For the bride-to-be, one of the most difficult deci- sions to make is that of picking her wedding dress, and the styles and colors of the dresses of her wedding party. Some brides will try to order their gowns over the Internet, sometimes with disastrous results. Some brides will check out the mass merchandise stores in the bay area, hoping to find the gown of their dreams. And some brides will discover that everything they need is right here in the area, in a little shop in downtown Vacaville.
Tucked away on Merchant Street, Downtown Gowns and Formal Wear may have an unassuming façade, but once you step inside, you are transported to a different world, one of high quality, fashionable wedding gowns, and a rainbow array of wedding party fashions. The smiling, friendly face of proprietor LeAnne White belies the skills of a highly trained professional – one who will do everything possible to ensure that the wedding dress – and day – is perfect. She can special order from four of the top-of-the line wedding designers – Maggie Sottero, Casablanca, Sophia Tolli, and Mon Cheri; as well as having an extensive selection of styles available on the racks.
While white continues to be the primary color of choice for brides, surprisingly most brides purchase Diamond White or Ivory. Some daring brides even choose blush or oceana blue gown). Wedding party colors vary. Pink is the color of the season – varying from hot pink to deeper shades of blush. Deeper colors such as darker purples and chocolate are also favored.
LeAnne approaches every bride with the same question – “What is your favorite Disney princess?” Invariably the bride ends up with her wedding dress the same style as her favorite Disney princess. She believes in being a consultant, a helper, and a mentor with the brides who cross her threshold, and she uses her skills to assist them in find- ing the dress that is most appropriate for the time of year, the time of day, the location where the wedding is to be held, and of course, their budget.
Bridal trends are changing with the economy, according to LeAnne. More brides are thinking outside the tradi- tional box, and finding ways to do creative fun things with their wedding. Some examples of this that she has seen include a Hollywood themed wedding; having the old fashioned photo booth at the reception, dancing down the aisle to the sounds of Black Eyed Peas rather than the standard wedding processional. Brides are also picking more local venues and hosting fewer guests.
The main thing is to keep it fun – and affordable. With the help of Downtown Gowns & Formal Wear, a bride’s dream wedding can become reality. The shop is located at 371 Merchant Street in Vacaville. Check out their website at www.downtowngowns.net, or give LeAnne a call at 707-447-4012.
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