Blog - Flair Boston | Wedding Dresses in Boston MA | Bridal Gowns, Bridesmaid Dresses, Accessories, Wedding Dress Cleaning

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Wedding Jewelry

Meet Flair’s newest designer: Elizabeth Bower!

If you follow Flair on social media then you know that we have a fabulous new jewelry designer: Elizabeth Bower. We have flooded our Instagram account with swoon-worthy shots of her pretty pieces (check them out here) but we also wanted to take some time out now to introduce you to this talented lady!

We LOVE Elizabeth’s cream collection (these pieces range from $39.50 – $65); they works for brides AND bridesmaids!

Elizabeth has been designing jewelry for over 12 years, starting in her native Australia and later transitioning to New York City. She has designed for Nicole Miller (another Flair fave!), sold her pieces to Anthropologie and has even had her designs grace the 2002 Academy Awards red carpet! So yeah, she’s a pretty big deal!

Blush has been such a popular color for bridesmaids’ dresses, and Elizabeth Bower’s Rose collection (pieces shown here are $45 – $75) pairs with it perfectly!

Whether your style in modern, classic or vintage, Elizabeth Bower is sure to have designs that you’ll love. Made with semi-precious stones and real Swarovski elements, her wares are sure to WOW! Check them out at Flair today; they’re the perfect accompaniment to any of our wedding or bridesmaids’ dresses!

These bridal earrings and headband are pure perfection!

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Wedding Dress Shopping

How do you know when you’ve found “the one”?

Quick bride poll: Do you watch any of those wedding dress shopping shows? I always wonder if brides find them helpful or overwhelming. They’re TV shows, after all, so they tend to bring the drama; mean moms, tight timelines and petrifying prices, to name a few. Another thing? Most brides on these shows seem to have that clarifying, aha moment when they just know that a dress is “the one.” Well we’re here to tell you, not everyone has that moment, and that’s OK! We’ve heard brides question themselves all too often: “I’m not getting that feeling” or “I’m not sure if it’s the one because I didn’t cry.” These shows can make us think that there is a particular way we should act, look and feel when we’ve found the right dress, and that’s not always the case. Everyone’s dress shopping experience is different, and their reactions to it are also different. If you’re one of the many who isn’t getting that mysterious, special “feeling”, we’ve come up with some other tell tale signs that you’ve found the dress for you:

Forgive us while we use this blog as an excuse to share pics of some gorgeous brides who found "the one" at Flair! Christa is an elegant, happy and stunning bride in Jenny Yoo's Georgeanne gown!

Forgive us while we use this blog as an excuse to share pics of some gorgeous brides who found “the one” at Flair! First up, Christa is an elegant, happy and STUNNING bride in Jenny Yoo’s Georgeanne gown!

1) You can’t stop thinking about it – Find yourself day dreaming about a particular dress? Thinking about the low back when you should be sending your boss an email? Imagining the beading as you stroll through the grocery aisles? You may have found your dress!
2) You compare all others dresses to it – Most brides don’t stop shopping when they find a dress that they love. We get it; you want to be sure you’ve tried on enough styles! However, if you find yourself constantly measuring other dresses against one you’ve already tried and liked, it’s probably the one for you!
3) You’ve accessorized it in your head – Sometimes our heads are ahead of our hearts! Maybe without even realizing you’re doing it, you’ve already decided what belt to add to a particular dress, or what heirloom jewelry of your Grandmother’s would go well with it. In your mind, you’ve already purchased this dress and are taking the next step to accent it with some bling. There’s probably a reason for that…

Amanda is giving us some serious bridal glam in her Rosemary gown by Amy Kuchel!

Amanda is giving us some serious bridal glam in her Rosemary gown by Amy Kuschel! Breathtaking shot courtesy of the amazing Leah Haydock Photography

Bottom line: If you get that aha feeling, great, but if you don’t 1) you’re not alone and 2) that doesn’t mean you haven’t found your dream dress! No two shopping experience are alike just like no two brides are alike, so just trust your gut, watch for these signs and most of all, enjoy some fun, happy and pressure free dress shopping!

in Advice from Flair / Amy Kuschel Bridal / Boston Bridal / Boston Bridal gowns / Boston Weddings / Bridal Gowns / Brides Boston / Dress Shopping Tips / Flair Weddings / Jenny Yoo / Tips from Pros 0 comments

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Brides of Distinction 2015

A Day in the Life

If you follow us on Instagram (@flairboston) then you probably saw some photos from an event we did yesterday; the Brides of Distinction Brunch at the Omni Parker House! We’ve participated in this event for several years now and it’s always so much fun, for us and for the brides who attend! Basically, it’s a time for brides and their friends and family to come see the Omni’s stunning ballroom decorated for a wedding, giving them a good sense if the venue is right for them! How often do you get to see your venue decorated, in person, prior to booking? It’s SUCH a great idea! Even if some of the brides have already booked the Omni, it’s a great time for them to get a sense of the space and figure out how to make it their own on their wedding day! In addition, there’s delicious food and drinks, cakes to taste, fab vendors to meet and greet AND a fun fashion show, courtesy of Flair! Here’s how our day went:

How gorge does the ballroom look?? Fab flowers courtesy of Madison Floral and linens/chairs by Rentals Unlimited!

8:00 AM – Models report for hair and makeup – We are the luckiest girls; we have absolutely beautiful friends who offer to double as models for this amazing event! They got up super early on a Sunday to do this for us, and we are eternally grateful! We’re also majorly grateful for Alexandra Makeup Artistry and Bella Hair Studio for making the girls so glam and gorgeous! Brides, you MUST book them for your wedding! We had 8 models for this event and ALL of them looked absolutely perfect, so these ladies can totally handle your wedding party!

Alexandra (top left) and the girls from Bella (top right) are the BEST!

Here are some close ups of the fab hair and makeup!

11:30 AM – Time to get dressed! – The girls carefully climb into their first looks and get lined up for the start of the show. We’re full of excited nerves; we can’t wait to share these gorgeous looks with all of the brides and bridesmaids in the audience!

Check out the GORGE backs on some of our first looks!

Check out these babes in their first looks! Gorge!

12:15 – The show begins! – Our owner, Stacey, and local TV personality Jenny Johnson emcee the fashion show, giving the audience all of the important details on each style! They cover it all; the fabric, the fit, what wedding style each would be appropriate for and what body types should wear them. It’s a fun, easy way for brides and bridesmaids to “shop” for their dresses without having to try anything on! The cell phones cameras were snapping away; these dresses were a hit!

12:45 – Show’s over! – Each model quick changed into three different styles during the show; backstage was crazy but fun! At the end, there was a final walk through and then, in the blink of an eye the show was over! We loved being able to connect with all of those brides in such a short amount of time and in such a fun, casual environment. Also, working with all of the other amazing wedding vendors was such a joy, everyone there was top notch!

In total swoon mode over these last looks!

If you missed the brunch and like any of the dresses you see pictured here, give us a ring to come see them for yourself in the store!

in Amy Kuschel Bridal / BlueThread Bridal / Blush by Hayley Paige / BM Boston / BM Dresses Boston / Boston / Boston Bridal / Boston Bridesmaids / Boston Weddings / Brides of Distinction / Fashion Show / Jenny Yoo / Nicole Miller Boston / Omni Parker House / Stuff We Love / Tara Keely bridal / Tips from Pros 0 comments

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Wedding Budget

How to maximize your money!

It’s prime wedding planning season here in New England, with the busy summer event season quickly approaching. It’s an exciting time because the weather is getting warmer and everyone’s weddings are getting closer. However, something else is getting closer too; final deposits! Remember all of those fabulous wedding vendors you booked? They’re ALL going to be looking for money pretty soon. They are totally, completely worth it, but dealing with all of those final deposits at the same time can be overwhelming. So, we decided to think of some creative ways that you can save a little cash as you finalize all of your wedding details:

Flowers – Most florists charge per stem, so consider choosing flowers with bigger blooms, as you’ll need less to fill your centerpieces. Daylilies, Amaryllis and Chrysanthemums are a good place to start! Also, if you’re open to it, add in some non-florals (candles, lanterns, pretty glass bottles, etc.) as they tend to be less expensive.

Stationery – First things first, forget the programs! It may seem like a small detail, but every little savings adds up! Plus, people tend to ignore them anyways, right? Also, consider a virtual save the date (for those of you who haven’t sent yours out already). While we think the traditional, mailed invitation is a must, you can have fun with the save the date and save money at the same time! Why not whip up a slideshow of you and your fiancé and email it to your guests? We think they’ll appreciate the personal touch!

Food and Drink – Consider having a tapas-style wedding i.e. with only apps and small plates as opposed to a formal sit down dinner. See if your venue will allow you to choose extra passed apps in lieu of a plated dinner, and ask if they can set up a cheese and cracker station to add another option for your guests. For drinks, skip the champagne toast; you’d be surprised how much you’ll save by not providing a glass of champagne for every guest. After all, everyone will probably already have a drink from the bar to toast with!

You can definitely make a meal of these appealing apps!

Dresses – Of course, your friends at Flair are always here to help! Our designers are ALWAYS running various sales and promotions; check out our Facebook and Instagram (@FlairBoston) to keep an eye out for them! Also, there are discounts based on your number of bridesmaids, so the more the merrier! In addition, you can opt to pick up all of the dresses for your girls, and save them any shipping fees. Bottom line, don’t hesitate to reach out to us and discuss your budget, we’re happy to work with you to find the perfect dresses for you!

Wishing you fun and stress free wedding planning! 🙂

in Advice from Flair / Affordable bridesmaids dresses / Boston Weddings / Saving money on your wedding / Tips from Pros / Wedding Budget 0 comments

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Wedding Registry

Check it off of your to-do list and win BIG!!

You’ve likely heard the phrase “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” We’re trained these days to look out for fine print, catches, restrictions, exclusions, etc. Don’t give up hope, though, great deals DO exist! Case in point: The Chestnut Hill Bloomingdale’s Wedding Registry giveaway! Here’s what you have to do to enter:

1) Register for your wedding gifts at Bloomingdale’s in the month of March (something you probably were going to do anyways). That’s IT!

See, we told you it’s a good deal! By simply checking registering off of your wedding to do list, you will be entered to win a prize package worth over $26,000! The goodies include a honeymoon package to Anguilla, a Marchesa gown valued at up to $8,000, a diamond wedding band set valued at up to $5,000, Marchesa by Lenox dinnerware, stemware and flatware valued at up to $2,720 and a $1,000 Bloomingdale’s Gift Card. We’ve got your attention now, right? Thought so!

The ONLY requirement is that you register for atleast $6,500 worth of items, but trust us, that is easy to do. You’ll hit that number before you know it! Ready to get started? Get your registry going online here or call 617-630-6044 to make an in store appointment. Happy shopping!

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Bridesmaids’ Gifts

Let’s get personal!

While we try to keep our blog as fresh as possible, there is a topic that we like to come back to every so often: bridesmaids’ gifts! Every day, we see firsthand how dedicated these girls are to their brides; they deserve something special! Plus, fab new gift ideas are coming out all the time so it’s definitely something we like to revisit! Today we’re talking about personalized gifts. After all, we’re all suckers for a good monogram, right? 🙂 Check out some of our favorite personalized gift ideas below:

Clothes: OK, we know that monogrammed robes and white, collared shirts aren’t exactly a new idea but when we saw how affordable and fun these were, we just had to share them! Plus, how adorable will they be for photos the morning of the wedding?!

Bags: It’s a known fact that girls can never have enough bags, so why not add a personalized one to your girls’ collections! We’re kind of obsessed with these dip dyed duffels; perfect for the beach or a weekend away! And these suede clutches are the epitome of chic and cool!

Miscellaneous: OK, these gifts are a little random but we loved them too much to leave them off of our list! A monogrammed, leather bound Coco Chanel book is a unique and fabulous gift for your fashion forward friends. And a personalized flip book? Don’t know anyone who wouldn’t love that! While it’s not monogrammed, we thought it was definitely personal enough to make the blog!

Jewelry: There are endless monogrammed jewelry options out there, but we’re really loving a classic bar necklace right now. Their sleek, simple design ensures that your girls will love and wear them for years to come, and they compliment literally any outfit! This particular bar necklace is made by a local company, Sharrah Designs, and you can find yours at Flair and on our online site, Frills. It comes in rose gold, white gold, sterling silver and yellow gold and can be personalized with names, monograms, quotes and more. The options are endless; give us a ring if you want to learn more about these beautiful bars!

Happy shopping, brides, and remember: these are the girls that planned your super fun bachelorette and stunning shower; they’ve earned something special 🙂

in Advice from Flair / Boston Bridesmaids / Boston Weddings / Bridesmaids Gifts / Monogrammed gifts / Personalized Gifts / Stuff We Love / Tips from Pros / Uncategorized 0 comments

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Wedding Dress Inspiration

Flair in Primetime!

Here at Flair, we are pretty big TV fans (hey, with this brutal winter, there’s not much else to do). We pore over all of Mindy Kaling/Lahiri’s fashions, get most of our “news” from “The Newsroom” and use Coach Taylor’s epic, pre-game speeches to get us pumped up for the day. Yes, we’re dorks, and yes, we’re OK with it. So, you can imagine our happiness when we saw some of OUR dresses featured on two TV weddings recently!

First up: “Glee”. We loved Brittany and Santana’s wedding for many reasons. Most importantly, we got to see a stunning same sex wedding in prime time, which is pretty fabulous. Next, they had a rustic chic wedding in a barn; a wedding style that we love and that we see alot of in our area. Lastly, they wore dresses by designers that WE carry! Santana rocked the popular Dakota gown by Nicole Miller while Brittany was ethereal in Jenny Yoo’s Vionnet gown. Not only that, but the bridesmaids wore dresses by Alfred Sung, another Flair designer! It was amazing to see the girls in dresses that we recognized by designers that we love AND we were thrilled that the show chose to highlight affordable, gorgeous dresses that ANY bride/bridesmaid can wear!

Next up: “New Girl”. Another show that we love! In true, quirky, “New Girl” fashion this wedding wasn’t without its hitches and hijinks, but one thing was certainly a success: the bride’s dress! Jess’ Dad’s fiancé Ashley (aka Dee from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”) wore Jenny Yoo’s Camilla gown and looked chic and comfortable (despite this photo – sorry there weren’t better ones available)!

Two of our loves combined: wedding dresses and TV; we couldn’t be happier! Let us know if you see any TV wedding dresses that you love 🙂

in Alfred Sung / Boston Brdesmaids dresses / Boston Bridal / Boston Bridal gowns / Celebrity Fashion / Jenny Yoo / Nicole Miller Boston / TV weddings 0 comments

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Oscars 2015

Hits, Misses and Trends from the Red Carpet!

The Oscars is always a working night for the Flair girls. In a big group text, we discuss the fashion hits and misses, and we don’t always agree. In fact, more often than not, we all have completely different best dressed picks. Not to toot our own horn, but we think it’s one of the things that makes Flair great (toot toot!). No matter what your personal style, or the style of your wedding, there’s probably a Flair consultant who will totally get you! Now that we’re done patting ourselves on the back, we’ll get back to the Oscars 😉 There is one thing we can all agree upon; the red carpet was ripe with fresh, new trends! Here are some that we caught:

Radiant Red Carpet Reds – Some feel that wearing red on the red carpet can be dangerous. Will it clash, or even worse, will it just blend into the background? Not to mention the fact that red can be a tricky color to wear; you need just the right shade for your specific skin tone (as we all know from trying to find the perfect red lipstick – you can’t just borrow your friend’s). There were tons of gorgeous Oscar dresses that showed us it was worth the red risk, like Dakota Johnson’s Saint Laurent stunner. Men weren’t afraid of this bold color either, as seen on David Oyelowo’s gorgeous Dolce and Gabbana ensemble! If you don’t want to go all red, it makes a great accent color, from your lip, to your nails, to your belt (as seen on Nicole Kidman’s Louis Vuitton number).

Embellished Winter Whites – White dresses always have a presence on the red carpet, but this year they got amped up with stunning beads, pearls, sequins and more. Lupita’s Calvin Klein beauty features 6000 pearls and took many hours and many people to create; it’s a true one of a kind! Red gloves aside (though I guess they count for our red trend too) Lady Gaga’s Azzedine Alaia gown is perfect for the Oscar’s red carpet; it is true glamorous, over the top couture! And we just can’t get over how amazing Faith Hill looks in this J. Mendel, does she ever age??

KISS – Many celebrities got the memo to keep it simple in the hair and makeup department. From Anna Faris’ (in Zuhair Murad) loose waves, to Behati Prinsloo’s (in Armani Prive) sleek bun and Jenna Dewan Tatum’s (also in Zuhair Murad) simple but impactful pony, we loved seeing the stars looking so fresh!

Did you watch the red carpet? Let us know who you loved, who you hated and what trends you caught!

in Celebrity Fashion / Oscars 2015 / Red Carpet Fashion / Red Carpet Trends / Stuff We Love / Uncategorized 0 comments

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Bridesmaids’ Dress Shopping

How to have an A+ appointment!

As we head into March, the girls at Flair have two things on our minds: 1) Spring arrives this month (atleast technically) and 2) It’s prime bridesmaids’ dress shopping season! As our dresses take 3-4 months to produce, March is the perfect time to get orders placed for Summer and Fall wedding dates. If you’re one of the many brides who will be getting her bridesmaids’ dresses squared away in the next month or so, we’ve got some tips to make the buying process easy and fun for you and your girls:

1) Have an opinion: While it may seem nice to give your bridesmaids free reign, in our experience most of them prefer that their bride give them some direction. Telling them they can pick any navy dress in the store is a recipe for confusion and stress; the options are endless! We recommend that brides visit us or give us an email/call before coming in with the girls. At that time, we can discuss your personal style, and the style of your wedding, to help you narrow down the selection and make the shopping process more straightforward for your friends!

2) Be honest: It’s your day, and you have to love what your girls wear. After all, those photos will be on your mantle for years to come! So, if they choose something you’re not wild about, don’t be afraid to speak up. When they agree to be in your wedding, they are also agreeing to give up some control. Of course, this can be touchy, so feel free to ask Flair for help! Is there a girl who you just know will choose a dress that is a little too revealing, or who will insist that she can fit into a dress two sizes smaller than she should? Let us know these concerns in advance and we’re happy to act as your advocate and do our best to avoid those potential issues.

3) Know your bottom line: Every bride has one! Do you not want to go over $200? Does the color absolutely have to match your wedding stationery? Determine the most important factor to you and that will go a long way to helping you narrow down the dress selection.

If you keep these points in mind, your dress shopping will be carefree, enjoyable AND successful! We can’t wait to work with you soon, and don’t hesitate to reach out to us prior to your appointment with any questions or concerns. See you soon, brides and bridesmaids 🙂

in Advice from Flair / BM Boston / BM Dresses Boston / Boston Bridesmaids / Boston Weddings / Dress Shopping Tips / Tips from Pros 0 comments

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Watters Bridal

Get to know Love Marley by Watters!

If you’re engaged and thinking about your wedding dress, chances are you have heard of Watters. Watters is a well-known, respected name in the bridal world, and rightfully so! They have a huge selection of styles, made with high quality materials, at prices to suit every budget. Watters is a brand that quite literally has something for everyone! Within the Watters family lives the Love Marley bridal collection. Love Marley is for the bride who is looking for a soft, romantic look that is a dream to wear. Comfortable and flowy, these are gowns that you will not only look great in, but feel great in! Flair is so in love with these dresses and we’re thrilled to bring them to our Boston brides! Swoon over some of their lovely looks below, and try not to get too jealous of the models in their nice, warm and sunny location 😉 Stay warm, Boston!