Saying Yes to the Dress

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I found my dress on the first day of shopping and am in love!


I was not a bride who knew exactly what kind of dress I wanted, but instead I knew what I did not want. Princess gowns, lace, and tulle were out. I am very petite and did not want to be swimming in fabric. I wanted a mix between a mermaid dress and a full skirt that started at a natural waste, which after a long day of dress shopping I found the perfect mix a fit-n-flare.


My first stop was Wedding Belles. I tried on about 8 dresses but there was one I couldn’t stop looking at myself in and it took my breath away. However, it was at the top of my budget, so with accessories and alterations I would have gone over. Its like the picture below minus the one shoulder strap and sash. Besides the price, it was perfect! But I knew I had 2 other appointments so we moved on.


Next stop, Weddings 826. I only liked 1 dress and it definitely competed with the first one. I loved the top of the 2nd dress but the skirt of the first dress. The top was like the one in the picture below; it had a dramatic sweetheart cut. I wanted to put the two dress together to make my perfect dress, but I couldn’t. So I took pictures and moved on to White Chicago.



At this point, it was 5pm and we were all a bit tired. After pulling the gowns off the rack, I was convinced my dress wasn’t there. I tried on five dress and the very last one was it. It was the perfect fitted top that was tight all the to my hips, but then had a full skirt with a long train. There are buttons all the way down the back and on the skirt. And…it was WAY under my budget. I know have a lot more money to work with to buy great shoes, jewelry and a veil. The best picture I could fine without posting me in the dress is the one below. I am SO excited and can’t wait to wear it!



Is it December 16th yet??

Bridal Event: Join Us at Meet the Experts

Honey Bee Weddings will be at this event! Please join us…

whiteCHICAGO is hosting the 2ndAnnual “Meet the Experts: Arming the Recessionista Bride” event – whiteCHICAGO and other panelists including a top Wedding Planner, Professional Photographer, Financial Guru and Floral Designer will answer questions and give the inside scoop on how to save some cash! This is a “bride-to-be” event – no presentations, just their questions drive the discussion and our expert panelists simply arm them with budget savings tips so their wedding goes off without a hitch!

Appetizers courtesy of The Drawing Room, St. Germain cocktails and wine will be served.

Wednesday, January 26th
6-8PM
Please RSVP to rebecca@bettiebombpr.com

Spoil Mom Without Breaking the Bank


Just in time for Mother’s Day! WhiteCHICAGO is hosting a one-weekend only Mother of the Bride dress sale Friday May 7th (11am-6pm) & Saturday May 8th (10am-6pm). Tons of designer Mom dresses at way below retail price as well as 50-80% off shoes and accessories.


Check out a list of some of the dresses you can expect to see here. Check often as more are added daily!

Consign your dress!


Real Wedding: Aimee + Jay

Aimee and Jay… or should I say Jay and Aimee?

For the first time in my career, I dealt with the groom while coordinating their wedding.  Jay was an excellent planner and I welcomed the experience.  Below are some great photos from the day.  All photos are by Priscilla from Bellisima Photography.  Thank you Priscilla!
Aimee’s gorgeous gown from White Chicago was embellished with a beautiful broach.


The couple had planned to be married at Holy Name.  Due to the unexpected repairs, they moved their wedding to Assumption Catholic Church.


The couple exited to bubbles!


After the ceremony, the couple took photos around the city.


Under the bride with their entire Bridal Party.


The reception was held at the Galleria Marchetti


The couple surprised me by starting their first dance!  The party had just begun.


Stay tuned for more photos tomorrow of all of the details!

Bridal Event- Veils & Vino Trunk Show

Veils and Vino Trunk Show Sexy, ’40s Glamour, Princess,Destination Goddess…

Whatever your look, let white CHICAGO & expert Lori London be your personal stylist!De-stress and have some fun (and wine)while you find the perfect veil, bling or flower flair for your hair.

Friday, April 25 & Saturday, April 26
white CHICAGO
222 W. Huron
Appointments required 312.397.1571

Receive a 10% discount during the show! Bring your dress or a gown swatch to find the perfect match.

White Chicago’s 2nd Annual "Dress Drive"

Help fight breast cancer with your wedding gown! On Monday, March 3rd, from 12 noon to 6 p.m., white CHICAGO is dedicating the day to collecting gowns for donation to Brides Against Breast Cancer.

For the “dress drive,” white CHICAGO and Brides Against Breast Cancer are in need of contemporary style gowns, slips and veils that are less than 7 years old. Also, a copy of a tag or a receipt is helpful, as this will assist in pricing the dress and/or accessory for resale. Due to the extensive inventory of vintage, antique and retro gowns, we ask that you withhold your contribution of dresses that were designed prior to the year 2000.

A non-for-profit organization, Brides Against Breast Cancer is hosting its annual gown sale at the Wyndham Chicago Hotel, March 6th – 8th, which gives 100% of the proceeds to breast cancer research. Last year, white CHICAGO and their brides donated over 70 wedding gowns, worth $220,000, to Brides Against Breast Cancer and hope to double that amount this year.
“Brides Against Breast Cancer” continues to be the Making Memories Foundation’s number one fund-raising event across the nation. Over 32 shows every year enable brides-to-be to find the gown of their dreams, at an incredible savings, while making wishes and dreams come true for women and men diagnosed with terminal breast cancer.

white CHICAGO, 222 W. Huron, Chicago/312.397.1571 www.whitechicago.com

More Bridal Events

You asked for events, I will give you events!

  • Brides-to-be who purchase a gown on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in January at White Chicago (222 W. Huron St.; 312-397-1571) receive a complimentary Lori London designer veil.
  • Macy’s aka The Evil Empire that Replaced Marshall Field’s– (111 N. State St.; 312-781-3545) hosts a Watters & Watters trunk show on Jan. 4th through 6th in the bridal salon, featuring the wedding and bridesmaid gowns. Appointments are suggested.

Perils of Dress Shopping

After another full day of dress shopping, I came home empty handed. After 8 hours of dress shopping, my dear MOH and best friend went on the computer to find some dresses I might like. She’s such a sweetheart!

One of the contenders. It is pretty…but the neckline isn’t exactly what I want! We all agree- the sweetheart neckline is the best look for me.

My requirements: sweetheart neckline, mermaid bodice, and rhinestones! They are very similar to Mrs. Eggplant’s requirements. What is even more ironic is that we have the same dress dress- ML Swan Lake– but we both feel that it won’t look right on our petite frame.

My MOH found some dresses– but not are quite it.

I don’t like the seperate bustier from dress look.

Not sexy enough!

Fabulous but I don’t think it will elongate me.

We’re going dress shopping again in a few weeks. If I cannot find any other dress, then I plan to go back to White Chicago to buy this Amsale dress.

Event Review: Anna Post at White Chicago

Last year, I met Peggy Post at White Chicago with my engaged friend, Nicole. The event was lovely and I was secretly pleased to have my book on etiquette autographed by her. This year, I was even more excited to attend the event as I am now engaged! I brought along my copy of Wedding Etiquette (a birthday gift) to be autographed by Anna Post, the great-granddaughter of Emily Post.

Anna gave a wonderful talk about the importance and place of etiquette. I was especially pleased because she talked about the difference between etiquette and tradition. There is a difference! There’s no reason to feel that you are “going against” etiquette by breaking with tradition. She stressed that etiquette is not to confine someone into doing something that they don’t want to be doing. Etiquette is founded on these 3 concepts:

  1. Consideration
  2. Respect
  3. Honesty

Anna recently published her first book, Wedding Parties. Anna also has a blog if you are interested!

Anna also talked about her great-grandmother, Emily. Emily was something of a rule breaker herself. Part of New York society, she divorced her husband and raised her two children on her own! A distinguished writer, Fungelwagnel approached her to update the etiquette book.

If you ever have questions about etiquette, feel free to contact the Emily Post Institute. Their website is terrible. However, they do encourage people to write in to ask questions. If you want something answered quickly, feel free to email me!