Congratulations on your engagement! We are just as excited as you are and we can’t wait to join you on your journey. Many brides are curious to know when is the right time to start the hunt for their wedding gown. Truly there is no time too early to start looking following your engagement! It is a fun experience so starting your journey early is favourable. We generally recommend a year before your wedding date as this is the most optimal to give you lots of room for your timeline.
When you have decided it is time to start looking for your gown it is best to look for inspiration online, social media, etc. This way you can start to get an idea of what you like and you will be able to show and tell your bridal consultant what you are looking for. Be sure to bring pictures as that will really help us pull gowns for you! Just remember to trust your consultant and approach the appointment with an open mind and we will do everything we can to help you find the perfect dress.
If all goes well in your bridal consultation you will ideally have said yes to a dress! When you chose a gown we will celebrate first and then quickly get to work. We will take your measurements of your bust, waist, hips, and length. This way we can match your measurements to the best fit size gown that we will order for you. Some gowns are able to offer custom measurements for an extra fee as well which may be an option depending on the designer. Once we have discussed the best size to order for you we will go ahead and place an order, and then the waiting period begins.
Many brides are unaware that when a wedding gown needs to be ordered they can take from six to eight months for your gown to be created and shipped back to us. Most wedding gowns are made to order, thus the longer than expected wait time. There is rush ordering available from some designers, but if you start your journey early enough you won’t have to worry about that! We will contact you as soon as your gown arrives in our store. Upon that time you will then schedule your gown pick up appointment where you will come in and try your gown on with us!
When gowns come in bear in mind that you will most likely still need some minor alterations. We have ordered the best fit size for you so there might be some tweaks needed here and there. Every single gown that goes through our doors has needed some level of alterations so that it fits the bride absolutely perfectly. For most ordered gowns you are looking at alterations of strap tightening, seam allowance tightening or loosening, hem adjustments, etc. If you have a train on your dress it is highly recommended to add a bustle as well. All in all, be sure to save room in your timeline and budget for alternation considerations.
If your ordered gown comes in and you are no longer the same size during the time you ordered, don’t fret! As we just stated you will most likely need a seamstress regardless so they will be ready to help you with more major alterations if needed. As we now know, it can take around six months for an ordered gown to come back to you so a lot can change in that time! You seamstress will be sure to help you and walk you though all of the alterations you will need for the gown to fit you perfectly. In general if your gown is in need of more major alterations if is recommended to bring it to a seamstress four months prior to your wedding date. This way your seamstress is able to fit your gown to you and there is some room for extra tweaks as well.
After your gown has been perfectly altered to you its time to properly store your gown before your actual wedding. Be sure to hang your gown on its hanger loops (the ribbons that usually are attached inside the armpit of the dress) to prevent any stretching or strain on the gown. Feel free to remove the hanger loops on the day of your wedding if they show through the dress bodice at all. Keep your gown stored in the garment bag up until your wedding to prevent any possible stains or marks. Be very careful of the zipper when closing and opening the garment bag, especially If you have a tulle dress or very detailed dress. We recommend using your other hand as a barrier between the back of the zipper and the gown to prevent any snags.
On the night before your wedding we recommending steaming your gown and leaving it to hang outside of the garment bag overnight. This way your dress is ready to go right when you awaken of your wedding day! We hope this has helped to give you a general idea of the timeline of a wedding gown!
Cande Bridal Boutique
1350 St Paul St #202
Kelowna, BC V1Y 2E1
For more information https://www.candebridalboutique.com/ or find Cande Bridal Boutique
As per my previous post, we are engaged! After that day we discussed what to do next and to set a date. We have decided to take advantage of the micro weddings of covid and to pick a date in the fall. Upon looking at a calendar and realizing that it is less than four months away it’s safe to say that I am freaking out.
I have preemptively picked up three wedding planners because you never know what you will need. They all have pros and cons, and right now I am looking for all the resources available to me! We have decided not to hire a wedding planner as planning my own wedding has always been a dream of mine. However, if that is not your dream I highly recommend hiring a wedding planner. Planning your own wedding is very stressful and a wedding planner will alleviate that entirely.
Literally the night of and the day after the proposal we started researching like crazy. We drove around to check out venues, looked into current covid guidelines, and researched anything important we could think of. Now, some time has passed since the proposal and I am still in the midst of wedding planning. However, that first week of planning was overwhelming to say the least! I now see why it is recommended to start planning a year prior to your date. The wedding planners I purchased were very helpful as well since they also informed me of things I wasn’t aware of like applying for a marriage license prior to the wedding date.
Although overwhelmed, I am not worried about the whole process. Instead I am excited for the challenge ahead! From my understanding the most barebones and important parts of holding a wedding are to choose a date, pick a venue, hire a wedding commissioner or officiant and have two witnesses. As long as I have those things we will be good to get married no matter what! Rest assured that you will be updated during the entire process!
Victoria Ansell (@vicansell) Social Media Specialist for Cande Bridal Boutique
1350 St Paul St
#202
Kelowna, BC V1Y 2E1
For more information https://www.candebridalboutique.com/ or find Cande Bridal Boutique
So it happened! After ten years of incredible growth, love, and highs and lows we are finally engaged. I am truly overwhelmed with happiness! I am so excited to share the story with you all. The story is fun and also sentimental for me.
We decided at the last minute to visit my future fiancé’s mom over the weekend in Penticton. Since I create content for Candè’s social media I am always thinking of fun ways to incorporate Candè into every opportunity! I looked at the weather forecast and it was calling for a beautiful weekend! So, I contacted Adriana and asked if I could borrow a dress for the day to make a video. I decided on a silver, gray and gold Chantel Lauren customized by Candè skirt and an ivory Lis Simon high neck top separate.
We initially decided to go out to the Skaha Bluffs for the shoot, but while driving out we decided on Munson Mountain because it was a little easier to get to. I am so glad we decided to do Munson because it was perfect! I am barely 5’2 and the Chantel Lauren skirt is very long on me. Muson mountain has this perfect rock to stand on so that the skirt can have it’s own moment. It was very windy atop the mountain but it was just beautiful for getting these incredible shots with the dress. I really felt like a Greek goddess!
My future fiancé was my photographer and he did a great job of capturing the moments. For the most part we were up there alone enjoying the amazing, although cold experience! We were experimenting with different ways to throw the dress and get a few shots with the sun out. Afterwards, we decided to do some close ups with the skirt in the foreground. Since my boyfriend was the photographer grabbing these shots, he was already on one knee when he popped the question. Of course I said yes!
Truly, in my heart, I knew it was coming at the time. But, I was still so overwhelmed with excitement. It was really beautiful to be asked while feeling so lovely on such an amazing day. We don’t have the engagement ring right now so he proposed with the wedding band which is what you can see in the photos. Rest assured that there are more wedding related blog posts coming!
Victoria Ansell (@vicansell) Social Media Specialist for Cande Bridal Boutique
1350 St Paul St
#202
Kelowna, BC V1Y 2E1
For more information https://www.candebridalboutique.com/ or find Cande Bridal Boutique
Many people get the point in their relationship where they may start to feel ready to take it to the next step. You may feel as if it is the natural progression of the relationship, family and friends inquiries or other outside pressures. However, your partner may not be at the same stage as you. Upon further research, it is not uncommon for one side of the relationship to feel more ready than the other. For myself, I have been with my boyfriend for over ten years and for the past year and a half I started to feel like it’s time to get hitched. My parents have also been asking me why a proposal hasn’t happened yet. I do feel a little pressure from my family but mainly from myself as I feel I am ready. My boyfriend however, was not at the same stage as me.
When I first brought up the possibility of marriage we began to discuss how this could be the next step and how it can be beneficial for the both of us. At that time he was not at all ready and he felt stressed with the notion that I was. After much delegation we realized that we were both raised watching different viewpoints of marriage. He was much more apprehensive to get married due to his personal experiences, whereas I was much more excited due to mine. Instead of being frustrated with his hesitation to propose we decided to unpack it instead. We engaged in plenty of integral conversations over the past year and a half discussing all the pros and cons. We have made sure to discuss our expectations, goals, financial and future dreams in great length to be sure that our ideals align with each other. We both made compromises and agreements so that we were both happy with the outcome of our decision.
We then came to the conclusion together that getting married is the right move for us. I realized that it all came down to effective communication between the two of us. I have compiled a list of some important questions that we felt were the most effective in determining our expectations for the future of our relationship. They cover the main discussions we had in order to come to our big decision. Be sure to check out an insightful list of questions from Oprah Magazine and a massive 100 question list for more.
1. Why do you want to get married?
We discussed what marriage means to each of us and why it may be important. We also asked each other why we would want to marry one another.
2. Do you want kids?
We all know this is an incredibly important question to discuss before committing to someone. Be sure to also discuss possibilities of fertility issues, how kids fit into your lives and how you would want to raise them.
3. Do you have any outstanding debt or financial obligations?
Never hide this information and don’t lie about it either. Money and finances is an important part of planning for the rest of your lives.
4. Do we want separate bank accounts or shared assets?
Are you willing to sign a prenup? Don’t be offended if this question arises. Everyone can have different experiences with what they have witnessed related to a marriage. Your role as a potential life partner is to make your spouse feel comfortable and taken care of and if the notion of a prenup helps them with that then it might be a good option.
5. Where do you want to live?
You need to discuss where you plan to put down your roots. Where do you want to be and what kind of home are you striving for?
6. Do we agree on the division of labour in the household?
Who will do the chores and how often?
7. How can we be satisfied with the sexual ebbs and flows in our relationship?
You should discuss and aim to be on the same page with your partner when it comes to sexual expectations.
8. Do we respect any religious, spiritual or political differences between each other?
Couples don’t need to agree on everything, but they should always be respected, especially when it comes to fundamental beliefs and opinions.
9. Medical information
Any family medical history that is important? Also how will we take care of each other during a medical situation?
10. How much do we want to spend together and with others?
How much obligatory family time is expected for yourself and your partners attendance, including holidays.
11. Will you be taking your spouse’s name?
Also, if you are deciding to have children what will their last name be
12. How committed are we to our careers?
How are we both able to compromise when it comes to dream careers and opportunities.
13. How do we plan to spend our vacations?
The way a couple spends and values leisure time is more important that you might think!
14. How can we improve how we communicate with each other?
Communication is the root of a relationship. How you communicate with each other can determine a lot. Be sure to always be working on ways to hear and listen to each other.
15. What are your future goals?
What do you want to accomplish in your life and how do I fit into that?
We had some hard discussions so that we are able to know that when we do decide to get married there will be no uncertainties. I know this enabled my boyfriend to be more excited with the thought of marriage as he was apprehensive before but now feel sure of the decision we have made together. I know he is planning a proposal some time soon and when it happens I will be sure to write about it!
Remember that even if you are ready your partner may not be. Their experiences with marriage may be different from yours. Even though I was ready a couple years ago he only started to feel the same more recently. Because I love him and have known for a long time that he is the one I am happy to be patient and wait until he is ready too.
Victoria Ansell (@vicansell) Social Media Specialist for Cande Bridal Boutique
1350 St Paul St
#202
Kelowna, BC V1Y 2E1
For more information https://www.candebridalboutique.com/ or find Cande Bridal Boutique
