New York Bridal Fashion Week formerly known as the WeddingChannel Couture Show, launched with a new theme, couture. This weekend the number-one wedding fashion trade show took it to another level of luxury with the launch of four bridal lines including Project Runway alumni and Project Runway All Stars runner up, Austin Scarletthttp://austinscarlett.com/bridal/ and Canada based designer David McCaffrey debuted McCaffrey Haute Couture. http://www.mccaffreyhautecouture.com/#
As a wedding consultant, I have seen how full figured brides psych themselves out believing that couture is something reserved for the rich and thin. However, this simply isn’t the case. Curves and couture make perfect partners and judging from the collections premiered this weekend, it’s time to sound the bell. As long as it’s within your budget curvy brides can go couture.
Now you might say that one can’t find couture gown samples in anything above a size ten in most bridal salons. The answer to that is based in the simple economics of supply and demand. We have come a long way from the basic stretchy pants, elastic waists and mu-mus because as the majority of American women, we demanded more choice and we got it. Everyone from Michael Kors, Jones New York, Macy’s INC and The Limited to name a few now have fashionable plus size designs available online and in stores.
A wedding gown is the dress of a lifetime and we should feel our choices aren’t limited simply due to our waistlines. Designers need us to use our voices to make the case for carrying plus size couture samples in bridal salons. We have to let bridal salon owners know that just like Field of Dreams, if they carry it, we will come. Remember, nearly 70% of women are considered plus size and out of the approximate 2.4 million weddings, 30% of the brides are curvy and the number is expected to rise in 2012.
According to The Knot’s latest survey on wedding budgets, the average spent on a wedding dress in 2011, was $1,121.00. However, the report also acknowledged that wedding budgets are on the rise for the first time in five years. The couture gowns viewed this weekend averaged anywhere from $2500 to $5000 and they were exquisite. Whether it’s hair, makeup or skin care when it comes to looking our best, we don’t skimp so why should we settle when it comes to the dress. .
By no means am I suggesting that you go into debt for a wedding gown. If you can afford to go couture not only should you be able to purchase the gown, you should have the same shopping experience as our straight or sample size sisters, which means trying the gown on in your size. No one goes wedding gown shopping to find themselves in Mr. Roger's Land of Make Believe where you have to imagine what the dress would look like on you.
So to all the bridal salon owners out there please know that just like Field of Dreams, if you carry it, we will come...in droves.