Turning Pinterest Wedding Gowns into Reality: Amazing Backs

November 3, 2014 Ellie Tanner

Falling in love with Pinterest wedding photos and wondering if those looks are even possible to attain? Luckily, we love Pinterest too and are here to save the day for DC brides everywhere!

Not gonna lie, it's really satisfying so see popular pins and be able to say, "we've got that look." :)

Wanda Borges – popular on Pinterest — Wanda Borges – popular on Pinterest

Get the look with Mikaella 1802 right here at Ellie's Bridal[EDIT: This sample has since been sold from our store] — Get the look with Mikaella 1802 right here at Ellie's Bridal
[EDIT: This sample has since been sold from our store]

Katie May – popular on Pinterest — Katie May – popular on Pinterest

Inbal Dror – popular on Pinterest — Inbal Dror – popular on Pinterest

And there are times we have exactly what you are looking for :-)

Mikaella 1661 right here at Ellie's Bridal Boutique — Mikaella 1661 right here at Ellie's Bridal Boutique

Justin Alexander 8557 – popular on Pinterest

Justin Alexander 8557 right here at Ellie's Bridal Boutique

Jim Hjelm 8011 right here at Ellie's Bridal

For even more gowns with stunning detail or backless options, call 703-683-VOWS to make your appointment and join the Ellie's Bridal Family <3

Wedding Gowns Over/Under $4,000

September 5, 2014 Ellie Tanner

High-end designer bridal gowns are made with the most stylish designs in mind, luxurious fabrics, and impeccable gown construction. With all those must-have qualities, it's no surprise that the cost of a wedding dress can add up quickly. Although we may be biased, we truly believe that the most important outfit of your life is worth every penny.

That being said, the Ellie's Bridal team also believes that good fabric and fabulous designs are available at every price point. We've done the hard work and hunting for you, bringing the best selection of affordable designer bridal gowns under one roof.

Can you tell which gowns are over or under? Bridal gowns in the left column retail for $4,000-$10,000 while gowns on the right are found right here at Ellie's Bridal Boutique for under $4,000.

Designer Wedding Gowns
OVER $4000

Wedding Gowns
UNDER $4000
at Ellie's Bridal Boutique

Style 2169 by Casablanca  -- Wedding Dresses under $4,000 at Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA) — Style 2169 by Casablanca -- Wedding Dresses under $4,000 at Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA)

Style 9745 by Justin Alexander -- Wedding Dresses under $4,000 at Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA) — Style 9745 by Justin Alexander -- Wedding Dresses under $4,000 at Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA)

Style 8721 by Justin Alexander -- Wedding Dresses under $4,000 at Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA)

Style 8731 by Justin Alexander -- Wedding Dresses under $4,000 at Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA)

Style 2713 by Allure Romance  -- Wedding Dresses under $4,000 at Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA) — Style 2713 by Allure Romance -- Wedding Dresses under $4,000 at Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA)

Style 5977 by Stella York -- Wedding Dresses under $4,000 at Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA) — Style 5977 by Stella York -- Wedding Dresses under $4,000 at Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA)

Style 8724 by Justin Alexander -- Wedding Dresses under $4,000 at Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA) — Style 8724 by Justin Alexander -- Wedding Dresses under $4,000 at Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA)

Style 8659 by Justin Alexander -- Wedding Dresses under $4,000 at Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA) — Style 8659 by Justin Alexander -- Wedding Dresses under $4,000 at Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA)

Style 2455 by Allure Romance -- Wedding Dresses under $4,000 at Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA) — Style 2455 by Allure Romance -- Wedding Dresses under $4,000 at Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA)

Brielle by Rivini Rita Vinieris — Brielle by Rivini Rita Vinieris

Style 3787 by Sincerity – Wedding Dresses under $4,000 at Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA) — Style 3787 by Sincerity – Wedding Dresses under $4,000 at Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA)

Adelle by Rivini Rita Vinieris — Adelle by Rivini Rita Vinieris

Style 8709 by Justin Alexander -- Wedding Dresses under $4,000 at Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA)

BONUS:

Trendier brides will love this crystal and pearl beaded Sabrina keyhole neckline on a asymmetric ruched bodice by Rivini (below, left). See Justin Alexander 8735 for one weekend only at our Justin Alexander Trunk Show (September 12-14) to get the look for under $4,000.

Crystal by Rivini Rita Vinieris — Crystal by Rivini Rita Vinieris

Style 8725 by Justin AlexanderJustin Alexander Trunk Show at Ellie's Bridal Boutique (September 12-14, 2014) — Style 8725 by Justin Alexander

Justin Alexander Trunk Show at Ellie's Bridal Boutique (September 12-14, 2014)

Bridal gowns at Ellie's Bridal Boutique range from about $900 - $5000.

April + David: A Lesson in Planning a Wedding that is Uniquely True to Yourself

July 28, 2014 Ellie Tanner

April + David – Justin Alexander gown from Ellie's Bridal Boutique

April is a beautiful person – absolutely beautiful, inside and out. I know that's cliche to say, but her cheerful upbeat attitude, easy-going charm, and warm generosity just make me smile. She's got sparkle, spunk, and flair, and isn't afraid to be her wonderful self. While we didn't get to spend nearly enough quality time with this bride, we're glad that David gets to be the one to stand by her side. Happy One Year Anniversary, April & David. We are so very honored to have played a small part in your incredibly special day.

I can't get enough of their wedding photos and can't wait for you to read their story below:

Sapphire and diamond engagement ring with diamond wedding band. On ecru wedding invitation.

David and I met while working as Archaeologists in Illinois. We did not get a long at first, but we soon became really close friends and eventually started dating. We got engaged at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. It was a complete surprise to me! We had been together for seven years, so I wasn't expecting it!

David and I love the outdoors, it’s where we met, worked, and got engaged so we wanted to incorporate that into our wedding. It was really important to us to be close to family and friends, so we chose a location in Illinois to have our wedding. The Morton Arboretum, in Lisle, Illinois, was the perfect venue location for us with its beautiful scenery. We loved the natural beauty of the outdoors and the historic feel of the Founder's room, the historic library of the Morton family. The carved wood and the stained glass windows perfectly fit our personalities. We both love the mix of modern and vintage styles. We wanted to keep with the vintage feel of the room, so we had a harpist to play our ceremony, she was amazing! I walked down the aisle with both my parents to the song "At Last".

Our officiant was wonderful; she really connected with our personalities and wrote an absolutely beautiful ceremony for us. We had a rock ceremony, every guest made a wish on a stone they held the whole ceremony and all the stones were combined into a vessel with ours to symbolize bringing our two families together. David and I designed and made our own programs and we had bubbles for our exit outside to the cocktail hour. I love sewing, so I made the ring bearer pillow my nephew used to walk down the aisle with.

I saw a dress on Justin Alexander's website and fell in love. It had the sparkle and vintage feel I was looking for. I contacted Ellie’s Bridal in Alexandria, Virginia to see if they carried it in store. They didn’t but, said I could have the sample shipped in on loan for me to try on. They were super helpful both over the phone, email, and facebook. I scheduled several appointments at various bridal salons in the metro area, but saved Ellie’s for last. I had some okay experiences and some awful ones at the other salons. I tried on a lot of dresses, but nothing felt right. I finally had my last appointment at Ellie’s. They had my dress ready for me hanging in the dressing room; as soon as I saw it I knew it was the one. I didn't try on any other dresses there because that dress was perfect. It was the only one that made me feel like a bride and had just the right amount of drama I was looking for.

I wore my grandmother's vintage necklace that I have always wanted to wear on my wedding day. It was important to me to find a dress that matched the vintage feel of the necklace. My veil is very unique and really shows my personality. I love the large flower and crystals, I really wanted something different. My amazing shoes also had a larger flower on them as well. I really wanted to look and feel like a beautiful flower on my wedding day and I did!

I had three bridesmaids and I could not have chosen better ladies to be there for me on my day. They wore necklaces I made for them in mint and silver. I found very romantic dresses in the color mint, which is my favorite color!! The dresses flattered everyone.

Our groomsmen wore the same tux as David, but they had mint ties to match the bridesmaids. They all looked absolutely stunning!

Tall centerpieces with hydrangia and roses. Ivory tablecloths with green napkins. Mint green wedding cake.

Hydrangea and rose centerpieces with candles.

Our wedding colors were mint, blush, lime and ivory. We really wanted to have fresh colors that represented the beautiful landscapes of our venue and the feel of summer. Our flowers were absolutely beautiful! Our florist, also my father-in-law, did an amazing job capturing our vision. Our theme was "Natural Elegance" and it really fit with our venue and the feel of our wedding! Our cake was beautiful and yummy! It was done in mint colored fondant with lace ribbon. We had three large ivory roses at the top instead of a cake topper. Our tables were decorated with ivory, blush and green flowers with lots of candles. Our welcome table had a bonsai tree and place cards that matched our invitations. The entire room smelled like peonies.

All our guests had an amazing time as did we! David and I planned the entire wedding ourselves from out of state, which was a lot of hard work! In the end, everything came together beautifully and we could not have asked for a more perfect day!

List of Vendors

Photographers - Just Love Me Photography

Wedding bands and rings - Quinn’s Goldsmiths

Ceremony + Reception:

Venue - The Morton Arboretum
Catering - Classic Fare Catering
Linens - BBJ Linens
Cake - The Cakery
Officiant - Elizabeth-Anne Stewart
Harpist - Dawn Bishop
DJ - Katie LaBombard via Toast and Jam
Floral Design and Decor- Flowers by Frank (815) 895-5979 and Bonsai tree

Paper Products:

Invitations, Menus, and Place cards - Wedding Paper Divas
Programs - DIY bride and groom

Bride's Attire:

Wedding dress - Justin Alexander
Necklace - Grandmother's necklace
Bracelet and Earrings - Charming Charlie’s
Veil- Sarah Gabriel Ione Veil via Bella Bridal
Makeup and Hair - Angel Face Makeup
Shoes - LuLu Townsend via DSW Shoes

Bridesmaids Attire:

Dresses - Dessy Collection
Earrings - Charming Charlie’s
Necklaces - DIY Bride

Men's Attire:

Groom's/groomsmen suits and shoes - Vera Wang Black via Men's Wearhouse
Pocket squares - Dessy Group in "Meadow"

Ring bearer Suit and shoes - Ducky's Formal Wear
Ring bearer Pillow - DIY Bride

Sample Sale Recap

November 25, 2013 Ellie Tanner

We're all cleaned up from our pre-holiday SAMPLE SALE this past weekend and are now gearing up for all the families coming for Thanksgiving weekend!

CONGRATULATIONS to all the brides-to-be that found their beautiful gowns for such an unbeatable price. Here are some of the dresses our brides fell in love with over the weekend.

Welcome to the Ellie's Bridal Family. We are honored to be part of such a special part of your Wedding Day. Don't forget to send us wedding pics!!

If you missed out on our Sample Sale this past weekend, don't fret! We offer sample gowns year round for any bride on a tight budget or short timeline. Make an appointment and let us know that you are interested in purchasing a sample gown so we can work with you to make your dreams come true.

WIN your Dream Wedding Dress

February 24, 2013 Ellie Tanner

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Ellie's Bridal Boutique is so excited that another one of our designers, Justin Alexander, is having a contest that will provide one lucky bride a FREE Wedding Gown!!

Can you believe it? We are so excited for all of our soon to be Brides out there and we had to share this opportunity! Make sure you visit Justin Alexander Dress Giveaway on Facebook to register and pick your gown today. We are unsure how long the contest will run for, so register today before it's too late!

P.S. If you are in love with Justin Alexander wedding gowns like we are, come book your appointment today at Ellie's Bridal Boutique in Alexandria, VA.

January 18-20 — Justin Alexander Trunk Show

January 3, 2013 Ellie Tanner

We love Justin Alexander for their Quality, Style and Amazing Prices!

Quality!

Justin Alexander gowns are incredibly well made for real woman and they know how to show off women's curves the way we want them to. The quality of wedding gowns starts at the beginning. They’re made of high-quality fabrics — real lace, simple cottons, and elegant silks — and just the right amount of intricate crystals and bead work.

Justin Alexander Trunk Show - January 18-20 - Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA)

Style!

As much as we love Justin Alexander gowns, we know also know that they are not for every bride -- which is a good thing! These gowns are about mixing the daring and unique with classic, timeless tradition; the vintage with the contemporary; and glamor with elegance. Are you a Justin Alexander bride?

Pricing!

Justin Alexander wants their gowns to be accessible for every bride. They are so stylish. Justin Alexander is classic with a modern twist. Most of their gowns prices range from about $1,200 to $2,200 but they look like they would be more than $10,000! You get such great quality at such an affordable price, it's difficult not to fall in love with this collection.

Call 703-683-VOWS (8697) to make an appointment with us today, and be sure to book your appointment now for Justin Alexander Trunk Show in just a few weeks. This collection has such a variety of styles and shapes, it'll be difficult not to fall in love all over again one you try on these gowns.

Trunk Shows Explained

December 18, 2012 Ellie Tanner

What is a Trunk Show? Has anyone heard of what a bridal Trunk Show is? And why go to one anyway? The term "trunk show" comes from the old days when designers used to carry their entire collection (yes, in trunks!) and provide personal consultations while receiving feedback directly from their consumers.

Trunk Shows Explained – via Ellie's Bridal Blog

Most salons carry only select pieces from any particular collection. During a trunk show, you have the opportunity to see a designer's latest collection in its entirety. If you already know that you are in love with a particular designer it is definitely worth researching if they are advertising any upcoming trunk shows. Trunk shows are usually the only time a boutique will have every gown from a collection available for you to view.

Depending on the designer and time of year, the other benefit to attending a trunk show is that you get to see and try on gowns before most other boutiques can even order them. For the bride that is a dazzling fashionista at heart and values that fashion forward edge, the opportunity to view and order gowns a full season before their official release could be priceless in itself. However, designers won't always tell the salon that they are sending along the unreleased collection so often that part is a surprise!

This is your Royal moment. Take advantage of having designer experts find your dream gown -- it's how the Royals have down it throughout history.

Want to attend a Trunk Show? Ellie's Bridal Boutique will host several in 2013. Appointments are required to attend these events.

Spring Events: January 18-20 -- Justin Alexander Trunk Show March 9-10 -- Stella York Trunk Show

**During trunk shows, brides will get a 10-20% discount on any gown ordered by the designer featuring during the event -- so bring some trusted opinions!**

Warning: Brides Beware

December 4, 2012 Ellie Tanner

Who would ever imagine that there would be fake wedding gowns? Just like designer purses, you have to be careful when looking to find Wedding Dresses online. Those too-good-to-be-true deals on brand new wedding gowns can be very misleading. Some websites even lead you to believe that you are purchasing a gown from the same exact factory where the originals are made. This is not true and is not authorized by either the designer, manufacturer, or us.

Justin Alexander specifically asked us to share this video with you all. Like other top designers, they are concerned that you won’t receive the top of the line garments that you’re expecting when you order online. All designer websites have a list of Authorized Retailers, most with notices warning the consequences of purchasing from a non-authorized dealer. Jim Hjelm has even published a 6.5-page list of websites they know to be falsely advertising their gowns. Please save yourself the stress, hassle, and your money.

Everything you need to know about purchasing a wedding gown online - via Elie's Bridal Blog

Support your local brick-and-mortar boutiques to ensure that you are receiving that designer Wedding Gown that you are paying for. Plus, you’ll have the added bonus of getting personalized customer service every step of the way. This is a once in a lifetime event that we want to prevent and stop you from falling a victim.

BEST WAYS TO SAVE MONEY ON A WEDDING GOWN: If you are looking for a good deal check out local listings for consignment gowns, trunk shows, and sample sales in your area.

Retailer Perspective: Shopping at Bridal Market

October 22, 2012 Ellie Tanner

How do we shop for bridal dresses for our boutique? What kinds of things do we look for and think about? Much of the process is just like how you would shop for own bridal gown. We are always mindful of quality, price, style and design because we want what our brides want. On the other hand, we are shopping for other people and not ourselves. We are expected to read the minds and tastes of people we have yet to meet and be cognizant of fashion trends a year in advance. So what do we look for? This shouldn't come as a surprise, but often it's simply a matter of you asking us. This past season we thought Ellie's Bridal Boutique had plenty of gowns with keyhole backs to choose from. Brides kept asking for more. We listened. So we will be welcoming Casablanca 2102 (Below: top left) for its keyhole back. On facebook Rachel asked for "lace paired with other fabrics." Even though just one bride asked specifically, we listened to that, too. And so we will soon welcome Casablanca 2108 (Below: top right) for its mixture of lace and tulle fabrics. We even picked out Mikaella 1763 (Below: bottom left) for its keyhole back AND lace straps on satin skirt. Nikki requested "tulle skirts with sparkle... as opposed to sparkly skirts typically being satin." We are proud to now feature Justin Alexander 8638 (Below: bottom right), a gown with ruched tulle covering sequin, which arrived in our store just last week! We got a variety of gowns based on your feedback. You'll just have to wait to see the rest as they trickle into our store over the next few months!

Casablanca 2108 - Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA)

Casablanca 2102 - Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA)

Mikaella 1763 - Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA)

Justin Alexander 8638 - Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA)

Probably one of the most obvious factors is allowing variety in our selection. We have heard so many brides proclaim, "I want the top of Dress A with the bottom of Dress B!" Our main goal here is to find a feature that brides love in a gown, then give them options to have that. About two years ago, when the strapless trend was still at its height, we decided to bring in something a little different with Justin Alexander 8530 (Below: left image). While we had several necklines to start, the bateau received the most compliments. Unfortunately, the only gowns in our store with that neckline were more fitted sheath or trumpet gowns. It was only natural that we expanded the selection. So as soon we laid eyes on Justin Alexander 8630 (Below: right image) we instantly knew that it had to be part of our collection. In fact, it also arrived in our boutique last week!

Justin Alexander 8530 - Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA)

Justin Alexander 8630 - Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA)

There are so many other details we need to think about when deciding which gowns to bring into our salon. I'll elaborate more on how we think about gown quality, alteration capability, our past experience and reputation, and a host of other factors that come into play at later date. In the meantime, just know that we truly have your interests heart. This is your special day and we really do want to make you feel like you can have it all and turn your dreams into a reality.

And if you haven't already, definitely check out this post for more Spring 2013 previews.

Out With the Old, In With the New

September 12, 2012 Ellie Tanner

Now that things are finally calming down from the bustling excitement of last weekend's Back to Savings Sample Sale, we want to show you just what all the fuss was about from our end.

Brides are not the only ones shopping for wedding gowns year-round. In fact, bridal salons are required to purchase bridal gowns twice a year: every Spring and Fall season. And trust me, just once a year is more than enough to keep our inventory quite alive. If you have visited before, you know exactly what we mean. We simply have too many wedding dresses. The solution? You guessed it: sample sale.

We love sample sales because they are a win-win for brides-to-be and bridal salons. Not only do you get the opportunity get great deals on gorgeous gowns, but it allows us to clear the racks in preparation for the next season. This is also why our sample sales also include gowns that have been in our boutique for less than a full season - we simply don't have enough space!

So now that we've made a little room, here's a an exclusive sneak peek at a few of the gowns we seriously can't wait to show you. None of these gowns have been even been advertised yet, so I hope we don't get in trouble for this from our designers!

Between the fabulous fit-n-flare silhouette, fun pick-ups, and detailing of this illusion neckline, we're sure that brides will love Mikaella's modern twist to this simple, classic look.

Mikaella 1752 - Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA)

For something just a bit sexier, we are loving this fitted, chiffon gown by Sincerity. Just wait until you see the back!

Sincerity 3736 - Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA)

Sincerity also has this fantastic tea-length gown that we know brides will absolutely adore. The lace top can be detachable so you can even go strapless if you want to update this dress to a more contemporary look.

Sincerity 3749 - Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA)

One of the gowns that we are probably the most excited about is this Justin Alexander. The crocheted lace detail gives a dramatic twist to this otherwise traditional ball gown.

Justin Alexander 9710 - Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA)

Having a destination wedding on the beach, or thinking that these gowns are just not your style? Sweetheart has just the gown for you.

Sweetheart 5978 - Ellie's Bridal Boutique (Alexandria, VA)

Can't wait to see our new collections? Neither can we. Unfortunately, we aren't expecting these gowns to arrive in our boutique for another couple months but we still have plenty of other styles to choose from. The good news is, now you know we have a bit of everything. And if this post isn't enough for you, see what we currently have in our store.

No matter your taste or style, call us at 703-683-VOWS(8697) to schedule your appointment.