Beautiful in Blush

I have to admit that I have been waiting to blog about this bride since she first walked through our doors.  Her vision for her dress and her wedding was just stunning. 

 Below is a video about how Janae Hanks fell in love with Kelvin Taylor before they even met. 

Kelvin + JaNae : Couple Story Highlight from Digital Memorys Video Production on Vimeo.

When Kelvin got home from his mission from Japan he and Janae knew within a week that they would be married.  So they went ring shopping and had the ring custom made.  "I knew when he had the ring. However he still managed to surprise me."  On Kelvin's birthday during a scavenger hunt for HIS presents Janae found a beautiful Japanese jewelry box for HER, and inside was her ring.   

Once engaged Janae and her mother came into The Perfect Dress.  Janae had a very strong opinion of what she wanted.  She explained her idea for her gown and both she and her bridal consultant gravitated towards the same dress.  "I saw my dress hanging up and it was different from any dress in the whole store let alone any I had ever seen before.  I tried it on very first and fell in love" 

It's no wonder that Janae fell in love with her gown immediately.  A couture drop waist ball gown made with layers of rich blush organza.  The unfinished ruffles in front complimented by the elegant draping in the back.  Finished off with a flower belt embellished with lace and a handmade lace bolero. 

Janae's seamstress helped her complete her vision of her gown.  She brought together her belt, bolero, and perfectly fit her gown to her body.  She couldn't be more pleased.

Kelvin loves Janae's style and he loved how perfectly her gown complimented her personality.  

Kelvin and Janae were married April 11, 2012 in the Salt Lake City LDS temple.

They held their wedding reception at Noah's in South Jordan, Utah.  "Because my dress was so unique, I wanted everything else to be different and unique."

Janae's advice to other brides is to be open to wandering a bit from your original idea.  Just like her, you may find something close to what you originally dreamed of but with the help of your bridal consultant it could be even better.  "And...go to The Perfect Dress of course, it's the only way!"

Videography by: Digital Memory's Wedding Videography
Bride's Dress, Jacket, Belt, Veil, Shoes, Bracelet, and Alterations by: The Perfect Dress
Photography: Lauren Taylor

Cupcakes: Linda Gerlach
Hair by: Jill Allred

How to Spot a Fraud

A few months back we posted warnings about buying dresses online since we have heard so many stories about customers who order online and receive horrible knock-offs. Since then, we have received tips from some of our designers on how to spot counterfeit websites. We want to pass the knowledge on to help ease the stress that can come from getting the wrong dress! 

Here is how to spot a website that is selling knock-offs:

~ If designers are named on a website, find that designers website. Check the store locator for a list of approved vendors. If the original website is not on the list, it's a fraud.

~ The Contact Us page should have the phone number and or address of somewhere in the United States. Just an email address is sketchy, and a Chinese number or address should be a red flag that they are not approved vendors.

~If the website claims you can return the dress for a full refund you can assume they are not legitimate. No vendor can give a full refund unless it is a factory defect.  

~Designers require 3-4 body measurements to give the size of gowns. If a website is asking for more than these 3-4 measurements, it is a sign they are trying to make up the pattern for this dress.

~ If the models heads are cropped off on the website, it's because they are trying to get away with using copyrighted photos. Thus, they are a knock-off website.

Before you give one of these sites your credit card number:

~ If you decide to go through with it, don't plan on getting money back if you aren't happy with your dress, if you even get the dress at all.

Some knock-off websites can and have produced dresses that look somewhat similar to those in the photos. Just be warned; they are not the same quality, style or fabrics as those used by the designers.

We suggest you buy from an Authorized Retailer. This is an example of a horrible online knock-off gown.  On the left is the authentic designer gown promised to a bride and on the right is what she received.  We don't want any bride to go through the stress and turmoil of their wedding dress being ruined. Always remember, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!

Rustic Chic

Neutral shades of cream, grey, gold, silver, and touches of pink come together to showcase a luxurious wedding with rustic flair.  

All of the decor was made to compliment the bride's decadent Pronovias lace gown. 

Lisa Johnson McKell was married in the dress of her dreams to the man of her dreams on March 3, 2012 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.

...followed by an opulent reception at Sleepy Ridge in Orem, Utah.  

 Lisa and Scott originally met at church and after one failed attempt at a date they finally started texting and talking.  And then...Lisa asked Scott to come to a Jazz game with her.  He is a huge fan so he said Yes!  A little later down the road and after they had a few dates under their belt they finally got around to their first kiss.   

Fast forward to a Thanksgiving holiday in San Francisco.  Scott wanted to take Lisa on a ride across the Golden Gate Bridge. Once they got across they took a short walk down a path underneath the bridge.  "He knew exactly where he wanted to go. I knew right then it was going to happen! We stood there for a bit looking at the bridge and the scenery. Some mushy things were said and then he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Of course, I said Yes! It was simple. There was nobody around. In my book ... it was perfect."

One of Lisa's friends bought her gown at The Perfect Dress and Lisa was so impressed with the alterations that she had to come to our store. After trying on many gowns and showing her family she just wasn't in love.  Then she came across a gown she had not seen before.  "I loved it! I loved the lace, how it fit, the unique overlay on it and the bow on the back"

Lisa wanted elbow length sleeves added to her gown along with a V-neck in the front and back added to her nearly strapless gown.   

She brought one of our seamstresses photos that she found online of the neckline and sleeve.  The seamstress knew exactly what to do.  "My seamstress was Awesome!!!"

"My favorite part of the day was walking out of the temple with Scott and seeing all of our friends and family. It is something I’ll never forget. I am a little bit “older” to get married by Utah standards and I felt so loved and supported on that day!" 

"I have never felt as good or pretty as I did in my wedding dress. I felt like I was on top of the world."