Ready, Set, Go!!! Part II

Yesterday, I posted about the annual "Running of the Brides" that will take place at Filene's Basement Chicago on July 25, 2008. And as promised, today, I will share some tips on finding your wedding dress at this unique bridal sale. If you choose to "rush the racks" to find your dream gown, follow these helpful tips and tricks provided by Filene's:

The Week Before the Sale:

Pick a team -- people whose taste you trust and are willing to get in there and do shopping battle for you

Hold a pre-sale meeting with your team

· come up with a team uniform- matching hats, t-shirts, headbands, carry whistles-anything that would make it easier to find each other in the crowd

· assign jobs to team members—someone to gather, someone to trade, someone to help you in and out of the dresses, someone to guard your inventory from prowlers

· tear out pages from bridal magazines, or print styles from on-line wedding gown sites to show your team what you’re looking for

· pick place to rendezvous in the store

The Morning of the Sale:

Dress code-- wear a sports bra and shorts or a bathing suit so you can try on dresses anywhere in the store; DO NOT WEAR FLIP FLOPS if you plan to participate in the “rush to the racks.”

Leave your handbag at home—you’ll need both hands for this.

Please, NO MAKE-UP. You wouldn’t want to see the dress of your dreams only to find it smeared with lipstick. CLEAN HANDS are appreciated.

No food or drinks inside the store; get rid of trash before the doors open in the receptacles provided.

Best Time to Arrive

The doors open at 8am. Brides-to-be and their teams who have been in line the longest will get to the racks first. In fact, it’s possible that the racks will be bare by the time you get into the store. DON’T DESPAIR! The dresses are not all gone. You’ll see brides trading or putting dresses back on the racks almost immediately. Use the first hour to look for brides who are trying on dresses you like. Then, be there to grab or trade for her “rejects.”

INSIDER TIP: If you’re not up to the chaos of store opening, arrive late morning or anytime up to store closing (9:30pm). Dresses will be back on the racks and the atmosphere will be much calmer. REMEMBER, this sale looks a lot more competitive than it really is—most of the hundreds of people you see in the rush to the racks are helpers, not buyers. Each team ends up with just one dress. (Alright, sometimes two, but that’s rare). There are still plenty of dresses to choose from. In fact, last year over 90% of the brides-to-be who came to this sale found their dream dress.

At the Event

Be nice—with all the excitement, shoppers have been known to get a little territorial and competitive. As our security manager once said to a TV reporter, “you don’t want to be walking down the aisle knowing you had to punch somebody out to get the dress.”

Be considerate—have your helpers put dresses you don’t want on the hangers and back on the racks. Think of how disappointed you’d be if you found your perfect wedding dress, only to see that it had been trampled on and damaged.

Be fair–keep only the dresses you are seriously considering, and set the others free as soon as possible.

Remember, wedding gowns don’t always run true to size—look not only for your regular dress size, but try a size or two bigger as well. Even if a dress isn’t the perfect fit, at this price it may be worth the cost of alterations. Experts on gown cleaning and alterations will be on hand to advise you.

Try on whatever comes your way--sometimes a gown that isn’t what you pictured yourself wearing turns out to be “the one.”

Be decisive--it’s only a one-day sale and gowns are not returnable.

If you follow the posted strategies, you should be good to go should you decide to brave this ginormous bridal sale. Personally, I don't think I have it in me to participate in the "Running of the Brides." I'm a go-right-in-and-get-what-I-want type of shopper. But I'd love to hear about the experiences of you all that have or will do this. Do tell. . .

Ready, Set, Go!!!

The annual "Running of the Brides" at Filene's Basement Chicago will take place on July 25, 2008. The Chicago store will house 1300-2500 designer wedding gowns that can be had at three price points: $249, $499 and $699. This is such an incredible deal considering they carry some wedding dresses that retail for $9000.The doors for this event open at 8am. But please be advised--most brides camp out overnight for this spectacular sale! Not sure that you have the patience or stamina to "run with the brides?" It may not be at all necessary. See a few of the answers below from the FAQs from Filene's:

What if I don’t want to partake in the actual “Running of the Brides,” or I can’t get there till later in the day, will there still be dresses left? Plenty! When the store opens, the racks get cleared quickly because people take as many as their arms can hold. Not knowing what they’ve grabbed, they quickly relinquish the sizes and styles they don’t want, putting them back on the rack or giving them to empty-handed brides. If a bride gets impatient waiting, we tell her to go have a cup of coffee and come back later—by 10:00AM, most of the dresses are back on the racks and you can shop in relative calm.

If you don’t get out of work till 5:00PM, or you’re just not up to the frenzy of store opening, the odds of finding a dress are still excellent. Only one in three or one in four people in line are shopping for a wedding gown. The others are helpers. For instance in Boston, usually the biggest event, there may be 800 people in line but only 250 of them are brides-to-be and there are up to 2500 gowns for sale.

What happens when the doors open? Customers run full speed to the racks; they grab as many dresses as their arms will hold. It takes less than sixty seconds for the racks to be stripped bare; the record is 36 seconds. The brides-to-be stake out a spot on the selling floor, preferably in front of a mirror and start trying on dresses. Even though we sometimes build a temporary fitting room on the selling floor most brides try on gowns in the aisles. Some women wear sports bras and shorts, others wear the lingerie they plan to wear under the gown.

Should I bring help? Definitely bring help—your mother, bridal party, a style-savvy friend. You need people to help grab gowns off the racks, make trades with other parties, help you in and out of the dresses, and guard the ones in your “maybe” pile from prowlers. It’s a good idea to have a team “uniform”—something that will help you find each other in the crowd, like wearing the same color shirts or big hats. Some teams get very creative. They print their team name on t-shirts, carry whistles or walkie-talkies, and so on. Some teams have strategy meetings before the sale; one woman created a Power-Point presentation for her team all about the dress she wanted.

For a complete list of the FAQs, click HERE.Please be aware that dresses are non-returnable, because Filene's doesn't carry wedding gowns except for the day of the bridal sale. But if you find a gown that you later fall out of love with, I'm positive that it wouldn't be that hard to get rid of. You could list the dress on eBay or Craig's List or take it to a consignment shop.

Filene's Basement Chicago
One N. State Street
Chicago, Illinois 60602
312-553-1055
Cash, checks and credit cards accepted.

Coming soon: Ready, Set, Go!!! Part II. . .Tips to finding your dream dress at the "Running of the Brides."
Photo credit: Filene's Basement

A New "You-Centric" Service--Invitations and Favors

K Sherrie+Company would like to introduce a new service to our brides, party-throwers, party-goers and readers. We would like to introduce: K Sherrie Shoppes!

K Sherrie Shoppes is dedicated to bringing you the latest in distinctive and unique wedding favors, bridal gifts and stationery. We know that it's all about the details, details, details! Customize and personalize your wedding celebration from the luxury letterpress invitations that you send your guests signaling the start of your celebration, all the way to the blazing, sparkler send-off after the end of your reception.

We have aligned with a few companies that represent some of the best offerings in wedding favors, bridal gifts and exquisite stationery. You will find that many of the favors and invites have been featured in great wedding publications such as Martha Stewart Weddings, In Style Weddings and The Purple Book: Weddings. We want to be your source for all things weddings and take pride in directing you to some of the best treasures on the web. So be sure to visit our website and click on the SHOP link and proceed to shop to your heart's content. Make certain to tell them that K Sherrie+Company sent you!
Photo Credit: The Knot

Paper Sale!

I love, love, love fine papers and the oft-not-done handwritten note. I'm the type that carries an embosser in my purse (along with my personalized note cards) because you never know when you'll have to send off a hand-written missive.

Imagine my delight when I found out that Horchow is having a PAPER SALE!! Until June 2, 2008, you can get 20% any online paper order. And they have so many styles to choose from: ultra traditional to casual and ethnic to fun and whimsical. Even the embossers, stampers and labels are on sale.

This sale is just in time for wedding season and graduations. If you don't order your thank you notes with your invitation suites, Horchow has an impressive collection that will fit any taste. Feast your eyes on these:I'm really digging the navy, skull-n-crossbones stationery with the red lining. It even comes with a pen that writes in silver ink! Be sure to include the code: PAPER when you place your online order.

How many of you love stationery as much as I do??
Photo Credit: Horchow

Nordstrom's Half Yearly Sale Starts Wednesday!

OMG!! I must resist. . .
I have to resist. . .
I'm not sure if I can resist. . .

Look at what can be had. . .

40% off or more?? In store or online??? SWOON!

Planning on a Budget

My reading and writing skills have paid off! I've been published: check out my article in the Indianapolis Recorder!!! And, yes, D--I am still the wordsmith =)

Click HERE for the full article. Happy Planning!

What Is Your Financial Comfort Zone?

In meeting with higher end clients, I have learned quite a few things about money management and financial responsibility. Everyone is aware of the growth and spending in the wedding industry: close to $80 billion last year! As a planner, I am also very aware of the pressure for couples to plan their wedding celebration bigger, better, more extravagant and more lavish than all of their counterparts. This pressure can easily drive couples into the poor house even before they say, “I do.”

However, in meeting and getting to know some of these clients, a few ideas about money and spending have been confirmed in my mind. It’s about how different people deal with money. With some clients, it’s not about having enough money to spend. What it is about is what they’re willing to spend their money on. Just because you have access to $100,000 doesn’t mean that you are willing to spend it on a weekend wedding blow-out. I met with a young lady a few weeks ago who was a successful business owner. Upon meeting her (first impressions!), I could tell we had the same style and aesthetic, so I knew she liked nice things. During our consultation, I also found that she was very committed to keeping her costs less than $20,000. She didn’t see the sense in blowing a lot of cash on a one-day wedding reception.

And I totally get it.

At K Sherrie+Company, it’s what we call keeping our clients in their “financial comfort zone” (such a great catch phrase taught to us by our friend, Liene, of Blue Orchid Designs, who in turn, learned of the phrase from Scott Corridan). We want you to stay on track, stay on budget and spend your money on what you feel is most important—not anything more or anything less. I’ll use myself as an example. I will happily pay $1500 for a Gucci or LV purse. What I will not spend my hard earned money on, for instance, is a Cross pen or a piece of Riedel crystal. I don’t see the point. Again—it’s not about having the money available, but about what I’m willing to spend my cash on. . .what I value. . .my very own “financial comfort zone.” And we understand many clients feel the exact same way about weddings and celebrations.

K Sherrie+Company prides itself on being a collaborator and co-conspirator in helping people stay within their financial comfort zone. Our flat rate consultation fees are a testament to this. We will never encourage you to spend more so we can make more. This can sometimes happen with unscrupulous planners who charge on a percentage basis. This does not mean that you will not go over budget. What it does mean is that we will help you make informed decisions and you’ll be satisfied when you choose to spend your dollars on what means the most to you.

Wedding Write-Off?

Many, many favors get left at the reception site. Really--do you think your friends have use for a mini silver picture frame with your name on it? Or, what, pray tell, is a single gal going to do with one champagne flute with your wedding date engraved on it? I have two rules when picking wedding favors: Can you eat it? Would you use it?? But more on that later. . .

This post is for those who opt to make cash donations to their favorite charity in lieu of wedding favors. Lots of couples can benefit twice from this thoughtful gesture. 1) Your favorite charity gets some cash that it needs desparately. 2) This can be a tax write off for you and your new hubby. There is something you must do first, however. When choosing the charity of choice, make sure it's something near and dear to your heart. Then, make sure that Uncle Sam recognizes them. This will make for a special bonus at tax time for you newlyweds in your first year of wedded bliss. Log on to http://www.irs.gov/ to see if your favorite charity qualifies.

Our Loss is Your Gain

Sad news, Indy. . .we'll be losing a couture bridal shop =(

La Bella Bride of Zionsville will be closing its doors at the end of April. Tracy Heine, the owner, understandably wants to spend more time with her family. That's too bad, because I hate to see the personal and service-oriented bridal shops fall by the wayside to the big box bridal stores.

So that's the bad news.

The good news is:
All bridal gowns are 25% to 75% off!! With the closing of La Bella Bride, you have the rare opportunity to save thousands on a couture wedding gown. Gowns normally priced from $1,500 to $6,000 will be priced from just $649! La Bella Bride features some of the best names in bridal fashion: Justina McCaffrey, Romona Keveza, Amy Michelson, Melissa Sweet, Lea-Ann Belter, Paloma Blanca, and Rivini. The gowns are in great condition and many are not available anywhere else in Indiana (and certainly not for rock bottom prices)!




The bridal shop is currently taking appointments and you might want to book early to get the best selection. They are available Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from March 28 through April 20th. Call the shop at 317.733.9280 or visit the website for more information.
Photo credits: La Bella Bride

Make $250 in Five Minutes

Yes--you read it correctly. Here at K Sherrie+Company, we love referrals! Word-of-mouth and great testimonials are the best marketing tools we could ever ask for. So we want to thank those who think highly enough of our services to recommend them to someone else.

So, theoretically, it should only take you about five minutes to rave and gush over how fabulous we are and how amazingly attentive we are with each bride and groom. When your referral signs on as a K Sherrie client, they won't be the only person getting gifts on their wedding day. That's right: you'll be getting $250--that's like getting paid $50 a minute!

The only stipulations: your name must be mentioned at the time of initial contact; only Emerald Package and above qualify for this referral program.

So, go on and refer away! This offer will be good until December 31, 2008.

Celebrations On Sale!

At this point, most brides know that Ann Taylor carries a line of wedding and bridesmaids dresses dubbed the Celebrations line. What you may not know is, until Monday, June 30th, you can receive 15 percent off your Celebrations' purchase AND get free shipping on orders of $100 or more. Carried in sizes 00-18, you're sure to find something for everyone in your bridal party, especially if you're going for the sleek, classic look. While shopping, check out the Favorites on Sale page. They have some cute dresses there in sage green, black, navy and chocolate. Can you really get a black, strapless, satin dupioni gown for $59.44? And those cute sandals pictured here are $49.44. STEAL!! Even if you're not in a wedding, you may want to scoop one of these dresses for any formal occasion.

To get your discount, enter promotion code 80900020 during checkout at AnnTaylor.com. This offer can only be used once and free shipping does not apply in HI, AK or PR. Happy shopping! Tell them K Sherrie and Company sent you!