A Toast to Weddings with Sharon Carfora

Contrary to what most people believe, brides have not always dressed in white attire on their wedding day. Long ago, brides wore colorful dresses to show their joy. In the 17th century, red was a favorite color in Europe. Other colors were worn for symbolic reasons. Blue meant constancy and green meant youth. It wasn’t until Queen Victoria wore white at her wedding that Western brides adopted that tradition. Before the Queen’s trend-setting marriage to Prince Albert, the American brides wore their Sunday best and would wear it many times after as well. It was the Christian church that put the purity label on the white dress.

The trends for wedding gowns change from year to year but many traditional-style gowns are featured annually. The ballroom wedding dress is back in fashion this year, along with splashes of color on hems and trim, which also showed up last year. Brides who have dreamed of the “princess” experience will be happy to know that they can carry out their childhood dream of choosing that billowy style of wedding dress and still be trendy.

Designers usually feature at least one wedding gown when they introduce their collections on the runway. Some of the more recognizable designer names in the industry—Vera Wang, Amsale Abarra, Badgely Mischka, Angel Sanchez, Alfred Angelo and, of course, houses such as Priscilla of Boston—still reign in the industry.

The well-known Kleinfeld shop in New York City is still the place where every bride hopes to someday be able to choose that perfect dress. Although for every wonderful designer dress, there is its “knock off” counterpart. There are also many Web sites that can help you find an expensive designer creation by a not-so-pricey seamstress. Some brides today are willing to take that chance and order the dress of their dreams on the Internet from a photo of designer gowns.

Sheri Daniels of Head to Toe Bridal in Dunmore shared her take on trends she is seeing for this year. Gown shapes include the drop waist and body styles that are slimmer. The one-shoulder style is another alternative to the strapless wedding dress that has been popular for so many years. Dress detailing is simpler, has less beading and may have ruching and pickups.

Shades of colors other than pure white with names such as “diamond” and “pearl” are new choices. “The traditional white shoe is being replaced by those of color,” said Daniels.

Head to Toe carries the new designs by Kitty Chen. Daniels is excited about the gowns from Kitty Chen and adds that she has patents on her lace. Head to Toe Bridal carries many other lines, such as Maggie Sottero and Jasmin Couture.

Daniels also added that the cage veil and feathers or flowers for hair accessories are also popular. She is seeing hair brooches instead of tiaras and asymmetrical pieces used in the hair. Sheri advises on planning six months prior to the event date to allow for dress ordering and fitting times. Daniels and Dale Schank are owners of Head to Toe Bridal on Drinker Street in Dunmore.

You can use the Internet to research your dress style before you personally visit the store. Your body type will always dictate the style of dress that will be the most flattering for you. To go along with this year’s popular “princess” look, Nichols Village Hotel and Spa offers a “Princess Package” designed to fit the budgets of the most frugal of brides. This package includes all of the amenities of the more expensive packages, along with the ability to have a reception at one of the areas finest banquet facilities at an affordable price point. This package can be found on the Nichols Village Hotel & Spa’s new Web site at www.nicholsvillage.com.

For questions or comments on the information provided in the column or for additional information on weddings, email scarfora@nicholsvillage.com or call my direct line at the Nichols Village Hotel & Spa at 570-585-2740

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