Dear Annie,

You are right, for many years we carried in addition to bridal gowns the bridesmaids and
mother of bride and groom collections, about two years ago we stopped carrying those collections.
It was a difficult decision since I love the bridesmaids and mother of bride collections, but I realized
we were not having enough time to give the bride the 100% attention she deserves, so decided
to stop carrying other collections in order to better serve the bride.

I should mention we have great veils, headpieces and belts to complement the bridal gowns.
Since we have gained display space, we have added beautiful gowns to our already
great bridal collections and I can honestly say: “WE ARE ALL ABOUT YOU–THE BRIDE”

I hope my answer satisfies you,

Best regards

Dulce

Dear Dulce:

I want your advice in a situation that has become very difficult for me and I need to find the best way to
solve it.

I am getting married this November. I had decided to go shopping for my wedding dress with my
mother, mother-in-law, 2 sisters and my 5 bridesmaids. What I thought was to be a happy occasion has
become a disaster! When trying on the 2 dresses that I love the most, I got some negative comments
and was very hurt and disheartened. When this happened my mother said it was my fault for bringing
so many people to give opinions. As you can see it was not a happy occasion. She wants me to make
my decision without all the bridesmaids and mother-in-law. What should I do?

Carolina B.

Dear Carolina:

Your mother is right. That is why bridal consultants always recommend limiting to two or three people
accompanying the bride when shopping for her dress. As women, we find it very difficult to be totally
objective and almost always our personal taste and personality influences whether negative or positive.
You have a very polite way to let everyone know that you will be doing the final decision with your
mother and sisters or the 2/3 people that you choose. Tell everyone that you want an element of
surprise and you want to surprise them all with your final decision.

Good luck!

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.