Strut Bridal

Construction Update--Parking Restrictions

We're so excited that our shopping area is getting a face lift as well as new tenants. But that also means we'll have a few months of construction. You'll have to pardon our dust during this time and check this post often for updates on where to park when you come wedding dress shopping:

DECEMBER 21st UPDATE:

Parking restrictions. Parking will be available in front of the store (there's a cut out from the street onto the sidewalk). Yep. It's perfectly legal. We call it Rock Star Parking. It is more difficult to get out of these spots, though, and back onto the street, so we recommend using the parking lot behind our complex off 7th Avenue. There's plenty of room. There's no parking directly behind the store or on the east side (by the old My Florist Cafe), as it will be fenced off.

There's no access to our back entrance. So if you park in the lot off 7th Avenue, you'll need to walk around to our front door.

Store hour changes.  We'll be closed Monday, December 26th and Tuesday, December 27th so that we can get new windows and doors (woohoo!).

If you have any questions, just give us a call!

Girl Talk: Do You Need Help Finding a Bra?

We're always talking to our Strut Brides about finding the perfect bra. After all, a good-fitting bra can help with posture, alleviate back and shoulder pain, and make you appear 10 pounds thinner. But most women think they are cup size C, D, or DD, because those are the sizes they see in stores. The fact is, though, that many of us curvy girls need a non-traditional size that's bigger than a DD. 

Many times we'll send our ladies to CC's Lingerie because they have the largest selection of non-traditional bras in the state. But then we met the lovely ladies from Belle Lacet Lingerie in Chandler and wanted to introduce you to them, too!

We love the girls at Belle Lacet because they know what it's like to have a hard time finding a bra. Sometimes you're broader in the back but need a smaller cup size, and these ladies can get you that 48B. Or maybe you have a small ribcage but large chest and need a bra up to a size K, and Belle Lacet can get it for you. In fact, the average size they sell is a 38G. G as in gorgeous, ladies!

Here are some signs you're not wearing the right size bra:

• The straps fall down or dig in
• The band rides up
• The cups are sagging
• There's breast tissue overflowing from the cup or over the band
• The under wire doesn't chest your breastbone between your breasts.

We tell our brides that buying a bra is like buying a wedding dress--you buy on fit and flatter, not the size. That means it's OK to go larger in the cup (seriously--ask your significant other if they mind you having an F-cup!). So go say hi to Karla and Liz at Belle Lacet. They are certified bra fitters and can order you the perfect bra. The prices were reasonable, and they have some of the most beautiful bra and panty sets (perfect for that special holiday coming up!) as well as plus size lingerie.

Kerris's Classic New Orleans Wedding

Kerris brought one of the biggest--and liveliest--groups to Strut to help her find her wedding dress. She and Curtis, a Deacon, were planning a fabulous wedding at a mansion in New Orleans, with the classic red, black and ivory color scheme.

She chose a satin wedding gown with ruched bodice to accent her tiny waist, and a fuller skirt with pickups and appliques. She loved the beaded bodice and had it changed to a sweetheart neckline.

The back featured satin covered buttons. We love her super blingy necklace!

This photo is great because you can see the gilded molding and frames in the mansion. So Kerris's cathedral veil fits in this dramatic setting.

This playful shot with the masks reflects the awesome setting and traditions of New Orleans!

Congratulations to you Kerris and Curtis! Thanks for bringing so much fun to our wedding dress shop!

Monica's Medical School Graduation

We sell our formal dresses for a variety of occasions, from bachelorette parties to engagement parties, but Monica and Jess were looking for something special for Monica's medical school graduation this winter in Mexico. 

She chose a stunning satin gown with pickups and colored sash. She knew it was "the one" right away. 

We recently got the sweetest thank you note from them:

Hello Ann,

My sister and I were at your store this past November looking for just the perfect dress that my sister could wear on her Med School graduation reception (I guess that is what you can call it)  We went to many stores around the Phoenix area, your store being the last one on her list.  We went just because it was the last shot before going back to the mall and trying to convince her to purchase something that could get her by.  She felt a little nervous due to the fact the she needed a dress that had to be purchased and taken home with her that day, but there were not very many in her size, and fortunately, thanks to your suggestions she found the "IT" right away. 

So we just wanted to say thank you so much for your help.  We loved the customer service we received and your little store is adorable!  Mostly, thank you for offering those sizes that are almost non-existent anywhere else. 

I have attached a couple of pictures for you to enjoy!

Thank you again :)

_Monica & Jess

Strut is thrilled to have the perfect dress for this amazing day.

Good luck, Dr. Monica!

Melissa's Lincoln Memorial Wedding

Melissa was a bride who came to Phoenix from Sedona to do her wedding dress shopping. She wanted something a bit non-traditional, something that was both modern and retro for her 1/11/12 wedding to Loretta at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC.

With just 15 attendees, Melissa rocked a white ball gown wedding dress with pockets and a corset back. She added a funky black sash and bolero to complete the look. We love it when brides who want a wedding dress with sleeves or straps or jacket have the confidence to add a contrasting color and texture to their gown. As you can see, this look is awesome!

Best wishes to you both, ladies!

Brianna and Tom's Vintage-Inspired Wedding

Brianna and Tom were married at Inside the Bungalow in Mesa on 10.13.10. Inside the Bungalow is a sweet spot to get married--one step onto their patio in the back, and you don't even know you're in central Mesa anymore! It's also very budget-friendly. You can stop in for a cup of coffee or a yoga class and check it out!

Brianna works as a wedding photographer, so finding the perfect person to take her wedding photos was a very big deal. We're thrilled to share with you these awesome shots by April Smith. You can see more of her amazing work on our Facebook page. 

Inside the Bungalow is the perfect wedding venue for vintage-inspired ceremonies. There's so much charm and personality at this location!

Bri chose a two tone ball gown wedding dress. It's satin and features just a bit of beaded applique at the waist.

We love her black birdcage veil and black lace bolero. This is proof you CAN mix colors and textures with your wedding dress!

Our favorite shot is this one--you can just see the emotion between them.

Bri, thanks for being an awesome bride (you may have seen her working at Strut at our front desk on super busy weekends!!). We wish you and Tom the best!

Get Inspired on Pinterest!

In the olden days brides would bring us a stack of magazine photos of wedding dresses they liked when they came gown shopping. Now, though, our Arizona brides are starting to send us links to their inspiration boards on Pinterest, and we think that's great! Not only do we get an idea of your personal style, but we can check out other details you're planning for your wedding.  

If you haven't yet joined Pinterest, it's super easy. You create an account, and then, as you poke around Etsy (ok, the whole internet, really), you push the "Pin It" button and it will post a pic to your inspiration board. And you can have separate boards for all your wedding faves, like, dresses, flowers, centerpieces, etc.

So far we've done just a few boards for some of our favorite wedding gowns (and this season's hottest wedding dress trends), so feel free to follow us (StrutBridal) and we'll happily follow you back! 

Let Him Wear a Kilt

We love it when a bride has the confidence to be a bit non-traditional on her wedding day. But when a groom does it, it's even cooler! Natalie and Jeremy were married last spring and just sent us some portraits. We were surprised to see him rocking a kilt and had to share the photos!

Pretty awesome! When you shop for your wedding gown at Strut, you'll find out that we normally ask what your partner is planning to wear so that we can find a dress that complements it. In Natalie's case, we found her a beautiful taffeta aline wedding gown. The simple design was flattering and wouldn't clash with the colors or design of Jeremy's kilt. Natalie's dress featured an optional halter strap, which could be snapped off. She also had light beading on the bodice.

We love her big, beautiful bouquet--the colors match Jeremy's kilt--with the variety of flowers and textures. Thanks for sharing your photos!

Gisele's 11-11-11 Wedding

Fabulous gown, fabulous photos...we couldn't be more excited to show you Strut Bride Gisele's 11/11/11 wedding from the Wrigley Mansion in Phoenix! Big thanks to Julie Foskett of Foskett Creative Photography for the amazing images.

But first, a little background about Gisele, an awesome bride who would stop by even after she picked up her wedding dress, just to say hi (we love that!). Gisele first came shopping solo and picked some favorite gowns to show her mom on her return trip. She liked super sparkly and needed a wow dress to match her wow venue. In the end, Gisele got the dress she wanted, and her mom picked the tiara she liked best (a great compromise, ladies!). 

And now... the photos!

Gisele found these amazing Manolos on sale!

 Here's a view of the back of Gisele's natural silk ball gown wedding dress. It featured pickups and Swarovski crystal appliques.

 

We loved how the groomsmen showed a playful side with patent Chucks:

Gisele had to navigate some tricky steps, but her parents met her halfway down and escorted her the rest of the way. Talk about a grand entrance!

We love this shot of the wedding ring exchange--you can see Gisele's amazing bracelet, the bead work on her wedding gown bodice, and you can see that their tech-savvy officiant uses an iPad!

This shot shows you their black and red theme, which is so dramatically done in giant plumes on the archway.

The photo above is one of our faves--it shows pure happiness and radiance, plus you get to see her feather, rose and sparkle bouquet! Below you can see one of the centerpieces.

This is our other favorite shot!

You can see the full gallery on our Facebook page. Thanks, Gisele, for letting us be a part of your amazing day. We wish you and Michael the best!

Caitin's Winery Wedding

You may remember Caitlin--she was one of our first curvy brides to do our in-store boudoir photo shoot, and her photos were amazing. She caught the modeling bug and did a plus size wedding dress photo shoot with us (she was recently featured in our front window) and walked the runway at the Creme de la Curves plus size fashion show!

And finally, after all of that, it was Caitlin's turn to be a Strut Bride! She was married in October at a winery in Chino Valley. She had custom hangers made for all of her bridesmaids. Check them out below:

Caitlin wore a satin aline wedding dress with a lace up corset back. On the detail shot above, you can see the beaded appliques on the back.

While Caitlin lives in the Valley, her bridesmaids live in Oregon. And, after months of searching for bridesmaids dresses, Caitlin came in frustration. We could get her girls' dresses on a rush, so they all sent in measurements. Here's a picture of Leslie rocking a one-strap chiffon bridesmaid dress. We love the small flower detail near the shoulder:

Caitlin and Wes were married outside at a winery. It was fall, and just beautiful.

Here's a photo of the handsome groom with his mom and sister:

Caitlin and Wes's wedding featured an unusual wedding cake: it highlighted the cake and not the frosting. We loved the result!

We love this shot of Caitlin with her bridesmaids (it was a first for us--our first full bridal party where we outfitted the bride and her maids!):

Congrats to Caitlin and Wes. We hope you both will continue to visit for as long as we're lucky to have you here in the Valley!

Ashlee's Perfect Ballgown Wedding Dress

We love hearing from our Strut Brides and recently got this lovely note:

 

 

Hello! I don't know if you remember me or not, but my name is Ashlee Rogers and I got my dress from you. My wedding was on October 5th of this year. I just wanted to thank you for the experience to help me pick out my perfect dress and to suggest venues for me since one of the ones you suggested I got married at! ( Tre Bella ) I wanted to also thank you for catering to big gals such as myself and to help me feel like a princess for my wedding day! attached are some pictures of my handsome hubby and I on our wedding day. Thank you so much! - Ashlee Rogers (Now Taylor!) :) 

 

Of course we love even more seeing photos from the wedding day!

Ashlee bought a taffeta ballgown. It has a beaded bodice, criss cross ruching at the waist, and pickups on the skirt and train. We love the flowers and sparkles on the back; hopefully you can see them in this photo:

Thanks for sending such a sweet note and sharing photos of your Tre Bella wedding! Best wishes from Strut!