Dress of the Week - Beautifully Modest

This week's dress is so beautiful, that the photo does not do it justice at all!

The sweetheart neckline is beaded with three rows of delicate clear beads. These catch the light and draw the eye down to the bodice.

The bodice is covered in lace and is closely fitted through the hips. The lace sparkles and glitters as the light plays across it.

A loose satin sash with a delicate flower (which can be removed if desired) sits at the hip and starts the full tulle skirt.

The tulle has lovely lace appliques over it, and it sits on a light, full skirt of satin.

The train is a small, chapel length train of tulle and satin, perfect for outdoor or indoor weddings.

The small cap sleeves are perfect for the bride who is a little self-conscious of her shoulders and wants a more modest wedding dress. It is a very elegant gown and suits many different body types, but would look the best on someone with a long torso.

This dress has a modest price-point too and is available ONLY at Paper Doll Formals. Our sample size is 14, and can be seen on our dress form once you enter the store.

Come see all the Beautifully Modest gowns we have if you're looking for an option to a strapless gown.

Just Be Yourself

Now that Kate and Wills are back at their little cottage in Anglesey, the furor of the Royal Wedding has died down (especially given the events of the weekend!). But I wanted to talk about the dress for a bit... of course!

I've done a lot of reading up about this gown, and what seems to be the theme I'm spotting is the "get your OWN Kate dress!" that a lot of manufacturers are touting. It's like jumping on the winning team's bandwagon, if you will (go 'Nucks go!).

The thing with this dress is that it was designed for Kate, not for a million other brides. It was definitely a nod to her new station in life, as she may be the future Queen Consort of England (if the monarchy isn't abolished by that time). Therefore, it was fitting for her to have a modest yet stylish gown.

True, it didn't reflect the current fashion of ruffles, feathers or flowers. It wasn't strapless, ruched or corsetted. It wasn't slinky, shiny or a sheath (mermaid).

It was a gown befitting a Duchess who knows that she is no longer anonymous (not like she really was once she started dating Wills), a gown that speaks of tradition and elegance, with the originally designed lace pattern, the four flowers of the United Kingdom embroidered on the skirt, and the sleeves and collar over the bodice of the dress.

Within 24 hours there were copies out there, hitting the high street in Ireland. It's a beautiful and elegant gown too, but it's not the dress for everyone.

Every North American designer is touting one of their recent gowns as "royally inspired" or similar to the royal gown, even if the only thing similar is a bit of lace around the neck or some embellishment along the hemline. That's not 'inspired', it's a stroke of luck on the designer's part when they drew it up last year.

The Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen dress was designed for the Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Strathearn and Baroness of Carrickfergus, Catherine Wales.

She was a size 6 and ended up a size 4. If your body type is different than hers, this dress will do nothing for you.

Your dress should reflect YOUR personality, YOUR individuality, YOUR relationship and YOUR wedding. Not anyone else's, no matter how breathtaking it was.

Like the Bishop of London said during his wedding sermon, "Every wedding is a Royal Wedding", and yours will be just as moving, just as beautiful, but more meaningful.

Make sure the dress suits your occasion, no one else's. Appreciate the gown for the beauty that it is, but wear what suits you and has you feeling like a princess.

Dress of the Week - 2Be Redux

Here's our DotW. This gown is spectacular and here's why.

This 2Be gown by Kathy Ireland is quality from the inside-out. It starts with an internal corset and waist cinch that holds the dress to your body perfectly, giving you a sleek silhouette.

The light crinkle taffeta glistens softly when it catches the light in the side draped bodice.

The sweetheart neckline is very flattering on busts of all sizes, and due to the fitted interior corset and special fabric along the top, the strapless bodice fits closely to the body without drooping. There are removable straps if a slightly different look is desired.

The dropped waistline is accented with hand crafted flowers and feathers, leading the eye to a bubble skirt with pickups and a chapel-length train.

This gown can be purchased in natural or ivory taffeta for a very surprising price point, or for a higher price, can be ordered in silk shantung in natural, ivory, or blush.

Paper Doll Formals is the only store on Vancouver Island that carries Kathy Ireland 2Be gowns and we have this gown in the store to try on.

Two Royal Events for the Royal Wedding Weekend

Time's running out for Kate to change her mind! Kidding, mostly. Seems that most of the planet will be watching, with those of us on the West Coast of Canada staying up late to watch the pre-game show at 11pm.

To celebrate the first Wedding of the Century (seeing as how the century has just started), Paper Doll is joining in the fun.

First up, on Friday, we're joining with Leaf & Petal Florist, Orange Passion Photography, Amber Leigh Wedding & Designs, and more at Leaf & Petal from 2-6. There's prizes to be won from every vendor in the store (we're offering a Free "Beer" Boutique Showing) and the experts will be on hand to answer questions. Our Dress of the Week "Riviera" will be on display at the store. The tv will be showing the wedding as well.

To celebrate in store at Paper Doll, we're having the Royal Wedding Royal Flush. Every NEW dress or shoe purchase is eligible. When you purchase your new dress or pair of shoes, you will be entitled to pull a card from the suit of hearts. If you pull a number card, that's your discount (2%-11%). Pull the Jack, and save the HST. Pull the Queen to save 15%. Pull the King and you'll save 20%!!

This is only good for NEW dress and shoe purchases. Dresses currently on hold and other items in the store are NOT included in this discount. This is ONLY from 10am on Friday until 6pm on Saturday.

We look forward to seeing our customers, current and new, to celebrate the biggest Royal Wedding this decade. Wear a hat!

Dress of the Week - Riviera

This week's DOTW is a secret. This gown is from a private line that's not found elsewhere in Canada (yet!). We're their first Canadian account and we couldn't be more proud!

Riviera is a lovely chiffon and satin empire-style gown. The top is ruched chiffon with a notched-v neckline with removable straps, and highlighted by a row of gold bugle beads before changing direction to go around the waist.

From under the bust, the satin gown falls straight down to the floor, with no train from the skirt. Instead, two chiffon sashes fall from the back zipper and can be worn in many ways. The bride can choose to have the sashes follow her like a train, or tied into a bow and fall to her knees, or even put over her shoulders like a wrap, and then tied into a sweet bow in the back.

Riviera (all of her!) will be on display on Thursday and Friday at Leaf & Petal Flower Salon in honour of the Royal Wedding! Paper Doll has joined with other vendors in the area to offer suggestions and answers to your questions from 2-6 on the 29th of April at Leaf & Petal. We hope you will stop by to talk with Teela and find out what Paper Doll can offer the discerning Island bride.

Paper Doll Formals is also having their own "Royal Wedding Royal Flush" in the store on the 29th and 30th. Every dress and shoe purchase entitles you to pull a card from the suit of hearts. That card determines your discount - from 2%-11%, but if you pull the Jack, you save the HST. Pull the Queen and save 15%. Pull the King and save 20%!!

Paper Doll Formals is the only store in Canada (as of this writing) have Riviera in store, along with two of her friends, La Vega and Dominica. If you're looking for something exclusive and in a surprisingly inexpensive price point, then this line is for you. We'd love to see you from 10-6 (except not on Monday - we're recovering from our chocolate hangover that day so we're closed).

Dress of the Week - Forever Yours "Intrigue"

This week's dress of the week arrived at the start of the week and is very lovely in person.

At first glance, the lace overlay catches your eye because it sparkles! It can't be seen well in the photo, but in person, there are sequins throughout the lace and it sparkles as it moves.

The sheath under-dress is made of lovely duchesse satin, and can be worn with or without straps.

There is boning on the inside of the bodice to keep the shape, and a lovely lace-up corset back that gives a snug, perfect fit to the bride. This is a great example of a 'mermaid' style, or 'fit and flare' type of gown.

As the lace flows down, it meets with a tulle flare in the skirt, and ends in a small, perfectly arched train.

This gown is perfect for an outside wedding as it catches the light and has a smaller train.

For an indoor wedding, this dress would look lovely in a small chapel and with a cape in a winter wedding.

Paper Doll Formals has this dress in stock and you'll be pleasantly surprised at the price point as the quality would suggest at least $1,200... but it's much less than that!

Planning and Preparation

The key to any successful event is planning and preparation. To that end, Paper Doll Formals is offering a free wedding planning workshop on Thursday, April 14th from 7-9pm in the store.

Now, while I know that I know everything ;-), it seems that I need some help with this, so I've invited some friends over to help out with the workshop:

Amber from Amber Leigh Weddings and Design will talk about wedding planners, what they do, how they can help and things along those lines.

Sean from Equinox Catering will chat about seasonal foods, how much is needed for certain numbers, and other foody items.

Andrea from Leaf & Petal will inform you about flowers, bouquets, timelines and such.

Angie from Twisted Sifters Cupcakes will tell you all about the trends for cakes and sweet desserts.

I (Mary!) will talk about dresses, timelines, and the perils of online purchasing.

There will be a small question and answer at the end, and with luck, we might be able to try on a dress (or two) before we head off into the night.

If this goes well, we might have another one, with different vendors to help you plan the Perfect Wedding!

Hope to see you there.