Everything you need to know about wedding dress shopping - A Q&A with Gilded Social Bridal Boutique
There are so many big decisions that go into your wedding day but few are as important as the wedding dress you wear but the options seem to be endless. We teamed up with, Tanya Hartman owner of the amazing bridal boutique Gilded Social, to create this wedding dress shopping guide to answer your questions on wedding dresses and what you can expect when you go searching for the perfect dress for you.
So, let’s dive in!
If we haven’t met yet, hi! I’m Lindsey Nickel and I’m a local Sonoma and Napa wedding planner and the owner of Lovely Day Events. Since 2010, I have helped stylish, fun-loving couples (and their dogs) plan destination weddings. Our clients want the ceremony to be outside, the food to be outstanding, and the dance parties to be epic. If this sounds like you, you’re in the right place, so you might want to learn more about our wedding planning services.
I’m thrilled that Tanya took the time to answer questions about wedding dresses and share her best tips for wedding dress shopping. She is the owner of Gilded Social bridal boutique, which is the most personal bridal boutique in Ohio. She has been in love with weddings her entire life, she even had a wedding binder growing up and poured over Martha Stewart weddings. I had the honor of being her wedding planner and we’ve been friends ever since.
Suzanne Karp Photography
Everything You Need to Know about Wedding Dress Shopping
Q & A with Tanya Hartman of Gilded Social
What are the most popular wedding dress styles for this year?
What is the cost of the average wedding dress and what is the range in prices overall?
How do you decide on which style of dress will best suit your shape?
What styles are known for providing comfort and ease of movement throughout the wedding day?
How does one determine which dress fabrics work best for them?
What accessories such as veils, headpieces, or belts are most popular?
What tips do you have for attending your wedding dress appointment?
What is wedding dress preservation and why (or why not) should people do it?
What should every bride know before heading to her wedding dress appointment?
Breakdown of Styles, Necklines, Sleeves, Embellishments, & Fabrics in Wedding Dresses (with photos)
Meet Tanya Hartman (owner & Expert Bridal Stylist) with Gilded Social
Milou and Olin Photography
Answers To The Most Asked Wedding Dress Shopping Questions
with Tanya Hartman owner of Gilded Social
We asked Tanya the most important questions from soon-to-be brides looking for their perfect wedding dress. We will cover which styles are most popular, styles that are losing some steam, what you can expect when you visit a bridal shop, and what price range should you be anticipating for your purchase.
Madison with Bolero by Kelly Faetanini at Gilded Social
Alys (Blue Willow) by Anne Barge at Gilded Social
Q: What are the most popular wedding dress styles for this year?
Tanya: Dresses with sleeves, square or rounded necklines, and dual looks (or one look for the ceremony and one for the reception) are all very popular right now. Also, high necklines, strapless dresses, and ball gowns are gaining in popularity this year and are definitely on trend.
Brookside (Blue Willow) by Ann Barge at Gilded Social
Kylie by Antonio Gual at Gilded Social
Q: Which styles are seeing a downturn in popularity?
Tanya: Dresses with plunging necklines, true mermaid silhouettes, and tulle skirts are losing some of their draw but will always be classics.
Saint by Kelly Faetanini at Gilded Social
Millie (Blue Willow) by Ann Barge at Gilded Social
Q: What is the cost of the average wedding dress and what is the range in prices overall?
Tanya: Our average bride spends about $3,700 on her bridal look including a dress, veil, and other accessories. You can expect a dress from our special order collection to range from $2,000 - $8,000+ and our off-the-rack collection ranges from $300 - $2,000.
Isla by Kelly Faetanini at Gilded Social
Perry (Liv) by Kelly Faetanini at Gilded Social
Q: What are questions that brides-to-be should be asking themselves and the stylist when looking for their perfect wedding dress?
Tanya:
Can I move the way that I want to in this dress?
Are there any curations?
How well will the dress fit me when it comes in?
What are some things I should be thinking about to prepare my dress for the big day? Will it need to be steamed, for example?
Any special things I should know about wearing this dress on the big day? Does it need a bustle? Does it have a lace-up corset? Does it have any removable parts? Customizations to the dress that can make it exactly what I want it to be in production instead of waiting until alterations?
How long does it take for the dress to arrive if we have to order it?
How long does your seamstress need for alterations?
Aldo (Rosa Clara) by Aire Barcelona at Gilded Social
Andy (Rosa Clara) by Aire Barcelona at Gilded Social
Q: How do you decide on which style of dress will best suit your shape? How can you identify your body shape?
Tanya: I find it best to assess each individual bride’s shape and personal style when she’s trying on dresses rather than blanketly saying that - for example, someone with an apple shape would look better in a ballgown. Sometimes it’s not that simple and that can be limiting for a bride when she’s looking for inspiration prior to her bridal appointment. Instead, the most important thing when you’re trying on dresses is to communicate with your stylist things that you like and do not like about your look in each dress so that she can help you carefully hone your look until you’ve found the ONE.
Adelaide (Liv) by Kelly Faetanini at Gilded Social
Rhinebeck (Blue Willow) by Anne Barge at Gilded Social
Q: Which neckline is going to work best for you?
Tanya: This is personal preference, in my experience, for the most part. Two brides who are busty may choose opposite necklines based upon their own personal style, for example. One may want to show cleavage and one may not. Each is going to gravitate towards totally different styles.
Renata (skirt) & Ren (Dress) by Kelly Faetanini at Gilded Social
Yauri (Rosa Clara) by Aire Royale by Gilded Social
Q: Are there any specific considerations for outdoor or destination weddings when choosing a dress style?
Tanya: For outdoor weddings, I would say not so much. Sometimes brides gravitate towards sleeves if they’re getting married in a colder month, but I always say - bridal sleeves are not designed for warmth. Don’t think that you’ll get any kind of relief from the cold by picking a lacey sleeve. Instead, plan for some kind of cover-up if you’re really worried about the cold.
On the flip side, a dress with lots of crinoline underneath can really put off some warmth so I’d think about that if you’re planning for a summer outdoor wedding. You may want to consider a removable crinoline option so you can have volume when you want it and remove it when you don’t.
For destination weddings, how you intend to transport the dress to the destination will be critical to how she ultimately looks on the day of the wedding. But don’t let this limit your style! Every dress can make it anywhere - it just takes careful and thoughtful preparation and planning.
Alessandria (Blue Willow) by Anne Barge at Gilded Social
Gaspar (Rosa Clara) by Aire Boho at Gilded Social
Q: What styles are known for providing comfort and ease of movement throughout the wedding day?
Tanya: Fitted dresses in a stretchy fabric like crepe or A-line dresses with a flowy skirt are always going to be easy to move in while still being comfortable.
Turner Ballgown (Blue Willow) by Anne Barge at Gilded Social
Truett (Blue Willow) by Anne Barge at Gilded Social
Q: How does one determine which dress fabrics work best for them?
Tanya: This is all personal preference. There’s no better way to determine this than to just start trying things on and feel the differences between them. You may love the look of a structured fabric like Mikado but not like how it feels on but you won’t know that until you try it. Be sure to communicate with your stylist about what you like and do not like during your try-on so that she can think about the next style to pull for you.
Avelina (Blue Willow) by Anne Barge at Gilded Social
Annur (Rosa Clara) by Aire Barcelona at Gilded Social
Q: What is the typical timeline for ordering and alterations?
Tanya: Most of our gowns can be ordered on a 16-18 week timeline but some can take as long as 24 weeks and other designers can take even longer than that. In our shop, I recommend ordering your dress about 10-12 months ahead of your wedding. This way you’ll have plenty of time for shipping and alterations without any kind of stress in between. It also alleviates FOMO if you pick your dress too early. Ordering on this timeline will allow you to choose from everything that would be available to order in time anyway. If you shop too early, more styles could come out later that you may wish you would have considered!
Typically, we like to allow for at least 3 months for alterations, but we can get them done faster depending on the year. More than 3 months out and most brides have too many body changes to get the most accurate fit for the wedding day without adding cost and stress!
So a typical timeline for say, an October wedding, would be to shop in January, your dress arrives in May, and you go in for alterations in July. This ensures that every style you could realistically choose from will be in the store, there will be time to withstand a shipping delay or take care of any issue that could arise in production, and there will be plenty of time for your seamstress to get a perfect fit!
Q: How long is a typical appointment?
Tanya: Most stores allow 1.5 hours for appointments, but we actually book 2 hours for our appointments because we want to be sure you aren’t rushed and have plenty of time to order at the end of your appointment.
Q: What alterations are commonly needed for wedding dresses?
Tanya: Nearly every dress needs at least a hem and a bustle - and often this can be the most expensive part. Most brides also generally need some kind of nip and a tuck throughout the bodice or waist, but it really just depends on how accurate your stylist is when she’s measuring and ordering your dress.
Oakland Veil (Blue Willow) by Anne Barge at Gilded Social
Raquel Couture Bow (Blue Willow) by Anne Barge at Gilded Social
Q: What accessories such as veils, headpieces, or belts are most popular?
Tanya: Contrary to popular belief, almost every bride wears a veil. Some choose hair pieces instead, but veils are definitely the most popular choice. In fact, I often say, even if you don’t think you are a veil gal - get a short cheap one anyway and just take 10 minutes of photos with it. That way if you ever wish you had worn one, you still have some photos and don’t have FOMO.
Belts are on a downswing, in my observation. There is so much beautiful detail on dresses right now that belts just aren’t needed as much. Even most clean looks have some kind of fabric element to it that gives it some interest.
Q: What tips do you have for attending your wedding dress appointment?
Tanya: Bring the right people with you! Make sure your people are cheerleaders. Devil’s advocates really steal joy in these appointments. And REALLY limit your crew. A lot of opinions are just not helpful and can cloud the mind.
Be open and honest with your stylist about what you’re liking and not liking. That can really help you be efficient with your try-on process. It can be quite exhausting to try on a lot of dresses - so the faster you find her, the better, in my opinion.
Go into your appointment with the intention to purchase. Having a bridal appointment to “just get ideas” can be agony. On that note, avoid the temptation to schedule with every shop in town right out of the starting gate. Do your research ahead of time and book your first appointment or two with the shop or shops that you connect with most. And remember, it’s OK to say YES at the first shop you visit! You chose them first for a reason.
Q: What are your best bustling tips?
Tanya: Your bustle style will be determined by the style of the dress and your seamstress’ capabilities. But be sure that you bring whoever is going to be bustling your dress on the wedding day to your final fitting to learn how to do it with the seamstress. At a minimum, make sure that they practice once before the moment when you actually need to be bustled - either the day before or the morning of! Practice truly does make perfect. I have seen too many dresses come back for preservation that the bustle was done so incorrectly it’s shocking that the bride was able to enjoy her reception!
Q: What is wedding dress preservation and why (or why not) should people do it?
Tanya: Brides should keep in mind - your dress WILL get dirty the day of. Don’t let it ruin your wedding day! Having an emergency kit on hand to fix stains or mishaps can be helpful - but only if you know how to use all of the tools and they are carefully selected for your dress’ fabric. Most of the time, it’s better to just let the show go on and not worry about anything that happens after you put the dress on.
Instead, have a plan ahead of time to have the dress cleaned and preserved so you know it’ll be as good as new when you keep it long-term. Every gown, at some point during the wedding, will get some kind of sugar stain on it. Sugar stains are what cause these delicate fabrics to disintegrate and discolor over time and most dry clear so you might think you didn’t get one but nearly every gown gets one. (Think of that old t-shirt with armpit stains that just never go away no matter how much you wash it - those armpit stains are sugar stains.) The preservation process alone ensures that these stains are removed - even a regular dry clean won’t do it. But the good news is that gown preservation service typically includes a clean too, so you don’t have to pay for both. Preserved gowns come in a pretty, sturdy box to make them easy to store for generations to come.
I recommend that everyone get their dress cleaned and preserved. Even if you’re not sentimental, you just don’t know if a gal from a future generation may be! The only reason I would recommend not having a gown preserved is if she intends to sell it right after the wedding. In that case, a clean is still certainly necessary, but perhaps not also preservation.
Soren with bow by Kelly Faetanini at Gilded Social
Nyssa by Kelly Faetanini at Gilded Social
Q: What should every bride know before heading to her wedding dress appointment?
Tanya: Formulate the logistics of your day to ensure your dress priorities are met. For example, if you want your dress to be pristine for the ceremony, I would recommend not taking any photos ahead of time and putting your dress on right before you walk down the aisle. This can limit photos to just your cocktail hour, though, which some couples don’t want to miss. If photos are your priority rather than how the dress looks during your ceremony, have a first look and take all of your photos beforehand! Leave about an hour between photos and the ceremony so that you can fix any issues as best as possible before you walk down the aisle.
Breakdown of Styles, Necklines, Sleeves, Embellishments, & Fabrics in Wedding Dresses
Arrowood Photogrpahy
Styles of Wedding Dresses
Here are the definitions and examples of the most well-known styles of wedding dresses.
Antonella (Blue Willow Collection) by Anne Barge at Gilded Social
A-Line Wedding Dress - Slightly more flowy than a ball gown, A-lines have fitted bodices through the waist and cascade out towards the ground, resembling the outline of an uppercase "A." Ideal for all body types.
Vanessa by Antonio Gual at Gilded Social
Sheath / Column Wedding Dress - a fitted, straight-cut dress, often nipped at the waistline with no waist seam. This style is great for lean frames, athletic builds, or hourglasses that want to flaunt their curves.
Noor by Kelly Faetanini at Gilded Social
Basque Waist Wedding Dress- a bodice with a form-fitting silhouette designed to hug the waistline. Unlike a traditional corset, a basque design extends past the waistline, creating a slight cover over the hips. Most basque waists feature two angled seams that form a triangular shape at the lower front of the bodice.
Andy (Rosa Clara Collection) by Aire Barcelona at Gilded Social
Ball Gown Wedding Dress - The most popular “princess-style” wedding gown. The ball gown has a fitted bodice and a full skirt. This style is ideal for most body types but can be overwhelming on petites with very small frames.
Avelina (Blue Willow Collection) by Anne Barge at Gilded Social
Drop Waist Wedding Dress- the waistline of a dress, gown, or the like when it is placed at the hips rather than at the natural waist.
Naomi Curve Couture (Blue Willow Collection) by Anne Barge at Gilded Social
Mermaid Wedding Dress - a fitted silhouette that hugs the body from the chest down to the knees or mid-thighs, where the skirt flares out into a dramatic mermaid “tail”. This is a popular style as it shows off your curves.
Pexels
Empire Waist Wedding Dress - a style in clothing in which the dress has a fitted bodice ending just below the bust, giving a high-waisted appearance, and a gathered skirt which is long and loosely fitting but skims the body rather than being supported by voluminous petticoats.
Adele (Rosa Clara Collection) by Aire Barcelona at Gilded Social
Natural Waist Wedding Dress - Another fairly easy one to understand as it is a dress that fits on your natural waistline so not empire, drop waist, etc.
Samantha by Character Exclusives at Gilded Social
Strapless Wedding Dress - This one probably doesn’t need much explanation but, just in case, it is a dress without shoulder straps.
Sonnia by Antonio Gual at Gilded Social
Trumpet or Fit-and-Flare Wedding Dress - Fitted through the waist and flaring out at or below the hips this dress really accentuates a small waist and looks great on hourglass figures and petites.
Turner (Blue Willow Collection) by Anne Barge at Gilded Social
Tea Length Wedding Dress - denoting a dress or skirt of a length that falls above the ankle and below the knee.
Pexels
Pantsuit - a pair of pants and a matching jacket. Often seen in the “office” but can be wedding attire with the right fabrics and embellishments.
Pexels
High-Low Hemline Wedding Dress - features an asymmetrical hemline that is higher in the front and longer in the back. This unique style creates a striking and modern silhouette that has become increasingly popular among brides looking for something a bit different from the traditional wedding gown.
Jane (JLM Couture Collection) by Lazaro Occasions at Gilded Social
Jumpsuit - A one-piece garment, with the bottom falling into either trousers or shorts. Great for all body types!
Necklines of Wedding Dresses
Here are the definitions and examples of the most well-loved necklines for wedding dresses.
Janet (Rosa Clara Collection) by Aire Barcelona at Gilded Social
Halter Neckline Wedding Dress - a piece of clothing with straps that connect behind the neck so that the upper back and shoulders are not covered.
Confetti (Blue Willow Collection) by Anne Barge at Gilded Social
Sweetheart Neckline Wedding Dress - the neckline of a dress or other piece of clothing (= the shape made by the edge of it at the front of the neck) that is cut low in the middle at the front and shaped like the top of a heart.
Rhinebeck (Blue Willow Collection) by Anne Barge at Gilded Social
Modified Sweetheart Neckline Wedding Dress - the same as the sweetheart neckline but with a more dramatic dip or V in the front.
Brookside (Blue Willow Collection) by Anne Barge at Gilded Social
Plunge Neckline Wedding Dress - A (very) low-cut neckline, found on some dresses and other garments.
Quiana (Rosa Clara Collection) by Aire Beach at Gilded Social
Scoop Neckline Wedding Dress - a deeply curved wide neckline on a garment.
Kiva (Rosa Clara Collection) at Gilded Social
Spaghetti Strap Neckline Wedding Dress - (also called a noodle strap) is a very thin shoulder strap used to support clothing while providing minimal shoulder straps over otherwise bare shoulders.
Madison with Bolero by Kelly Faetanini at Gilded Social
Illusion Neckline Wedding Dress - Illusion necklines utilize both solid and sheer fabrics to create an illusion of a full-coverage top. The solid fabric covers the bust area in one type of neckline, while the sheer fabric usually extends up to the collar bone in the same, or different, neckline type. (Definition from PennyPincherFashion.com)
Alys (Blue Willow Collection) by Anne Barge at Gilded Social
Square Neckline Wedding Dress - dips down and has the sharp structured outline of a square.
Molly by Characters Exclusives at Gilded Social
Strapless Neckline Wedding Dress - This is another one that most people know what it means but just in case, it is without shoulder straps.
Amber Fit to Flare by Kelly Faetanini at Gilded Social
Tank Neckline Wedding Dress - this neckline mimics that of a tank top or a tight-fitting sleeveless top or dress with wide shoulder straps, a low neck, and no front opening.
Adelaide (Liv Collection) by Kelly Faetanini by Gilded Social
V-Neck Neckline Wedding Dress - a neck that has an opening shaped like the letter V (not too tricky of a name).
Antonia by Antonio Gaul at Gilded Social
Bateau Neckline Wedding Dress - a wide neckline that follows the line of the collarbone and is high in front and back
Sleeves for Wedding Dresses
Here are the definitions and examples of the most sought-after sleeve styles for wedding dresses.
Adi by Kelly Faetanini by Gilded Social
Off the Shoulder Wedding Dress - (aka Bardot neckline) The sleeves do not cover the shoulders and instead sit on the upper arms.
Adele (Rosa Clara Collection) by Aire Barcelona at Gilded Social
¾ Sleeve Wedding Dress - consisting of or involving three-quarters of a whole or of the usual length. Three-quarter sleeves end halfway between the elbow and the wrist.
Aldo (Rosa Clara) by Aire Barcelona at Gilded Social
Cap Sleeve Wedding Dress - a sleeve extending only a short distance from the shoulder and tapering to nothing under the arm.
Renata (skirt) & Ren (Dress) by Kelly Faetanini at Gilded Social
Long Sleeve Wedding Dress - a sleeve extending from shoulder to wrist.
Kaia (Rosa Clara Collection) at Gilded Social
One Shoulder Wedding Dress - the neckline sweeps down diagonally from one shoulder across the chest and under the other arm. This is considered to be an asymmetrical style as well.
Other Styles or Embellishments for Wedding Dresses
Here are the definitions and examples of other styles and embellishments for wedding dresses.
Ren by Kelly Faetanini by Gilded Social
Low-back wedding dress - a style of women's clothing designed to expose the wearer's back.
Naomi (Blue Willow Collection) by Anne Barge at Gilded Social
Ruched Wedding Dress - Ruching, a French term which translates as 'to gather, ruffle or pleat', is a centuries-old technique that involves the overlaying of fabric to create an almost rippling effect. Its current use consists of gathering fabric at a certain point of a garment to add a visually interesting element to designs. (definition by FashionUnited.com)
Joan by Kelly Faetanini by Gilded Social
Ruffled Wedding Dress - A ruffle is a pleated piece of decorative fabric often used as trim on clothes.
Madison by Kelly Faetanini at Gilded Social
Corset Wedding Dress - a woman's tightly fitting undergarment extending from below the chest to the hips, worn to shape the figure.
Amaretto (Blue Willow Collection) by Anne Barge at Gilded Social
Beaded Wedding Dress - a dress that is decorated with small beads in different colors, shapes, and sizes.
Nyssa by Kelly Faetanini at Gilded Social
Appliqued Wedding Dress - sewing technique in which fabric patches are layered on a foundation fabric, then stitched in place by hand or machine with the raw edges turned under or covered with decorative stitching.
Havana (Liv Collection) by Kelly Faetanini at Gilded Social
Embroidered Wedding Dress - is the skilled technique of embellishing and decorating a garment by hand, using stitches in silks and yarns and sometimes including sequins, beads, feathers, and pearls. (definition by BusinessofFashion.com)
Ophelia by Kelly Faetanini at Gilded Social
Key Hole Wedding Dress - a style of neckline similar to a halter-neck, where the converging diagonals of the neckline's construction meet at the front. But rather than there being solid fabric here, keyhole necklines have a central cutaway — the keyhole — just below the collarbone. (definition by BusinessofFashion.com)
Wedding Dress Fabrics
Here are the definitions and examples of fabrics for wedding dresses.
Felicity by Character Exclusives at Gilded Social
Chiffon Fabric Wedding Dress - Chiffon is a fabric that's light and silky and is made of silk, nylon, or rayon. It is airy and sheer and is therefore used in making lingerie and some types of dresses and blouses. If you want a rough, tough fabric, chiffon isn't the way to go.
Ryder (Blue Willow Collection) by Anne Barge at Gilded Social
Crepe Fabric Wedding Dress - a silk, satin, or synthetic fiber fabric with a distinctively crisp and crimped appearance.
Millie (Blue Willow Collection) by Anne Barge at Gilded Social
Lace Fabric Wedding Dress - fine open fabric, typically one of cotton or silk, made by looping, twisting, or knitting thread in patterns and used especially for trimming garments.
Westerly (Blue Willow Collection) by Anne Barge at Gilded Social
Organza Fabric Wedding Dress - a type of thin, stiff, transparent cloth made of silk or artificial thread.
Turner Ballgown (Blue Willow Collection) by Anne Barge at Gilded Social
Mikado Fabric Wedding Dress - lustrous but heavy fabric that holds the shape of the dress and is great for full and voluminous gowns.
Truett (Bleu Willow Collection) by Anne Barge at Gilded Social
Faille Fabric Wedding Dress - a soft, light-woven fabric having a ribbed texture and originally made of silk.
Rawson (Blue Willow Collection) by Anne Barge at Gilded Social
Satin Fabric Wedding Dress - a smooth, glossy fabric produced by a weave in which the threads of the warp are caught and looped by the weft only at certain intervals.
Eunie by Antonio Gual at Gilded Social
Shantung Fabric Wedding Dress - a dress fabric spun from tussore silk with random irregularities in the surface texture.
Accessories for Wedding Dresses
Here are the definitions and examples of trains and veil terms you will hear when shopping for your wedding dress.
Millie Train (Blue Willow Collection) by Anne Barge at Gilded Social
Cathedral Train- the train of the wedding gown or veil that makes for a grand entrance and runs between 108” - 120” long. This makes for a very dramatic look and is often seen in royal weddings or weddings that are taking place in very grand venues (hello castles and cathedrals).
Catalina (Blue Willow Collection) by Anne Barge at Gilded Social
Chapel Train - This is one of the most sought-after lengths of dress and veils with a length of around 3-4 feet (measured from the waist). These add drama to a dress without it going into the realm of royal wedding dresses with the cathedral trains.
Removable or Detachable Train - these are pieces that can be attached to your gown that gives more length or volume to a dress. It allows for more versatility which can help make your dress go from ceremony to reception without having to buy a different dress for each part of your wedding day.
Jany (Rosa Clara Collection) at Gilded Social
Sweep Train - a short train that does not necessarily reach the floor. It is so-called because it might just sweep the ground. These are perfect for brides who want a bit of drama but also the freedom to move without worrying about tripping over their dress.
Naomi Mini (Blue Willow Collection) by Anne Barge at Gilded Social
Short Wedding Dress - a gown that sits above the knee is the easiest definition but these can range from mini wedding dresses (around the thigh area) to grazing the knees so there is a lot of room for length in this category.
Unsplash
Floor Length Wedding Dress - a gown whose length just reaches the floor. Wedding dresses can start as floor length but with added trains (see above section for types) end up looking and flowing differently with the added length.
Meet Tanya Hartman (owner & Expert Bridal Stylist) with Gilded Social
Photo by Kismet Visuals (@kismetvisuals)
For 15 years, I worked in politics, fundraising, and government administration, until I finally decided to pursue two things I have always loved ~ small business ownership and weddings!
Gilded Social was “reborn” in 2018 after I purchased the shop, which specialized in styling bridesmaids, at the end of 2017. We moved the shop to Gay Street in the heart of downtown Columbus, Ohio, and added mother of the bride, flower girl, rehearsal dinner, and all kinds of fancy occasion dress styling.
In 2021, we established our bridal collection and knew right away we wanted to host Brides outside the hustle and bustle of the city. Our collection lived in a pop-up shop at the Buxton Inn in Granville, Ohio before we finally found our permanent home in 2022 on Elm Street, just a couple of blocks away in Granville’s historic district.
I've been a bride once, a bridesmaid three times, and a bachelorette party and bridal shower attendee countless times. To me, hosting a wedding, where all your people are in one place at one time, maybe for the only time EVER, is one of life’s greatest joys. It is MY honor that I get to be a small part of that special moment for women near and far.
A Little About Us (Lovely Day Events)
Hi, Lindsey Nickel here, Sonoma + Napa wedding planner and animal lover behind Lovely Day Events. I’ve been in the wedding industry for a long time. When I started my wedding planning business in 2010, Instagram and Google Drive did not exist (mind-blowing right!?!?). We’ve come a long way since then and I’ve learned A LOT about what makes a wedding beautiful, run smoothly, exceed the expectations of our clients, and leave guests talking about the wedding for weeks after the wedding.
Milou and Olin Photography
Our style is: calm and honest. This is true for the planning process (I will tell you if an idea you have won’t work out or if we’ve never tried that idea before) and on the wedding day (when your wedding planner is calm, it’s a lot easier for you to enjoy the day).
I very highly value our wedding vendor relationships. This means that I can recommend the vendors that are the best fit for your vision, style, and budget. I focus the majority of my marketing time and budget on going to lunch with vendors, talking through business ideas on the phone, and giving a thumbs up to their latest Facebook post. Relationships are so important on your wedding day as everyone is working together as a team. There is no “do-over” or “when we do this next year” for your wedding, this is why an experienced wedding planner with strong vendor relationships is the key to a smooth and beautiful wedding day.
“The wedding was way beyond our expectations (which were high already)! It was such a wonderful, joy-filled, stress-free, pleasant day. Our families and guests have raved about the event and we’ve gotten so many comments about how nice the vendors were.
Lindsey offered exactly the guidance we needed, from helping us select reputable and highly skilled vendors who are also wonderful people like her (trust her recommendations, you won’t regret it!) to little things like helping me figure out what kind of sunscreen wouldn’t ruin my dress or which restaurants in Napa had private space large enough for our rehearsal dinner!
I didn’t have to worry about a thing on the day of the wedding or even the days leading up to it.
Hiring Lindsey was easily the best decision we made.”
