{New Designer Announcement} Casablanca Bridal

We are super excited to announce the addition of Casablanca Bridal to the designers available at Bliss!

Casablanca Bridal was established in 1997 and has since become one of the fastest growing, well known manufacturers of bridal gowns in the bridal industry.

Casablanca is committed to designing bridal gowns that reflect the quality and attention to detail they are known for.  Every Casablanca gown is made to order one at a time and although that extends the order time for each gown, it also allows for unparalleled customizaion.

As with most bridal designers, Casablanca discourages the sale of thier gowns over the Internet as most are counterfeit or sub par quality. In support for small business in America, they recommend that you visit and place your order with a full service bridal salon that can provide you with the personal service and attention that each bride deserves.

View the latest collections on their website and keep an eye on our Facebook page in September for the arrivals of these stunning gowns!

{Fashion Updates} Markets, Designers and New Friends, Oh My!

What a whirlwind weekend at market we had! Dallas Market Center was all a buzz with designers and buyers in all areas of retail. We had to try really hard not to get distracted with all the fun! (still contemplating going back to pick up a few items!)

We had a great time chatting with some old friends, making new ones and a great surprise to meet the wonderful Jaime from Bella Flora in the middle of the day! She popped over to pick up a swatch for one of our projects together!

One fab gal that we had the pleasure of chatting with was our rep from Intuzuri (http://www.intuzuri.com/)! You know we have an obsession with all things from over the pond and the gowns from Intuzuri are the newest addition to our collection! We can't wait to show our brides this fabulous collection of lace gowns with intricate details and one super low back!

Another great find was some gorgeous mother's gowns and we do mean gorgeous! Just look at the beadwork on this one shoulder metallic number! (www.cameronblake.com)

Of course, we stopped in to see Justin Alexander, Sincerity Bridal and Mori Lee. Simple classic styles that Audrey Hepburn would die over, lace and peplum skirts are taking front stage and the bridesmaids gowns are red carpet worthy! We almost ordered one to wear ourselves!

The biggest news of the market is that along with the addition of Intuzuri, we will be offering our brides two new additional designers! Look for upcoming posts with all the details!

Bella Flora: www.bellafloraofdallas.com
Intuzuri Bridal: www.intuzuri.com
MOB/MOG: www.cameronblake.com
Bridal: www.blissfw.com
Sample Sale:  www.blissofftherack.com

Sassi Holford - Couture Bridal Gowns and a Royal Wedding

We have been eyeing this certain designer from London for almost 5 years now and we have finally brought her into the Bliss Collection!

We don’t event know where to start on the luxurious fabrics (seriously, you cannot put it into words, it’s a feeling) impeccable craftsmanship, attention to detail, fits that are to die for and classic grace that becomes every bride.

Sassi Holford {$3,500 - $7,000} created the gown for Princess Anne’s daughter in law when she was married 3 years ago in Westminster Abbey !

With salons all over the world (three countries buyers were visiting her while we were in her showroom!) Sassi Holford is one of the leading couture designers available to brides today. Here are a few snapshots of the stunning gowns headed to Bliss!

Trend Alert! So, the base gown is called Tilly (how cute is that!) Now watch what we can do with Ms Tilly ……. Floral sheer jacket for the romantic look,

or lace caplet sleeves

with a finishing bow detail in the back,

and then ……. You can change to reception ready Swarovski details for a completely different look!

Meet Faye – a gorgeous Jaquard gown…..

and her bestie Bluebell – Stephanotis detailing seen all over fashion week…..

and our favorite (but we are a bit partial to this one) Lucy!

Just a few samples of the beautiful stylings of Sassi Holford! Trunk Show January 17-18th! For more grace and beauty, follow Sassi Holford on Facebook!

Bridal Terminology: Lace - Alencon, Chantilly and beyond

When shopping for a wedding gown, terminology can be overwhelming. Let us help you with a few descriptions for some of the different lace fabrics that are available for your big day!

Alencon lace has a floral design on a clear net ground showing a classical design. The individual motifs are delicate and are always completely outlined with cord with the scallops around the edge being subtle.

Allover lace has a repetitive pattern similar to a printed material. On less expensive lace the edges are straight, sometimes with a long edge on each side and sometimes left unfinished.

Chantilly lace is a fine, open lace that features a delicate design of branches and flowers held together by flowing ribbons or scrolls. Finished with picots (decorative loops on the edge), the edges are more deeply scalloped than Alencon.

Guipere lace is sometimes called Venise, point de Venise or burned out lace. Unlike most laces, it does not have a net background and is an embroidered design. A common reference would also be the “doily” look.

Metallic lace is made with metallic threads.

Re-embroidered lace is any lace embroidered lace with a heavy cord, lace, ribbons, beads or sequins on the surface.

When comparing laces, compare the overall patterns as well as the variety of textures in the net and motifs. Lace gowns do not denote a particular era or style of wedding and can be transformed to fit almost any theme or venue.

Gowns pictured by Justin Alexander and Wtoo. Veils pictured by Sara Gabriel Veiling and Headpieces

Why are wedding gowns White?

Prior to the sixteenth-century, bridal gowns were more akin to everyday garmets in style and color. During this sixteenth century, European nobility dictated that white would symbolize purity for the bride. At the time, pale or white garments cost more than dark colored ones because bleaching cloth was an expensive process, available to only the affluent.Other symbols of purity worn by more common brides included a coronet of flowers on her head, a veil over her face, her hair down, and orange blossoms or daisies.

White as the symbolic color of maidenhood resurfaced in the culture when the virgin Queen Victoria married Albert in a white gown.The trend has changed little since and in Europe and the United States, most brides still wear a shade of white or ivory.

Fun facts:
In Scandinavia, black is a popular choice for the bride's dress.
In Ireland, green is often worn.
In most Asian cultures, the bride wears red, the color of luck, joy and prosperity.

A Hopi bride's white dress is woven by the groom and any men in the community who wish to assist him.
For more fun facts see "A Bride's Book of Lists" by Marsha Hackman.

So, what should you really spend on a bridal gown? (part 2)

Ah, the age old question of how much should a bridal gown really cost. We can’t tell you what to spend but we can tell you what to look for in a gown that will help you determine if the price is worth the gown. Over the next few weeks, we will discuss the important aspects to look for when looking for “The One”. There are many factors to consider when purchasing a gown including fabric, construction, details and customer service. Each installment will focus on one of these topics………..

Construction in a gown is key! A well constructed gown may cost a bit more but in the long run it could be cheaper! If a gown is well constructed, more than likely you will not need additional undergarments like the uncomfortable bustier or the “heat trapping” crinoline. Many gowns come with the boning and support of a bustier already built in as well as a crinoline. These gowns will not only feel better on but will look better on you. Please don’t fall under the impression that a gown with a corset in the back means a better fit or cheaper alterations. Just because someone laced you up tight does not mean that the gown is molded to your body as it would be with proper alterations. When was the last time you saw a corset back on a high end designer gown (besides the ones that really do it for the effect of a bustier top)?


The construction of a gown is not only about the inside but also the fabric quality and what’s on the outside. Better fabrics will hold shape better, look and feel better. As in anything, there are different grades of fabrics. Taffeta can be stiff and taffeta can also be soft and flow. Satin can be thick and heavy or light and opulent. The higher quality of fabric will just feel better all around, to the touch as well as how you feel in it. Also may attention to small things such as how beading is applied, via glue or sewn on. There should not be any visible threads showing in the seams and there should always be a lining!

It’s all in the details. The more details, the more cost involved. If budget is a concern, look for a gown with more architectural components than more embellishment. If sparkle and a lot of it is a must, with a tight budget, look to add it with jewelry that can be worn again instead of on the gown. A simple dress can be accented with just the right jewelry to make a statement! Another way to enhance a gown is by adding a veil with embellishment which can also add accent to the train if it is a long veil, without breaking the bank.


Always look to see how the embellishments are attached. Many times we have seen beadwork glued to a dress. This is not an arts and crafts project! Beads and lace should be sewn onto the dress. We understand if flowers are pinned on as this makes for easy adjustment if the bride wishes not to wear them or adjust their position. Beads, lace and jewels, however, should always be sewn on.

All in all, the more attention to the details and time spent on constructing the gown, inside and out, determine the quality of the gown.

So, what should you really spend on a bridal gown? (part 1)

Ah, the age old question of how much should a bridal gown really cost. We can’t tell you what to spend but we can tell you what to look for in a gown that will help you determine if the price is worth the gown. Over the next few weeks, we will discuss the important aspects to look for when looking for “The One”. There are many factors to consider when purchasing a gown including fabric, construction, details and customer service. Each installment will focus on one of these topics………..

Fabric in bridal gowns can range from Chiffon, Organza, Taffeta, Satin, Silk and Lace with variations on each. Look for fabrics that feel good on you and give you the feeling of being a bride, not of being in a costume. Fabrics with Lace or Silk components will cost more than those without. The higher quality fabrics will hold the gown’s design and shape better along with creating a more elegant look on the day as well as in pictures.


Each fabric has its own merits and cautions. Silk gowns being made of a natural fabric will “breathe” better than a man made fabric however, depending on the type of silk, may wrinkle easier. Organza, lace and chiffon are more delicate fabrics and need careful consideration for outdoor settings yet give off a look of movement and grace. Taffeta and Satin are common fabrics for bridal gowns and can endure any type of wedding you may choose to have as well as travel well and deter major snags, wrinkles and other mishaps. Again, there is not a “set in stone” rule for the type of gown that must be worn, just some simple considerations to make you the most beautiful bride!

Also keep in mind the setting of the wedding as well as the season. We love glowing brides, not glistening ones! If you are getting married outside in the middle of summer, you probably do not want to wear a satin ball gown. On the flip side, if you are getting married in a large cathedral with a formal ceremony, you will probably not want to wear a light and airy sheath dress to where you look underdressed or could be mistaken as one of the guests. Bridal gowns do not typically have seasons beyond the formality of the wedding. Although some dresses might speak more to summer or winter, there is not a true “season” for a wedding gown. Choose a gown that reflects your personality. If you are more modern and trendy, look for fun and whimsical gowns. If you are more classic and conservative, search for a more traditional gown. The major determining factors of what type of gown to wear will be the time of year and the overall feeling of the wedding!

Photo Credit: Bella Pop Photography (top)