Casablanca Trunk Show for Plus Size & Curvy Girls

We are very excited to host a weekend fully dedicated to glamorous curvy girls in the area! April 5-7th is the Casablanca Trunk Show at Ellie’s Bridal Boutique. We will have an extended collection of new designs, highlighting Casablanca's bridal sizes 18-30.  In addition to our daily selection (we will feature 14+ from other designers), many of these new designs can only be seen in our store for one weekend only!

Have no fear about sample sizes in the bridal industry, we'll have stunning dresses that real women can fit in. This event is not only for "plus size" women, but also for curvy brides that are an overall smaller size with hips and a booty don't always cooperate with a bridal sample sizes. This event is for all women who are frustrated with sample sizes offered in most bridal shops. Stop freaking out about what size you may or may not be because this process is actually really fun!

And in case you thought it couldn't get any better, all Casablanca gowns purchased during the event will be 10% OFF!

Call us at 703-683-VOWS(8697) to reserve your appointment now.

Appointments are required for this event and spaces are limited!

P.S. All the links above are totally worth clicking on.

Wedding Veil Regrets

About 2 out of 10 brides come in to our boutique unsure if they would like a veil or not. If you do not think you want a veil, we suggest just to try one on anyway. You never know how you will feel until you try one on and see yourself in the mirror with a wedding gown and the veil for the first time. We find that more than half of the time, brides who said they did not want one change their mind. There is something about the veil and a wedding gown that makes each bride feel like it is really happening to them, they are getting married!!!

We found one blogger was torn and decided not to have a veil and now regrets it. She wishes she had changed her mind and now brings up some excellent points and stunning photos that you could have if you choose to have a veil too. We have to say, she found some great photos!

Thank you to our wonderful Ellie's Brides and their amazing photographers who shared these breath taking photographs with us.

What are your thoughts on veils? Comment below and let us know what you think!

March 9-10 – Stella York Trunk Show!!

Visit Ellie's Bridal Boutique March 9-10, 2013 to view Stella York's newest bridal collection and enjoy 10% OFF the purchase of any Stella York gown for one weekend only! Be sure to click here to read about why we love Stella York so much.

Many of these gowns will be in our boutique for ONE WEEKEND ONLY so call to make your appointment now! You don't want to miss your chance to try on these fantabulous gowns and get the exclusive *trunk show only* price!!

Appointments are required to attend this event. Call 703-683-VOWS(8697) to book your appointment today.

Bridal Inspirations from the Oscars

Fashion certainly inspires fashion. So whether you are shopping ready-to-wear in the mall, awed by the Hollywood glamour, or flipping through your favorite wedding magazine, today's fashion trends are universal. We weren't surprised to see lace patterns, feather-like ruffles, and simple elegance grace the red carpets last night and be reminded of our very own bridal gowns. Which style would you have picked for your red carpet debut?

Update: Great minds think alike! Local Wedding Planner, Margo from Bright Occasions, elaborated more on this topic and these dresses here. Definitely check it out!

WIN your Dream Wedding Dress

Ellie's Bridal Boutique is so excited that another one of our designers, Justin Alexander, is having a contest that will provide one lucky bride a FREE Wedding Gown!!

Can you believe it? We are so excited for all of our soon to be Brides out there and we had to share this opportunity! Make sure you visit Justin Alexander Dress Giveaway on Facebook to register and pick your gown today. We are unsure how long the contest will run for, so register today before it's too late!

P.S. If you are in love with Justin Alexander wedding gowns like we are, come book your appointment today at Ellie's Bridal Boutique in Alexandria, VA.

Why You Have a Ring on It

CONGRATULATIONS to all new brides-to-be!! We can't wait to join your journey for your dream gown so you can have the perfect wedding. And what a fine day it is to be engaged, isn't it? Now that you have a stunning ring on your finger, have you thought about why it's there? Why has tradition chosen to put a ring on that particular finger in the first place? The answer is not quite as random as you may think. Trust me. You absolutely want to read this.

The Chinese Explanation

The Chinese have given a beautiful and very convincing theory as to why the wedding ring should go on the fourth finger. As the story goes :

Look at your left hand, the hand that your wedding ring goes on, and do you see your thumb? Well the thumb represents your parents. Now your index finger, or your first finger, represents your siblings. The third finger, loving called the middle finger by some, represents yourself. Where the fourth finger represents your life partner. And your pinkie is to represent the children you will some day have.

Now if you place both of your hands together and bend your middle fingers together, and leave the other fingers touching together (like shown in the picture).When your hands are in this position, do the following:

Step 1:
Pull your thumbs apart. (this represents the parents) Your thumbs will open because you and your parents are not destined to be together forever. At some point they will leave you in your life.

Step 2:
Now put your thumbs back together.

Step 3:
Repeat the same motion with your index fingers (this representing your siblings). Of course your index fingers will also separate because you are also not destined to be with your siblings for the rest of your life. They will move on and have families of their own.

Step 4:
Now put them back together.

Step 5:
Now separate your pinkies. (representing your future children) Of course these will also separate because your children will not be with you forever. They will grow up to have lives and families of their own as well.

Step 6:
Now put them back together.

Step 7:
Now for your "ring" finger. (representing your life partner) Try separating them as you did with the other. Can't do it can you? That is because your life partner is the one who is supposed to be with you for the rest of your life. They will be the one to be with you forever and through thick and thin.

Roman belief

According to the Roman belief, the wedding ring is worn on the fourth finger of the left hand because of a vein that we have in our left "ring" finger. This vein is called the vena amoris, meaning "the vein of love." It was believed that this vein ran directly to the heart and that the "ring finger" was the only finger that contained it. As romantic as that may sound, we now know that this is not true.

Fun Idea: Print this, and give your guests something fun to read on your wedding programs to give your guests something fun to read during any waiting time. Make sure to warn your photographer so you can get some keepsake shots of your guests trying to do this!

(Original Source)

Why We Choose Stella York

Glamorous. Sexy. Extravagant. A Stella York wedding dress is more than just a designer label. It’s an indelible mind-set — with each creation a perfect complement to a bride’s attitude, style and spirit.

That's what Stella York is all about. Previously known as Ella Bridals, Stella York is an Australian-based company that never fails to bring in fresh designs that are not only merely beautiful but a statement of your spirit. Their light weight and comfort ensure that you will feel free enough to let your personality truly shine it's best on your wedding day. We also love Stella York because their mission fits our own: quality of fabric, fit, and finish at a competitive price. Here at Ellie's Bridal Boutique, we truly believe that it is possible to find a high quality gown for under $1500, and Stella York is proof of that.

Stella York is designed for the bride looking to find the magic that only she could create on her wedding day. She's a bride full of spirited dreams and an energy that radiates around her. See what we mean and view our gallery below to share the magic these three Ellie's brides experienced with their Stella York gowns this past year.

Needless to say, we are so excited to have Stella York Trunk Show at Ellie's Bridal Boutique! Make your appointment today for March 9-10, 2013 to view Stella York's newest bridal collection and enjoy 10% OFF* the purchase of any Stella York gown.

Many of the featured wedding gowns will be in out store for ONE WEEKEND ONLY !  Spaces are limited, so don't miss out by waiting to book your appointment for this exclusive event!

Appointments are required to attend this event. Call 703-683-VOWS(8697) to book your appointment today & RSVP on our Facebook Invitation.

*Purchases must be made March 9th or 10th to qualify for the discount.

Featured Weddings: Lisa's Destination wedding in Greece, Jenny's Old Amusement Park wedding, Jeorjina's Grand Caymen wedding

Young Love - Cinemagraphs

Thumbing through all the Wedding ideas, we came across a very different but interesting way to display your photo. It's so cool, we couldn't help but share. This new technology is called Cinemagraphs. It's a way to take 'stills' to move. MailOnline say, " The 'cinemagraphs' look like a still photo but actually feature a subtle area of movement designed to grab your eye and keep looking. The effect is slightly eerie - but utterly captivating.

New York-based Miss Beck told The Atlantic magazine: ‘There's something magical about a still photograph - a captured moment in time - that can simultaneously exist outside the fraction of a second the shutter captures.

‘We feel there are many exciting applications for this type of moving image.

‘There's movement in everything and by capturing that plus the great things about a still photograph you get to experience what a video has to offer without the time commitment a video requires.’

She added that sharing websites such as Tumblr have been essential for helping them publish their work and getting them an audience.

Here is the still photo. Click on the link to see it in action. Would you consider doing something like this for your wedding? What do you think of this new technology?

Other photos and further details, check out MailOnline or the artist's cinemegraphs page from From Me To You.

Dream Dress Givaway

We just can't help ourselves. We are so excited to share with you a way to win your dream wedding gown! Registertoday to win with Stella York on Wedding Wire before it's too late!

Giveaway Ends: February 8, 2013

Ellie's Bridal Boutique, will have a Stella York Trunk Show on March 9th and 10th! Make your appointments today to try on the gowns before the limited appointments are taken.