I do?

Betty

Dear Betty:

Yes, it takes four to five months once the gown is ordered from the manufacturer. My advice is to order it now.

Let’s assume that your are presently size 16. You should order now a size 14. Usually 10 pounds is equivalent to one size.

If you do not reach your goal of 20 pounds, and instead you lose around 10 pounds (by the way, 10 pounds are very easy to lose), then you will be a size 14 when your gown gets to the store.

If you reach your goal and lose 20 pounds, then it would be easy to make adjustments from size 14 to size 12. It is always much better to take in than to let out, and sometimes, in certain dresses, it’s almost impossible to make adjustments from a smaller size to a bigger one.

I hope this answers your question.

Good luck with your diet!
—Dulce