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Your wedding day is fast approaching, and we know how essential it is for you to look and feel like an absolute queen on that special day.

But let's be real – finding that *perfect* fit straight off the rack can be like finding a needle in a haystack. No worries, though, because that's where the magic of wedding dress alterations comes in!

One of the most common questions I get is: "What's the deal with Sample Wedding gowns?"  Brides often wonder why are sample gowns cheaper than the retail price and why the sizes are limited.  

Essentially, a sample wedding dress is a gown that has been tried on by brides in a bridal salon but has never been altered or worn outside a salon. At a traditional bridal shop, brides order a dress based off of the samples in store which they try on and select the size based on their measurements. 

Bridal salons that sell sample gowns allows you to purchase gowns that are "off the rack" - which means you get to take them home with you that day (no need to order 6-8 months in advance).  These gowns are cheaper than the retail price because they sometimes have minor signs of wear from being tried on and handled and/or they are discontinued from the designer. 

What are some common signs of wear on sample gowns?

• Dust along the hemline
• Missing or loose buttons or embellishments (such as beading or applique)
• Small holes in delicate parts of the dress (such as netting or thin lace)
• Make-up stains in the inside of the dress.  (This happens when a bride puts on a dress overhead and is wearing heavy make-up - a big no-no when shopping for wedding dresses!).  

Why are Sample Gowns so great?

Sample gowns are a great way to get a designer gown at a deeply discounted price! Why spend thousands on a wedding gown, when you can get it for 50% off or even less!  Who doesn't love a good bargain?!  And sample gowns are more sustainable than buying something brand new. 

But what about those imperfections you mentioned?

Oftentimes, the minor imperfections can be fixed easily by an experienced bridal seamstress.  For instance, if there is dust or dirt along the hemline, most brides need to shorten their dress anyways - so problem solved!  Missing buttons can easily be replaced - and why not replace all of them and add a personal touch (maybe switch them out to pearl buttons or buttons with a little sparkle? Then your dress will be truly one of a kind!).  If there is a small hole, a seamstress can get creative by finding the best way to repair it - they can add some applique to cover it up, or add some extra tulle or netting to camouflage it. 

If you love a sample gown but can't quite zip it up, a zipper back can sometimes be transformed into a corset back.  And this leads me to the next common question I get...

Why are Sample gown sizes so limited?

Sample gowns are usually in Bridal Size 8-12.  Keep in mind, these are "Bridal Sizes" which are 1-2 sizes smaller than street size.  It's super confusing, I know!  A bridal sample size 12 fits like a street size 8/10.  Dresses are ordered in this size with the thought that they will fit most brides, and if not, clips or extensions can be used to show the bride how it will fit once ordered in her size.  So if your measurements are close to the measurements of the sample gown - it should fit you well.  If the dress is too big, taking a sample gown in 2-3 sizes should not be a problem.  Once you take it in more than that, the proportions tend to be off and that can require a lot more work to resize.  If the dress is too small, sample gowns usually have about an inch of inseam on most major seams so it can be let out a little.  Or you can change the zipper back to a corset back, as previously mentioned.  Any experienced seamstress can advise you.

I hope all of this info helped to clear up some of your questions regarding sample dresses.  If you have questions about how a particular dress fits or anything else, always feel free to e-mail or call me! 

XO,

Inspired by the winter season, this styled shoot features plaid accents and a bit of edge! The pine woods at South Coast Botanic Garden made for the perfect backdrop as the couple danced around and frolicked in the greenery.

The bride donned a flowing ruffled Justin Alexander gown, along with a fun feather bolero from Adina’s Bridal.  The bride’s vibrant red lip and beautiful dark hair made her look like a modern-day version of Snow White, don't you think?!

Event designer, Jenny from JenEvents said that she wanted to capture the snowy winter season, but also the warmth that comes with it. So the team incorporated cozy plaid + flannel accents, along with rich colors in the bouquet and on the tablescape!

Christine Skari Photography took these beautiful pictures and she has such an incredible eye for details. Pirouette Paper created a simple, but elegant invitation suite that included a ruby red envelope and a monogrammed wreath.

Kat’s Creations Floral Design created an bountiful bouquet, brimming with red coffee berries, white peonies, burgundy poinsettias, frosted grevillea, pine, and red roses all tied together with plaid. The bride’s gorgeous hair + makeup is by Genesis Imagery.

The farm table and benches from Party Pieces by Perry fit perfectly in the woodsy setting! The tablescape was completed with gold-rimmed China plates, vintage candlesticks from France and ornate gold flatware from Cherished Rentals.

The groom looks so dapper in his tuxedo from Friar Tux. How darling is that boutonnière constructed from a piece of a poinsettia and fragments of the bouquet? 

The addition of the “freshly fallen snow” on the three-tier cake from LoveCakes is so sweet!!

Such a wintry wonderland, right? Thank you to the dream team behind this shoot!

This wedding shoot was also featured on Green Wedding Shoes!

I recently had the privilege of working on an underwater engagement shoot.  What a unique way to capture the beauty and grace of love in an ethereal underwater setting.   Adina’s Bridal provided dresses for the shoot and Poom Gems provided the beautiful jewelry.  A talented team of vendors worked together to create this beautiful engagement shoot and H2O Shots took the gorgeous pictures.    If any brides are looking for memorable and one of a kind engagement photos, you should definitely contact H2O Shots and schedule an underwater photoshoot! 

Producer/Planner: @experiencehush
Photographer: @h20shot
Dress design: @adinasbridal
Makeup: @beautycrave83
Jewelry: @poomgems
Florals: @katcast1

In honor of Halloween, Adina’s Bridal participated in an Enchanted Bohemian Shoot at The Sepulveda Home in San Pedro, CA.  The shoot was soooo much fun to work on, thanks to our team of amazing wedding vendors.  The dresses, flowers, tablescape, and venue were perfection!  We are so thrilled this shoot has been featured on 100 Layer Cake blog!

The idea for this shoot started out with just the concept and the dress.  I have some dresses and accessories that have a darker and edgier feel, so I thought it would be fun to put together a Hallow’s Eve shoot.  Jenny from JenEvents brought this inspiration to life and created a glamorous bohemian wedding that had hints of Halloween to it. Meghan Elise Photography captured all of the details in the gorgeous pictures below.  

I provided the dresses for our bride that embodied the Hallow’s Eve theme with a hint of glam. The bride’s first look consisted of a two-piece wedding dress - the Black Obliquely Waistcoat paired with the Callistemon Skirt.  The combination of black and white gives this look a touch of moody elegance.  

The bride’s second look for the reception was a little more casual and a lot darker.  She wore the Stagecraft Dress in black velvet paired with a dramatic ink colored Conspicuous Cape.  A cape is a great alternative to a traditional veil and looks oh-so-glamorous! 

The groom wore a stylish grey suit from Friar Tux and made the enchanted Halloween vision come to life! 

Kat's Creations Floral Design created the most beautiful arrangements and accent pieces, incorporating lanterns, flowers, and even pomegranates.  And I still can’t get over how breathtaking the bride’s bouquet was! 

Party Pieces by Perry & Cherished Rentals provided all of the furniture and tablescape to complete our wedding day look.  Pieces by Perry brought in a beautiful large farm table, a sweetheart table, and a gorgeous Victorian style lounge couch. Cherished Rentals did a wonderful job piecing together our tablescape with their beautiful dishes and tableware. 

LoveCakes created a beautiful black naked cake that was adorned with flowers and purple magnolia leaves.  This cake was a show-stopping centerpiece and we were all obsessed with it! 

Check out this beautiful invitation suite created for us by Pirouette Paper. 

You are looking at our newly designed website!  We changed the look and feel of the site and we added some new features to enhance your experience.  We hope you like it!

We are giving away a BHLDN Tide Couplet dress to one lucky winner!

Please head over to our Facebook page to find out more information on how to enter.

Contest ends 9:00pm PST September 20th.