bridal – Castle Couture

March 13, 2020June 25, 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Like other businesses and retailers worldwide, we are closely monitoring the ongoing developments related to Coronavirus by keeping up with the World Health Organization and CDC for updates and directives. We appreciate you and will always have your health and best interests as our number one priority.

We want to reassure you that we recognize the importance of addressing your concerns and taking extra safety precautions to keep you and our staff safe and healthy.

What are some of the things we are doing to keep everyone safe?

Our entire team is healthy and ready to take care of you! We continue to follow applicable occupational health and safety regulations, every day – regardless of season or sickness. A few of our sanitation and cleaning measures are detailed below:

After each guest, all fitting rooms are sprayed down with disinfectant
After each guest, all items in the rooms are wiped down with disinfectant
Common areas are frequently wiped down with disinfectant
Employees are instructed to follow CDC best practices, such as frequent hand washing, to keep themselves and others safe

What if a staff member or you are ill or have been exposed to someone who is sick?

We are encouraging Castle Couture staff to remain home if they are ill or have had contact with someone who is ill. If you or someone you’ve been in contact with is feeling unwell, sick, or recovering from illness but still exhibiting outward symptoms (e.g., sniffling, runny nose, coughing), we respectfully request that you reschedule your appointment, if applicable, and do not come in to the store. Castle Couture is waiving all cancellation fees associated with our bridal and evening wear appointments until further notice.

What can you do to help?

Please reschedule your appointment, if applicable, if you are ill or have had contact with someone who is ill. It is not personal but a matter of public health, so please do not be offended if we request that you reschedule your appointment if we observe visible symptoms when you are here.

Please understand that, for now, we will exchange SMILES instead of handshakes and hugs. Your flexibility is appreciated if personnel, schedule, or store hour changes need to occur.

We will continue to closely monitor the situation and developments. Please know our commitment to a clean environment will always remain important. Stay in the loop for any changes and announcements by checking our social media outlets.

Thank you for your continued support as we navigate through this worldwide health concern together.

Castle Couture

January 4, 2020June 25, 2020

Bridal Gowns: Classic or Trendy?

Classic or Trendy? Find Out What the Queens of the Castle Would Wear on Their Big Day!

In the world of bridal, there are so many different styles and designers that it can be overwhelming for a bride to make a decision on her dream dress, especially when there are so many gorgeous pieces! We sat down with a handful of our expert bridal consultants to put them in the shoes of all our Castle Couture brides and find out what type of bride they would want to be on their wedding day. We wanted to know what their dream dress is, any advice they may have for a bride who is struggling to make a final decision and so much more!

Meet Christina Dougherty!

Christina Dougherty is a bridal stylist and team leader here and we had the luxury of chatting with her about all things bridal. When a bride comes in and asks for a “classic” bridal gown, what exactly does this mean to a consultant? What looks come to mind?
Christina explained that throughout her four years of working here, these are the looks that she would pull when getting that request: “When I hear a bride is looking for a more classic bridal gown, the first thing that comes to mind is a clean look. My first gown to pull would be a Pronovias or something with gorgeous, traditional lace that will always be in style.” Pronovias wedding gowns are known for their clean lines, beautiful Spanish lace, and timeless looks.

Although a look like this is something you could not go wrong with, not every bride wants to be traditional. Many brides who come in are looking for a gown that will shed light on their personality, be unique, and have the look that’s straight off the runway. Christina explained how a trendy gown can truly be something a little more edgy and different. For instance, this can include a plunging v-neck gown, low back, 3-D appliqués, or could even be a gown with a pop of color.

Our consultants are fabulous at what they do and are great at helping our brides find the dress of their dreams, but what happens when they are asked to pick out their dream gown? Christina expressed that her dream dress would be a classic style with a hint of edginess. Her dream dress would be something with long sleeves, a deep v-neck, and she would even love to wear a black bridal gown. (But mama Dougherty would not approve!)

Meet Kristen Lubrano!

Kristen Lubrano has been with Castle Couture for three years and has already experienced the beautiful chaos of planning her big day. (PS: She bought her gown from Castle Couture even before she started working with us.) What is so interesting about Kristen’s thoughts on a classic versus trendy bridal gown is that she would change everything about her big day look! She wore a traditional bridal gown for her wedding, but, if she were to plan her day all over again, she exclaimed that she would go with something much trendier and more fun. “I think if I were to have a vow renewal I would for sure do a lot of sparkles, a detachable train, and even feathers!”

Kristen, just like Christina, feels as though a trendier look would be a dress with color or maybe a sheer bodice, while something more classic and traditional would be an A-line with simple lace. Kristen’s best advice for a bride who is struggling to make a decision on her wedding gown would be to pick whatever you feel most beautiful wearing. All of the bridal gowns you try on are going to be gorgeous, but the only thing that matters is what makes you feel the most beautiful.

Meet Jamie Sorrentino!

Every bride has their own style and ideal dress for their wedding day and that’swhat makes your day so exciting to plan! So, what makes a classic or trendy bridal gown, according to Jamie Sorrentino, another of our bridal stylists? We spoke with her to see what her thoughts were on this topic. “When I hear someone is shopping for a more classic gown, I automatically think of a clean satin ball gown. But if someone asks me to pull more hot and trendy gowns, I will go for a gown with a cape or something other than white.”

When Jamie was asked what her dream dress would be, she explained how she is a complete mix of both a classic and trendy bride. On her wedding day, she would love to have an overskirt with lots of sparkles but still a touch of elegant lace. It can be hard to make a decision on what dress to wear for your big day and is sometimes very confusing. Even Jamie struggled to pick out what she would want to wear when she is a bride one day, so we asked if she had any suggestions for women going through something similar. “Enjoy every moment of dress shopping and bring your most trustworthy friends. We always suggest bringing no more than three guests; just your small core group to help you pick the dress of your dreams.”

Meet Amy Townsley!

The last bridal stylist we had the pleasure of sitting down with was Amy Townsley. Amy has been with Castle Couture for nearly four years and loves the world of weddings more than anyone you”l ever meet! Amy, just like our other stylists, feels as though she is a mix of both a trendy and classic bride. She would definitely want two looks for her wedding day: The first would be a totally clean-cut look with a gorgeous, off-the-shoulder gown for her ceremony. When it is time for the reception, she wants a fun, sparkly, short dress to spend the night partying in, all while wowing her guests.

It seemed to be an ongoing pattern that our consultants couldn’t decide between if they were a more classic or trendy bride and that is totally okay! Not everyone fits within a certain category and that is what makes all of our styles so unique. Amy’s advice for any bride shopping for her big day would be to always remember that no one can tell you how you feel. When you are shopping for the perfect gown, nine times out of ten you are going to get this gut feeling of just knowing this is the bridal gown for you. You want to feel the best you’ve ever felt in any article of clothing and just know this is the gown you want to spend your special day in.

Which do you prefer: a classic or trendy bridal gown? Let us know when you call us at 732-617-1414 to schedule your bridal appointment.

December 7, 2019June 25, 2020

Why Trunk Show Weekends Are Totally Worth the Hype

Recently engaged or planning to attend your best friend’s wedding or other special occasion requiring formal attire? We have you covered! It is time to grab your besties and start shopping. One of the most exciting parts about weddings is the joy that comes from going dress shopping with your closest friends. With so many designers and so many options, it can be overwhelming to find the style that complements you best.

When choosing the best weekend to go dress shopping, we wanted to deep dive into all the incentives and excitement that can come from joining your favorite designer at a trunk show weekend! Although this article is discussing bridal trunk shows specifically, the information in it applies to evening wear and prom trunk shows, too.

What Is a Trunk Show?

Let’s start with the basics: What is a trunk show? Why do I want to attend one? Trunk show weekends are special because this is when a designer will bring in a selection of gowns which are the top sellers or the newest arrivals to their collection. Most stores don’t have these particular dresses in stock yet and this is the perfect opportunity for you to try on your favorite designer. This is also a fabulous opportunity for you to be one of the first to see the designers’ newest looks for the upcoming season as well as finally wear that gown that you’ve been dreaming about. If you are already head over heels for a designer such as Allure, Matthew Christopher, or Hayley Paige, a trunk show is your chance to chat with their rep (or maybe even the designer!), try items from their latest season, and find the dress of your dreams!

Benefits of a Trunk Show

When it comes to bridal gown shopping, almost every bride begins to go overboard when it comes to pinning, reposting, and saving all her favorite styles and designers on social media. The beauty of a trunk show is this can be your chance to turn your Pinterest board into a reality. You have the opportunity to meet with the designer or representatives to make custom changes, design matching veils, or take home some fun designer swag!

Our stylists love trunk show weekends for just as many reasons as our brides do. They get to see all the latest styles, make our brides’ dreams come true, and hear the stories behind each one of the dresses whenever a representative comes to work with us. Jody Alvino, one of Castle Couture’s senior staff members – who has been working with our brides for nearly eight years – spoke with us about her favorite part of trunk show weekends: “My favorite part has to be giving the bride a broader selection of the designer that they love with all the latest styles.”

Common Trunk Show Questions

Most first-time bridal shoppers are not always familiar with what exactly a trunk show is and that is the exact reason why we felt it was so important to sit down and talk with our beautiful brides about it. Below we answered some of our most commonly asked questions when it comes to all things trunk shows.

Do I need an appointment?

Yes. In order to shop in our bridal department, you will need an appointment whether it is on a trunk show weekend or during the week. This is important because you will work with one of our expert stylists one-on-one and have someone answer every question you may have.

Can I try on other bridal gowns during my appointment?

100% yes. The bridal appointment you have during the trunk show weekend will allow you to try on not only our trunk show gowns but all the bridal gowns we have in the showroom.

Am I buying the stock piece?

No. As long as timing permits, you will be able to order a brand-new gown. As trunk show gowns are a selection of newer pieces that the brand has created, the gowns typically travel around the country from store to store nearly every weekend. (Another reason to be ready to say yes: these dresses leave our store on Monday!) We will place a special order your gown, which will not only be brand new but be a much closer fit to your body than the stock piece.

Will I be able to try the trunk show piece again?

This is one of the most common questions we receive, and it hurts us to say you cannot. As previously mentioned, these gowns are here for one weekend only. After our last appointments on Sunday afternoon, the dresses are prepared to be shipped to the next store where the next set of lucky brides get to try on these beautiful dresses.

Can I customize the trunk show gown?

The beauty of working with bridal gowns is that because they are designed for you and your big day, nine times out of ten you will be able to customize a trunk show piece, whether this means adding sleeves, extra buttons, or even more bling. The possibilities are endless! This can be even more exciting when working directly with the designer on this special weekend because the creativity that flows out of them is truly magical.

If you are interested in booking your bridal appointment for an upcoming trunk show, make sure to give us a call at 732-617-1414 so we can get you one step closer to your happily ever after!