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.

Wedding Gown Preservation - why it is so important right after the wedding!

The other day we had one of our beautiful brides bring her gown in for preservation. It has been almost a year since the wedding and due to her school schedule, she had just now found the time to bring her gown to us for cleaning and preservation. It had been a while since she had looked at the gown so we opened the bag and she was astonished at what she saw! There were stains on the gown, both in the front and back that she could not explain. After discussing the wedding with her and telling her that some of the sneakiest things at a wedding that can stain a gown are champagne and sugar she realized what had happened!
During the cake cutting, she and her groom had smashed each other with cake therefore some had fallen down the front of her skirt. Unknowingly, she brushed it away with her hand and created a larger problem. After looking at the back of her gown, you can also see where her groom rested his hand for pictures and where someone had placed their thumb to adjust her zipper.


Even though you may not see any stains with your eyes, trust us, there are invisible stains lurking around. Make sure you have someone designated to take your gown to be preserved immediately after the wedding while you are away enjoying your honeymoon. The preservation process costs less than taking it to a local cleaners and includes cleaning, pressing, preservation and three nested boxes to protect your gown for years to come! For more information or to schedule a time to bring your gown for preservation, feel free to contact us at any time!

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)