We are thrilled to host our spring Hayley Paige trunk show this weekend.  The designer will send in the newest styles for just one weekend.  Appointments are limited, however we will do our very best to accommodate all requests.  If you have a specific gown in mind, please call ahead to check availability.  We look forward to meeting you this weekend.  Do you have your appointment time booked?

Guindon Gown: Ivory striped organza strapless bridal ball gown with sweetheart neckline,

full flounced skirt, and taupe raw silk sash at natural waist with chapel train

Preparing for your bridal appointment?  We know- you want to know what to bring and how to prepare, right?  We have been doing this for almost 5 years now and have learned a few dos and donts to make your gown experience top notch!  We are going to share some dos with you today, all hopefully helpful and will assist in helping you to have the most enjoyable experience possible!

Do’s of Bridal Gown Shopping:

1.  Don’t Sweat your Arrival.  Give yourself some time to find the boutique/store.  Parking may be close to the store or you may have to grab a space in a parking garage.  If you are 2 minutes late- its ok!  Upon arrival, use the potty, grab a water, settle your belongings and take a deep breath!  It will be fun, promise!

2.  Wear tan or Nude.  There is no way around it, you will see dark color undies under these gorgeous gowns.  It will throw you off and make you wish over and over that you thought more about your undergarment choices for the day!

3.  Leave the Outspoken Friend at Home.  Don’t get us wrong, we love friends.  HOWEVER, you do not need an outspoken friend who wants to check in on every gown- this is your day and often your day with the few whose opinions matter the most!

4.  Go with it! If the consultant offers you a bra, take it!  If she has a suggestion, listen.  These consultants are trained and very knowledgable.  Go with it!  Let them make suggestions, let them zip you and clip you and do all of the leg work.  Its what they are there for and its what they love to do.

5.  Know your Gown Budget.  Save yourself and the consultant the misery of trying on gowns that are out of your budget and then falling in love and feeling stuck!  Know your budget, share your budget and try gowns on within the range!  You will be very happy that you did!

6.  Eat before you Arrive!  They do not have medics on staff and its best that you do not pass out on this special day!

7.  Say Yes!  If you love the shop, love your consultant, like the price, LOVE the gown and have no reason to keep on shopping then say yes to that dress.  We find that bride who try on upwards of 20+ gowns get confused and frustrated with the gown process.  If all the pieces fit, say yes!  You will be so glad to move on to other details of your big day!

8.  Snap a FEW.  Snap a few shots of your favorite gowns if the shop allows.  Perhaps a few shots is sufficient!  100 pictures from your shopping trip is not needed and will just fill up your Iphone gallery!

9.  Take in the Moment.  You are getting married!  Take it all in- try on a princess ball gown!  Take a picture with your favorite people!  Smile- its not that bad!!  Enjoy the process and make some great memories.

10.  Accessory Appointment Needed.  A lofty goal would be to choose your gown AND all accessories in one appointment. Often it takes a second accessory appointment to pull your entire look together.  Breathe- choose the gown first and then let the rest of the details fall into place!

 Photo: Apple Brides

We are so fortunate to have both of these amazing collections for 2 consecutive weekends.  Call this weekend Tara Keely and next Anne Barge or vise versa!  Gorgeous never seen before styles in the boutique for the next 2 weeks.  The gowns are being steamed and hung as I type, call as soon as possible to reserve your dressing room and appointment time.  While appointments are limited, we will make every effort to find you an appointment time!  From the gals at HOB, happy shopping!

Anne Barge

Tara Keely

We are thrilled to host our Jim Hjelm trunk show this Thursday-Saturday.  Ladies, this is the NEW 2013 collection that was just seen at NYC Bridal Fashion week in Oct.  Appointments are limited, however we will try our best to find you a dressing room!   Here is a sneak peek of what to expect…looking forward to meeting you this weekend!

We are excited to host a “never seen before in Charlotte, NC trunk show” for designer Kelly Faetanini.  She offers brides romantic, feminine and fresh styles with signature customizations. Using her years of bridal design experience to guide her, Kelly creates exquisite high end designs. Her gowns are fluid, lightweight and created from tulle, organza, satin and lace.  If you are one of the brides who booked their appointment long ago for this weekend, you are in for a treat!  If you wish you had, please call and we will try our best to slip you in, stay late, open early or as least have you come and take a peek!  Happy Shopping!

We are thrilled about all of the new gowns that have arrived in the last several days. We are also excited about our trunk shows that are quickly approaching!  If gown shopping is on your itinerary, make sure that an appointment at Hayden Olivia is top of your list! Here is a sneak peek of a few of the new arrivals. Enjoy!

The Hayden Olivia trunk show line up continues with Tara Keely up next…just on the heels of wrapping our Hayley Paige weekend, that was fabulous by the way!  Congrats to all of the brides who found their gown…gorgeous is all we can say!  The weekend ahead is quite booked, however there are a few appointments available so call ahead this week to book your dressing room!  Here is a sneak peek:

Straight from the JLM website…describes the collection to the t!

“Fresh, lively, and confident, Hayley Paige embraces sweet femininity with a touch of edginess in her 2012 collection. Alluring contrasts are glimpsed in pairings like twinkle and matte, giving each dress an unmistakable charisma that enhances the bride’s own captivating charm. Balance is found in the union of textured details such as hand appliquéd lace and flutters of sheer fabric, evoking a feeling of whimsical refinement. And as a finishing touch each dress is named, bringing to life its unique spirit. These effortless, flirty feminine silhouettes all say one thing – something wonderful is about to happen.”

Here is a sneak peek of the collection and what you can look forward to this weekend! Cheers as we welcome the Hayley Paige collection to the queen city!

Preparations have started and the excitement is high in anticipation of the Jim Hjelm trunk show collection arriving this week!  This weekend has been booked for some time, however we will do everything possible to fit each and every bride in, please place your name on our waist list asap!  Its a must to slip into these styles before making a final gown decision for your big day!  Can’t wait to meet all of our excited brides this week and weekend! Trunk show appointment will be Thursday-Saturday at the boutique.

The Modern Trousseau trunk show will officially kick off this Thursday.  Here is a sneak peek of what you can expect to see this weekend…gorgeous lace, silk organza and chiffon…a lovely collection to celebrate this weekend!