Something Bridal Trunk Show This Weekend & Welcome to Hey Gorgeous! Formal Wear

 

New Formal Wear Owners happily networking! Reanna of Something Bridal and Valerie of Hey Gorgeous! Formal Wear.
Happily networking: owner Reanna of Something Bridal Boutique‘s launch party in San Luis Obispo. Pictured with fellow new shop owner, Valerie of Hey Gorgeous! Formal Wear in Grover Beach. Photography: Blake Andrews, SLOtography

San Luis Obispo is full of great local vendors that are coming together and that’s just one reason why this community is so special. Newest evidence of that are two new formal wear shops that have opened in the last month and joined our wedding ‘collaborative’. This week I really wanted to highlight their efforts and offerings. No longer do local couples necessarily need to venture down to Santa Barbara, LA, or San Francisco for their wedding garb. Something Bridal located in San Luis Obispo and Hey Gorgeous! Formal Wear in Grover Beach are the new kids on our block, joining wonderful vendors that already ‘keep it local’ like the talented Jennifer Allen of Something Blue and A Heart’s Desire Bridal here on our central coast. I’m happy to share these great new vendors and hope to see some real weddings with their contributions here at The Casitas Estate.

Walk into Hey Gorgeous! Formal Wear and you’ll likely be welcomed with shop owner Valerie Shumaker giving you a ‘Hey Gorgeous!’ shout out to start your shopping on a fabulous note—as it should be when you are walking in for a tuxedo, prom dress, or flower girl brainstorm session with Valerie. What I love about this lady’s vivacious and contagious enthusiasm is it all fits with why you are in her shop – not only will you have a great time at your wedding or spring formal but you’ll have a blast finding that perfect cocktail dress. Valerie is all about having you accessorized so you get a true feel of what your look could be as you try on a few of her offerings.

Are you looking at this for a knockout prom dress? Pop into see Valerie at Hey Gorgeous! Formal Wear!
Are you looking at this for a knockout prom dress? Pop into see Valerie at Hey Gorgeous! Formal Wear and see even more choices!  Photo: Memory Making Photography at The Casitas Estate

Valerie was just featured in last month’s New Times SLO. “I enjoy making everyone’s experience something that makes them want to come back,” she said. “I love to see them feel beautiful and find a look that makes them even more confident.”

Whether it is prom, your quinceanera or a fun trip to Vegas, Valerie will put you at ease.
Whether it is prom, your quinceanera, or a fun trip to Vegas, Valerie will put you at ease and find the right dress or tuxedo for your event. Photo: Samantha Periera, Memory Making Photography here at The Casitas Estate

Valerie is offering an incentive for groomsmen and the groom with a ‘rent 6 tuxes, and get #7 free’ and currently specializes in prom, cocktail, flowergirl, and bridesmaids dresses. Pop into Hey Gorgeous! Formal Wear in Grover Beach with your besties, you’ll be in great hands with Valerie’s talents, support, and savvy fashion sense.

Something Bridal Boutique‘s trunk show featuring eco-friendly designer Pure Magnolia starts this Friday, 3/4

Tony and I stopped in at new owner, Reanna Janowicz’s grand opening of Something Bridal Boutique and we were blown away with trends of color and separates as well as gowns that are sustainable, pretty cool offerings. Reanna currently carries these North American designers: AriaCicada BridalClaire Pettibone, and Pure Magnolia. I think that also counts as keeping it local, when it comes to who is making your designer gowns!

just one of Canadian designer, Patty Nayel's gowns that is vegan and made of organic cotton featured at Something Bridal Boutique, San Luis Obispo.
Love the pockets! Just one of designer, Patty Nayel’s gowns from Pure Magnolia. This gown is vegan and made of organic cotton, and featured at tomorrow and Saturday’s Trunk Show at Something Bridal Boutique, San Luis Obispo. Pick it up tomorrow and save yourself 10%!
Reanna is herself a native here, born and raised in SLO, her hubby in AG, and this life change event to go into business for herself is due in large part to now having an 18 month old son as our newest (and cutest) local. With a passion for sewing and love of fashion design, marrying her passion with a business degree sounds like a perfect combination for success to us.
With Reanna’s recent return from the NY Bridal Show, here are some trends she shared that you may see in your future: Color is huge, adding it to your dress. There’s also a move away from blush to nudes. One tip Reanna shared is that nude gowns may not have that stunning look on the hanger but when you put it on, you’ll love it.
A lot of dresses are also being hand-painteed with water colors. Separates are also huge, like bustiers with toppers that can paired with a sequined mini dress with a tulle ball gown skirt over. Of course, there is the trend to wear several dresses on your wedding day, (possibly started by those damn Kardashians!), but most brides can’t afford to do that. But, separates allow you to change it up–they are fun, offer a wow factor,  and your guests reaction will be “she changed looks!” They really are more doable financially for your big day.
On a budget?
Something Bridal is also carrying consignment gowns. Reanna will keep the dress for 90 days, the bride bringing it in gets 40% of any sale, and all the gowns currently are less than $1,000, with many around $700. It’s another great way to be environmentally friendly!  As lots of brides have a budget of under $1,000 it offers a great option–they come in dry cleaned, with minimal wear.

Tomorrow’s Trunk Show (March 4th) runs from 11-6PM, and continues this Saturday (March 5th) from 10-5PM. Something Bridal is offering 10% off on designer Patty Nayel (Pure Magnolia).

Cake Cathedral mini-cakes will be served with white wine. Jenny Perello, owner of Cake Cathedral, (a designer in her own rights), and featured on shows like David Tutera‘s Unveiled and My Fair Wedding will be creating these cakes, inspired by some of Pure Magnolia‘s printed dresses. Visit Reanna tomorrow and welcome her new business at Something Bridal‘s first trunk show! The store is located at 1349 Monterey St. in downtown SLO.