 |
 |
| Photo courtesy Patty’s Bridal |
|
|
|
As brides-to-be venture out to find their dream dresses, they may need to look no further than Rexburg.
Rexburg is home to three stores that sell bridal gowns with varying selection at each.
Circle of Love, located at 64 E. Main St., is a good option if the bride and groom want to find their attire at the same place. With over 100 wedding gowns to choose from, the price range is usually between $150 and $615. Additional services also offered at Circle of Love include bridesmaid dresses, flower girl dresses, jewelry, accessories, alterations, slip rentals and veils.
Circle of Love sales clerk Natalie Peterson said there are major benefits to buying that perfect dress locally as opposed to traveling out of town to find it. “The alteration is the biggest benefit,” she said. “A bride will definitely pay more to buy out of state and more to have it altered. It is also a lot faster to have it altered locally.”
Peterson said she has noticed a current trend in wedding dresses. “I think the most popular dresses are the ones that wrap around the bust line and down around the waist.”
When choosing a gown, brides need to be sure they are choosing what looks good to them and not just what is popular with others.
“Some of the most important things to remember when buying a dress is to make sure it will fit your budget, your style and that it can be altered the way you want,” Peterson said. “Also, that it is what you want and that you aren’t influenced by anyone. A lot of times brides bring friends or parents in and they tell the brides what they should get, and so it is important that it is what the bride wants.”
Treasure Formal Bridal, located at 22 E. Main St., offers tuxedos, wedding gowns and even catering upon special request.
“We do the complete wedding. Mothers’ dresses, flowers, bridesmaids’ and decorations,” said Laura Roos, store manager. Treasure’s has hundreds of wedding gowns to choose from, and prices range from $99 to $1,000.
Roos agreed that there are major benefits of getting the dress locally. “If it needs alterations, pressing or fitting, it is just more convenient.”
The most popular trend at Treasure’s is modest dresses for Latter-day Saint girls and the strapless alternative. “We sell more modest ones, but it’s close to half of each,” Roos said.
If a bride finds she likes the top of one dress and the bottom of another dress, Gowns by Pamela, located at 12 College Ave., can easily solve this problem.
“We have several different combinations,” said part-owner Leann Powell. “Our dresses are made so that different combinations are possible. Rental gowns range from $250 to $350, and purchased gowns range from $800 to $1200.”
Powell said the benefits of buying a dress locally are enormous. “We can ship to anywhere in the United States. This allows brides the chance to not make rushed decisions, and to come in and have a nice, calm session. We do our own alterations, and they come with the package.”
The trend Powell is noticing is a “bustled skirt, clean lines, not a lot of bead work and altogether just nice, smooth lines.”
Powell cautions brides: “It is your wedding gown. You need to look like you always thought you would look.”
Other nearby bridal stores outside of Rexburg include Margene’s Regional Bridal Salon, Hart’s Tux & Gowns and Park Avenue Bridal Prom & Tuxedo, all located in Idaho Falls.
