Isadora Modest Conversion

 I have been so excited to show off our latest modest Maggie Sottero conversion. I've been sitting on these pictures for a couple of weeks but since she got married today, here we go.

When I saw Mikaelyn in her completed gown for the first time I got choked up.  Every bride I serve makes me happy but this was an especially satisfying outcome.

Mikaelyn Miles Kooyman

Isadora by Maggie Sottero

When Mikaelyn came to my store shopping in September I knew that her wedding was quick.  She was marrying a close family friend, Andrew Kooyman who's brothers played baseball with my boys and I've known Andrew since he was really small.  I told him I would do it but only because it was for the Kooymans who we just love.  Actually, I have come to love Mikaelyn and her family because they are really special people.  Her younger sister Kylie and her dad, Adam are on their way to Africa tomorrow to spend Christmas there on a humanitarian trip.

We continued the lace up back seamlessly

OK, back to the dress.  Mikaelyn fell in love with the Maggie Sottero Isadora which is also one of my favorites.  Vintage lace, soft net, mikado 3 dimensional flowers and swarovski crystals are the perfect combination.  As we did our first fitting Mikaelyn asked about elbow length sleeves.  I created the muslin mock up for the top.  In my mind I saw her top so I draped the neckline with matching hem lace.  She loved it!   Most of the insane amount of time I spent on this dress was over the Thanksgiving holiday. I really like to make the upper sleeve look more free form instead of a hard lining for the cap.  When I cut the sleeve drape and started laying on the lace it went into the most amazing shape.  My 6 year old grand daughter, Tawnee came to my house on the Wednesday afternoon before Thanksgiving as I was hand beading  and she added 9 crystal beads to Mikaelyn's dress sleeve.  This is her first experience with doing beads.  I keep careful track of my time and logged in more than 33 hours but I think it was worth it. It is impossible to tell that this dress was originally strapless.  What do you think?

Gown Preservation Warning

The name on the box is Bridal Keepsake

A week ago I met with one of my past brides.  She purchased her gown from me a few years ago.  The marriage was unsuccessful and they divorced.  She has met the man of her dreams and they are getting married.  As we talked about what she wanted to wear for her wedding we determined that her original wedding dress was still her style and would be perfect with some design changes.

When she brought in her gown in the preservation box she explained that her previous in laws had  generously had her gown preserved for her.  I was impressed with the presentation as you can see pictured.  The outer was a muslin encasing with a handle.  The dress was boxed but not sealed in a lovely window box with bust form.  She pulled it out to try it on and to her horror we could see that this dress had never been cleaned since she wore it years ago.  The bottom was very dirty, there was make up on the bodice.  I cannot imagine any company stooping this low.

Most stores that offer this service will send your gown to a professional preservation company where your gown is cleaned and packed by highly trained professionals and 99% of all preservations are perfectly fine.  However, this is a scam in it's highest form because most brides would never dream of opening their gown once it has been boxed.

Quality at it's best by Chris Lee and Crew

She has no idea who or what company provided the service (or lack thereof) but she wanted us to make sure that we spread the word.  If you or someone you know has a wedding gown preserved by this company I would advise you to contact your local Better Business Bureau and also your Consumer Protection Agency which is in the Attorney General's office for your state.  It would break my heart to open a dress in 20 years to find it was not properly cleaned and thus unwearable.

I will be able to clean this gown since it was not left dirty for several years.  If you have a gown heir loomed by this same company and are unsure as to it's condition we would be happy to assist.
Just call Lynette directly for advice and instructions  435-757-5966  www.lynettes.com

Retirement

I have never really thought too much about what I would do when I no longer sell wedding and prom dresses.  I just thought I would slump over my machine and go to heaven.  (I hope I'm going to heaven).  But when I started having trouble with my neck a few years ago and recently my thumb started screaming loudly I began to wonder what it would be like to actually go to a family party or stay home during the day and watch Dr Phil.

I can see the entire wedding industry evolving.  Weddings are more spontaneous, more emphasis on the party than the reason for the day.  The economy is playing a big part in where our hearts are going also.  For some it is entirely about needing to do everything really inexpensively and I have no argument for any of it. 

However, I will scream at the top of my lungs that what you wear on your wedding day will impact your memories more than any other aspect of your wedding.  Your attire should be the FIRST thing you shop for, not the last as it is seeming to me lately.  You should love your dress.  I actually had a bride to be call me looking for a certain Maggie Sottero wedding dress.  Get this, her wedding is in one and a half weeks.  Yes 12 whole days.  I am stunned!  She really didn't seem all that stressed.  If  I were her mother I would kill her.  Well, not literally.

I digress but here I am back again.  Today I counted the wedding dresses on my racks.  I have 337 wedding dresses in the store and probably 5 times that in back stock.  We begin with 20% off anything and nearly everything in the store including veils, headpieces, jewelry, dresses, and bridesmaid dresses.  Special orders, tuxedo stuff, alterations, bras and slips are NOT on sale. 

Please tell your friends, neighbors and anybody else you can think of about our sale.  www.lynettes.com  801-773-7435.  Due to the nature of our sale we are actually NOT encouraging appointments.  People will be served on a first come basis.  Happy Shopping!

Fall Gowns

Lillith by Maggie Sottero availale at The Gallery by Lynette

This summer surely went by too fast.  Hopefully, you all had a great break and are settling in for the fall.  Back to school is in full swing.  There is so much to do but don't forget to stick to your program in planning for your upcoming wedding.  So much to do!
 No matter where you will be wed you will still need something to wear.  Both you and your groom will be with all your favorite people and the photographs will be plenty. 
Over the next year I am going to re decorate my home,  I have been looking online, especially Pinterest*, for inspiration and have narrowed down a few looks. Before I get too serious I will get with a professional in that area to help me.  I want to make sure that I get the very best result possible.  This is a big project and a decision I will live with for a long time. 

Genesis Tuxedo by Tony Bowls

When you are shopping for your wedding gown and wedding party attire there is a lot to take into consideration.  Just like the fact that I am not an interior designer and will need help with the decorating, you might get a better result by utilizing the design resources available at The Gallery by Lynette.  We have everything you need in a warm, helpful and professional atmosphere.   We can help you find the gown that fits your personality, figure and budget.  Dave can help you find the perfect tuxes or suits for your guys and we have amazing bridesmaid dresses and accessories. 


*Be sure to follow The Gallery by Lynette on Pinterest for wedding inspiration, home making, baby stuff and so much more.  I'm a junkee!

Super Summer Sale!

Summer is here and so is our Annual Super Summer Sale.  Save up to 75% off in stock wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses and formals.  All accessories are also on sale.  Call today for your appointment and your free pair of genuine pearl earrings valued at $40, yours free with your first bridal shopping appointment while they last. 801-773-7435   More info   The Gallery by Lynette, Utah's most trusted source for modest and contemporary wedding gowns, fabulous tuxedo rentals and all things special occasion.

Lynette's Bridal Studio

Find your perfect dress at The Gallery by Lynette

When wedding gown shopping you can find online literally hundreds of thousands of wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, veils, jewelry and whatever else you need for your special day.  Add to that nearly 37 bridal sources within a one hour drive from our store and someone unfamiliar with what we do might ask why we are so passionate about being here? 

We have departments and consultants dedicated to helping you find the perfect everything!

Personal one on one attention in our Salon is the rule not the exception.

I've always said "If I have to be like everybody else, please kill me now!"  My background is in bridal fashion and design.  We are honored to be involved in the joy experienced by a frustrated bride and mom when after shopping for literally months for the perfect dress, we are able to find exactly what she needs in a matter or minutes.  Chalk it up to experience, intuition or knowledge of the nature of the business but I like to think that along with the above we add one more thing.  We listen, we care and we take the time to put ourselves in your shoes.  Your wedding is really important, the most important day of your life and how you feel about what you wear will impact your memories more than any other aspect of your day.  I know that women carry that feeling with them forever as they reflect back on their wedding day.  It breaks my heart to hear and feel the heartfelt memories of  a bride of yesteryear who ended up with a less than hoped for gown experience.  The disappointment never goes away.  I take the responsibility for happy memories very seriously. 

Here is the original gown

I took the bodice off, added shoulders and moved the bodice ruffles..

We can make the strapless dress of your choice to look like it came directly from the factory that way.

Just yesterday I met a bride who wanted a specific look.  Her desires and her family's needs for her modesty sounded to be very different.  Her father held a position within their church that could be embarrassing to their family if her gown were to be too revealing.  I could feel that while she didn't want to be disrespectful she also had a need to find the gown that reflects herself.  Within about 30 minutes we had several gowns that she looked beautiful in and had it narrowed down to 2 dresses.  Because we have an in house designer, we were able to discuss options that we could do to her gown either in our store or through our factory to make her gown beautifully modest without losing her spirit.  She literally beamed as she realized that she could have the gown she had dreamed of, with the modesty that would be approved by her parents, within her budget.

We have two factories where you can have a gown made just for you at off the rack prices. 

 

This gown is around $799

Since we moved into our new salon we have occasionally heard the comment that people think our gowns would be more expensive.  That is absolutely not so!  Our overhead is actually lower and we can pass that on to our customer.  By asking you to make an appointment we reserve that time just for you. We aren't distracted by other shoppers.  We are there to help you find the perfect dress for you.Much like inviting you into my home.  I just have a huge closet full of dresses.

My bride yesterday had been shopping around and she showed me a picture of  her favorite gown from Davids Bridal.  It was priced at $1200 on sale for $1050.  I showed her at least 6 gowns that trumped the Davids Bridal gown that were all between $499 and $900.  Still think you get a better deal at Davids?  Depending on the alterations she needs she will have the perfect dress, alterations and all for less than the ticket cost of the other forgotten dress.

Vintage inspired style 7124 is priced at $799 strapless, $859 as shown and $999 modest

.

Please don't be intimidated by our beautiful store or by making an appointment.  Your time with us is at no cost and it is our mission to help you define and find your perfect gown.  No matter your budget, time frame or situation, we have beautiful, high quality gowns priced from $500 to $2,000.  You will always get more for your money at The Gallery by Lynette.

Be sure to follow our blog for breaking news.  Find us on facebook and 24/7 info at www.lynettes.com

Congratulations Elizabeth Smart Gilmore

We are so excited for Elizabeth Smart and wish her the very best in her new married life. She and her new husband  Matthew, make such a cute couple.  Even though the wedding was only a month after the engagement announcement, I would tend to think that much more planning and time went into the event than was let out to the media.   Read More Here.  When planning your wedding it is important to jump on those dresses asap.  At The Gallery by Lynette we have literally thousands of gowns in stock but about 50% of the gowns we sell are special ordered in a different size, color or with design changes which necessitates an order.  Our Crystal Collection takes from 8 to 10 weeks to arrive and some Maggie Sottero gowns take 4-5 months so if you want as many choices as possible it is important to call as soon as you know you are getting married.  More info at Lynettes.com

Gown Shopping a Little Overwhelming?

Bridal shoppers say "I am so overwhelmed by all of this."

Wedding Gown Confusion: As I have chatted with prospective brides this season at wedding shows and as they schedule an appointment at The Gallery by Lynette we have heard one resounding statement again and again.  "I am so overwhelmed by all of this!"  Planning a wedding used to be a wonderful adventure with plenty of help along the way but has transitioned into too much information, too many choices thrown at you, racks and racks of dresses in every store and very little real little help to sort through it all. Much like a safari to a foreign country.  Bridal stores have literally turned into "retailers" selling "widgets" and it seems that their only goal is to get you to commit to any dress as quickly as possible and get you out the door to never see you again.  I bet this sounds familiar.

If you like the TLC show Say Yes to the Dress you will love shopping at The Gallery by Lynette

Say Yes to the Dress Style: We at The Gallery by Lynette have watched this transition with interest and recently made a bold move to change the way Utah shops for wedding gowns and attire.  If you love Say Yes to the Dress, the TLC show about the famous Kleinfeld bridal salon in Manhattan you will love our new store.  When you arrive you will be greeted by a friendly consultant who will put you at ease and assure you that our ultimate purpose is to help you navigate the literal sea of wedding gowns.  Instead of being bombarded by racks upon racks of white and ivory she will escort you to a private area where she will learn a little bit about you and your story.  Who you are and what excites you.  What feeling you want to create.  Level of modesty and budget concerns.  You can feel free to tell her anything because from that point on your consultant at The Gallery by Lynette will have no other purpose than to help you find the gown that will make you feel most beautiful and create a sweet memory for the rest of your life.

It only takes a moment to call to schedule your visit.  801-773-7435 which will save you time in the long run.

Scheduling your Visit: Because we sometimes fill up we recommend that you call ahead for an appointment so we can be ready for you when you arrive.  Click here for info on getting the most from your visit.  Please don't hesitate to walk in if you are in the area.  We welcome walk ins and will accommodate you if we can.

Geneva by Maggie Sottero available at The Gallery by Lynette

Affordability: I know what you are thinking.  "I can't afford to buy my wedding dress there."  That is absolutely not true.  Our new store is actually less expensive to operate than most of the local bridal shops.  As the cost in most stores has increased we have actually kept our prices the same or lower.  By having consultants who specialize in gowns, or accessories, or tuxedos you will receive exceptional service and attention at a surprisingly reasonable price.