*The Dress* Timeline

You are finally engaged-- YAY! Time to start all the planning + of course, shopping for your forever dress. You may think, "how soon is too soon to start shopping?" Great question! We are here with some tips and tricks on all things timeline for shopping for *The Dress*.

Q: How soon is too soon?

A: It is truly never too soon to start shopping! Allowing yourself ample time to explore all options is crucial. Not to mention, it gives you the time for customizations, alterations, + accessorizing!

Q: How long is an appointment at The Dress?

A: We are by appointment only, and give you our undivided attention for 90 minutes! To book an appointment with us, please go to our 'Appointments' tab on our website. :)

Q: How long will it take for my dress to come in?

A: On average, dresses take about 6-8 months to be produced + shipped. We recommend shopping at least one year in advance to give yourself enough time to get your dress in, complete alterations, + finalize all the beautiful details!

Q: Why does it take so long for my dress to come in?

A: All of our dresses are 'made to order' That takes time, so that is where the 6-8 month timeline comes into play. Having said that, dresses are not 'made to fit', meaning every bride's body is unique. As much as we work to determine the best size for her, 98% of brides need minor alterations to ensure the dress fit perfectly!

Q: When should I get alterations?

A: Typically, alterations take place 6-8 weeks before the wedding, with finishing touches put on a week or two before the wedding! However, we recommend looking for your seamstress as soon as you find *the dress*.

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We hoped this summed up all of your questions regarding the timeline for your forever

dress + all the little details that follow!

Thanks for reading + happy shopping! :)

Michaela

A Day To Remember!

... and we aren't referring to your wedding day!

We are here to talk about another "big day"! That's right-- the day you find your forever wedding dress! We are BIG advocates that this day should be as special as you want it to be, champagne and all. But you may think, how do I make this day as big + special as it seems? Well, we are here to give you some fun ideas of what to do before + after your appointment to really make the most of this monumental day while visiting us in Decorah!

MORNING OF BRIDAL APPOINTMENT:

The morning of your bridal appointment can be as exciting + active, or as laid back + relaxed as you want it to be! Luckily, we have both options for you! :)

THE BUSY BEE MORNING:

- Whether you are traveling near or far, coffee is a must! We recommend grabbing a delicious pumpkin spice cold brew + a yummy treat from Millstreet Mocha on your way into town! This will definitely put you on the right track to a fun filled day.

- If you are as busy bee of a gal as we know you are, you are going to want to make the most of this trip with your gals! Luckily there is all kinds of fun shops to check out before your appointment such as Rendered Unique to check out any last minute wedding decor or bridal party gifts.

- OF COURSE a big day like this requires some adorable pictures with your crew! Decorah has you covered. Right before your appointment, be sure to swing by the fun mural on the left side of the Vesterheim Museum, located right across the street from us! A perfect way to capture your big day with the gals

THE LAID BACK GAL:

- Love a slow, not rushed schedule? We have you covered! Luckily, Decorah offers some of the most stunning walking paths in all of Iowa. Start your day with a nice, slow walk around the beautiful Upper Iowa + along the bluffs to really bring you to the present moment. This could be solo, or with your bridal clan! Take in the views, have some good conversation, or just clear your mind before the hustle and bustle of this big day.

- If coffee is apart of your slow morning routine, we have just the place for you! Enjoy the coziness of Impact Coffee with their spacious lofted two story space, tasty custom drinks, + delicious Norwegian breakfast waffles.

FOLLOWING YOUR BRIDAL APPOINTMENT:

Following your appointment, there can be all of the emotions! Excitement + giddiness hopefully being the main ones. There are two types of people following a big moment like this! We have just the things to do, depending on your personality. :)

THE BIG CELEBRATOR:

- Love a big moment + any reason to celebrate? Us too! No better time to celebrate than when you find the perfect dress for your love story. Following your "yes to the dress" moment, we recommend taking your people to celebrate at The Landing for custom cocktails, tons of food options, + outdoor seating.

- Pop the champagne! Of course, champagne is always a yes from us. You bring the champagne, we'll bring the good vibes. Not to mention, once you are done celebrating with a toast, you can cross the street + pick up some preordered yummy desserts from Beyond The Bar.

THE REFLECTOR:

- Do big moments overwhelm you? Don't love to have all eyes on you? We have just the perfect afternoon for you! Grab a quiet bite to eat alone or with a close friend or family member following your appointment at the new town fav, Blazing Star. Enjoy a special moment of peace to really take in this lovely day!

- This day is truly all about you, so why not finish it off that way? We love a good self care day, and think you would too! Relax + reflect at the truly peaceful Day Spring Spa. There is nothing quite like a good massage to really bring you back to yourself.

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Whether you want a busy + glamorous day, or want slow + meaningful moments, Decorah has enough to do to offer both! Make your special day even better with friends, family, coffee, beautiful views, or reflective moments. <3

xoxo,

Michaela

A Wedding For Every Enneagram!

If you are like us-- you are enneagram obsessed. If you are unfamiliar with the enneagram scale, no worries! You are about to be obsessed!

Kidding, just a little. Before you go any further, though, feel free to go take this quick quiz to figure out what enneagram you are.

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Okay, now that we have that covered, let's get to the fun stuff!

Here at The Dress, we know every bride is incredibly different + unique in their own ways. However, we did some digging to find fun wedding planning ideas that really compliment our gorgeous brides + their special days-- all based on their personality types! Fun, right? That's what we thought! Check out each enneagram type below + wedding ideas that may just speak to you on a personal level. :)

Enneagram One: The Perfectionist

One's are rational perfectionists. They love to have control, but thrive on relaxation. That being said, they will have a timeless and classic wedding that is well planned in advance, so they can enjoy every aspect of their day! They love all things sentimental + beautiful, so you are sure to see all of the gorgeous, simple decor on their wedding day.

Enneagram Two: The Helper

Enneagram two's are empathetic, sincere, and warm hearted. They are extremely kind, with a ton of friends who they go above and beyond for! That being said, their wedding is sure to be a blast for all involved with lots of snacks, exciting music, and all the whimsical decor. They are known as the "helper" so they will definitely be contributing to all the wedding day prep! Two's love their people, hard. As long as they have all of the special people in their lives by their side, they are happy.

Enneagram Three: The Achiever

Ambitious, energetic, + charming, three's are the go-getters. With a large social circle, they will likely have a large ceremony, with gorgeous details! Described as gentle and professional, they are sure to have a feminine chic style that is effortless. No wedding planner is necessary, three's have it covered! They have a special eye for detail + love getting things done, so you can expect to see elaborate (and maybe even DIY) decor at their wedding.

Enneagram Four: The Individualist

The enneagram four bride is the individualist. As the "romantics" of the enneagram, they adore love and affection, so an intimate wedding is perfect for them. In addition, they love to surround themselves with beauty, so all details of their wedding will be elegant and simple! Though the wedding may be small, it does shy away from unique details. Four's love a special moment, like a retro photo booth, live music, or made to order decor.

Enneagram Five: The Observer

A five is independent, innovative, and inventive. They are always asking questions, and wanting to understand their environment. That being said, they will be sure to hire the perfect crew to make their special day go smoothly (while also learning a thing or two from them). They love all small details, so give them all the lace, beads, and florals! They will no doubt want to relive this special day, so having the perfect videographer + photographer is a must.

Enneagram Six: The Loyalist

An enneagram six is known as the loyalist. They are very loyal to all of their friends and family, making them a great friend and partner! With a strong social circle, 6's are sure to have a large wedding party, that is sure to bring the fun! They are also very trusting and responsible, so hiring a wedding planner to arrange all the details is crucial. They will no doubt go for a bold + striking look + decor, as they never stick to the "status quo".

Enneagram Seven: The Adventurer

Spontaneous, versatile, and high spirited, sevens are the adventure seekers! They are the destination wedding goers and the non-traditionalists. They will be sure to have a one of a kind day, with all their favorite people there. With boho decor and laid back details, 7's are happy with the small moments a wedding day brings! Their dress will be one for the ages, with some fun+ eye catching accessories to tie the look all together. When you attend a 7's wedding, you will no doubt know it filled with gorgeous views, unique food + drinks, + a laid back schedule.

Enneagram Eight: The Challenger

Eights are confident + decisive. They love to control all aspects of a big event! Everything about their big day will be intentional + strategically planned. That being said, they will wow their guests with a choreographed first dance, a stunning indoor venue, and a big first look reveal. With one-of-a-kind decor, dress, venue, + florals, 8's go all out for their big day!

Enneagram Eight: The Peacemaker

The enneagram nine bride is easy going, accepting, and optimistic. They want to create harmony within their environment, so their day will be nothing short of peaceful. A 9 will have creative aspects at their wedding, like fun food trucks + custom made drinks. Their dress will be nothing short of unique, so give them all the intricate details! We hope you like sweets when attending a 9's wedding, because they will most likely have the best dessert table around!

...that is all NINE enneagrams. We hope you loved reading about all the different wedding ideas for all the different personality types, and we hope you read some that really resonated with you!

If you loved this blog post, head over to our Instagram and comment on our latest reel which enneagram you related most to. We would love to hear!

xoxo,

Michaela