White Toronto

*This entry has also been published on my other blog, Stuff Lindsay Bought*

From WeddingBells.ca

As I detailed in Saturday’s entry, my sister has selected the Simple Silhouettes line for me and her four other bridesmaids to wear. While a great-looking line, it’s not a very popular one, at least not in Canada, and as a result, only one place in Toronto carried: White in Yorkville.

Now, if you’ve ever been a bride in Toronto, you’re probably familiar with White. For the rest of you, I’ll explain that  it's considered to be one of the city’s better, and pricier, bridal stores.

I was a Toronto bride but since I preferred not to look at things I couldn't afford,  I never went to White (well, that and I bought with my dress with my mom in Alberta). But I was always curious about it and because of that, I was happy to have an excuse to check it out.

Located in an old Victorian on Hazelton Avenue, it should be made clear that White is no Kleinfields. It’s a small place with a suitably small selection. But the dresses they do have well, they are certainly stunning. Maybe a little too stunning.

Let me explain…

While I’m sure White stocks at least a couple sleek, simple gowns, most of the ones I saw are elaborate creations full of lace, beading and sparkle. While some were more “traditional” looking, many had a definite high-fashion look to them and the detailing on both types was truly amazing.

While these dresses aren’t necessary big in size (though they do have those), they are big on impact and honestly, I don’t think most women could carry them off. Besides requiring the right body type (long and lean but not skinny), they also require the right attitude. For many women, a wedding day is about being a princess but these dresses, even the ones with tulle, say “supermodel” more than “princess”.

Then there's the issue of cost. With dresses by such designers as Badgley Mischka, Monique Lhuillier and Oscar de la Renta, yuo can safely assume that this is not the place for the bride-on-a-budget. While I did see I think at least two that are three thousand-something, most of the price tags I looked at were above the $5000 mark with many dresses costing over ten grand. And no, that cost doesn’t include alterations (oddly, White doesn’t do alternations).

From Distinctoccasions.ca

The selection of bridesmaids however, is both more varied and more practical. Again, the selection isn’t huge and neither is the overall “bridesmaid loft”, which is located at the top of the house. I’m pointing this out because while I was getting my dress, a bridal party with 12 (yes, 12) maids showed up and things got pretty cramped pretty quick.

Also, the lighting’s not the best in there so if you can, get colour samples that you can take out and look at in better light.

The service however, is excellent. I had my own clerk who was friendly and helpful, offering useful and honest advice and opinions. I was measured for my dress by a different woman who was quick, professional and also offered her honest opinion on exactly what size I should get. And I have to give my admiration for the woman who was dealing with mega-bridal party. Despite their noise and uh, stupidity (multiple members weren’t wearing underwear), she was calm and organized.

I was less impressed with the fact that I paid more for my bridesmaid’s dress than my sister's other maids, who are buying theirs from a shop in Calgary, but I guess that Yorkville rent’s gotta get paid somehow.

Appointments are a must-have at White and because the selection is on the small side, I would check with them and make sure that they carry the designer/specific dresses that you’re looking for. And seriously, if you don’t have the budget for a pricy dress, don’t even walk in there.

Headed To The CNE?

Yesterday I was at the CNE and while I was there I noticed that home supply stores Bowring and Benix were there, selling off a wide variety of vases that would be ideal for centrepieces. Bowring was also selling those coloured décor gels that some people use in their centrepieces.

Everything was being offered at a reduced price and I have no doubt that at least some of these sale prices really were sales. I was actually at a Bowring last weekend and noticed that it had some nice though not exactly cheap vase option. Now, at the Ex, vases that were going for $40 at the store are on sale for $20. OK, still not dirt cheap but not a crazy price for a vase, especially if you’re creating the centrepieces yourself.

I’m not sure what the quantity situation is like but since at least some of what’s on sale is current stock, so something could probably be worked out. And at least at Bowring, you can leave your purchases there until you’re ready to go home so that you don’t have to walk around with a dozen glass vases.

I wouldn’t make a special trip to the Ex for these vendors unless you’ve already decided to use vases from one of those stores however, if you’re headed to the CNE anyways, you might as well head over to the Direct Energy Centre and check out what they have to offer.

A Tale of Two Moores

With only four months to go until the wedding, Shawn and I decided that we better rent his and his best man’s suites. So on Sunday we found ourselves at the Oakville Moores located at Dundas and Winston Churchill. It turned out to be a less than ideal experience.

We went to that location because it’s located near where Shawn’s brother, his best man, lives and we went to Moores because, well, isn’t that where everyone gets their suits from?

Back in January, we’d gotten a Moores catalogue from its booth at a wedding show. The suit selection looked alright, it seemed to have the colours we needed (silver and dark purple) and for $149 you got everything, even the shoes.

So our appointment should have been pretty simple. However, it quickly became clear that the woman who was supposed to be helping us could have cared less that we were there. After explaining the packages, getting our info and pointing out the most popular three styles, she seemed to lose the ability to speak.

I thought she would help us pick out a style but nope, the only fashion advice she offered was that Shawn should have a white pocket square and I had to ask her which shirt was best for an August wedding (turns out the one we were considering was the wrong choice, a choice she probably would have let us make).

She was absolutely useless when I started freaking about the surprisingly limited vest/tie colour options. Yeah, there was silver but there wasn’t quite the silver I wanted. And the selection of purple was absolute shit.

Angered and annoyed, we left and then made an appointment at the Dufferin Mall Moores because Shawn had a theory that the colour selection varied greatly by store. And it turns out he was right; this second location had dozens of other colour options, including dark purple in a pattern that also comes in silver.

Also, not only was the colour selection much better at the Dufferin Mall Moores but the service was excellent. The woman who sat with us was very helpful and after dealing with her I felt much better about renting from Moores.

We haven’t booked the suits yet because I’m waiting to get the colour swatch for my sister’s maid of honour dress (she lives in the U.S.) but assuming that that swatch works with the dark purple that the Dufferin Mall Moores offers, we’re going with that location.

Crate & Barrel Wedding Party

Crate & Barrel is holding a trio of upcoming “wedding parties” at their Yorkdale Mall location. These events are really how-to-register-at-our-store parties but they do feature free food, drinks, music and all participants who do set up a registry receive “a brilliant handblown heart bowl”. The store is also only open to those who have RSVPed (call 1-888-657-4108), a nice touch since that place can get pretty crowded.

I know many couples just want cash but I think it’s nice to register at at least one spot so that guests have options. Plus who doesn’t love to open presents?

Another reason for a registry? To get the bonuses that some of them come with. For example, if you register at Crate & Barrel, you’ll get 10 percent off anything that’s not purchased on your
registry.

Anyway, here are the dates for the wedding parties:

Sunday, September 13, 9 am – 11 am
Sunday, October 4, 9 am – 11 am
Sunday, October 18, 9 am – 11 am

I’ve shopped at Crate & Barrel a few times and I think they have a nicely priced range of “smaller stuff” (dishes, kitchen gadgets, etc.) that are pretty good quality. I am however less then impressed with the quality of its big furniture. I own a few pieces and while they certainly look nice, they don’t wear too well. And while I wouldn’t call Crate & Barrel furniture expensive, it’s more than what you’d pay at Ikea and honestly, my stuff from Ikea wears better.

So if you decide to register at Crate & Barrel, avoid the wood furniture but do register for one of these nice pitchers. They make for a perfect bridal shower gift.

Planning on wearing a Maggie Sottero?

Is your dream dress a Maggie Sottero? (If so, you’ve got good taste, some of those dresses look stunning.) Then you might want to seriously consider buying your dress before Monday, March 9. According to an email I recently received from wedding superstore Bridal & Beyond, Maggie dresses are jumping up in price on March 9, in some cases by more than 15 percent. So for example, the dramatic SaBelle dress will be jumping in price from $1,569 to $1,829.

Now, in all honesty, I haven’t actually done any research to find out whether or not this price increase applies just to Bridal & Beyond (a store that’s received some mixed reviews) or whether all Maggie dresses will be jumping up in price. But if you’ve got your heart set on one of these gowns, I suggest you get on the phone to the dress retailer of your choice and find out if buying your dream dress this weekend will save you a few hundred dollars.

Your White Dress

Like many people out there, I find it hard to justify spending thousands of dollars on a dress that you’ll wear for one day. Sure, you want to look amazing and memorable and be completely happy with your dress but at what cost?

So I was quite intrigued when I heard about Your White Dress. This Toronto shop claims to offer over 2,000 new, designer dresses, all at $299. Sounds to good to be true doesn’t it?
Well, you tell me. Take a look at their gallery. Nothing in there catches my eye, I think all of those dresses are a bit plain, but maybe one of them is right for you. And if not, there are several other hundreds dresses to choose from.

As I’ve mentioned before, it’s too early for me to start dress shopping but once I am ready, I do plan on checking out Your White Dress, despite its less than wowing photo gallery. The store’s website overall is less than eye-catching, a sign that perhaps Your White Dress doesn’t quite yet get internet marketing and therefore might not be showing off its best or more recent wares.
Plus, it’s selling dresses for $299. That alone makes it worth I trip I think.

And where might that trip be? To 103 Orfus Road. Note that the store has unusual operating hours. It’s only open at the following times: Thursday 1- 9 pm; Friday 9:30 am – 6 pm Saturday 9 am – 6 pm Sunday 11 am - 5:00 pm. Maybe those hours help them save on staffing costs and explains in part how they can offer dresses for $299?

Anyway, if you’ve ever checked out Your White Dress, let me know!