Meet Our 2017 Wedding Show Vendor: Samila Boutique

On January 29, 2017 Samila Boutique will join us during our 2nd annual cultural wedding show to grace us with their stunning evening wear and bridal dresses on our runway as well as exhibit their services as a boutique vendor! Bonus: after learning about these ladies and their gowns, you will definitely want to come prepared to SHOP their dresses and buy them straight off the rack! Yes, try them on and take them home with you right at the show!

We can't wait for you to meet the ladies behind this boutique; but for now here's a fun behind the scenes look at who they are and what they have to offer women in the PNW!

Her Big Day: Who is behind Samila Boutique?

Yasmin Shirdel: Samila Boutique team is composed of women of all ages, experiences and backgrounds. The owners consist of mother-daughter team Samila herself and myself, Yasmin.


HBD: How long has Samila Boutique been around and how did you get started in the bridal industry?


YS: My mother opened Samila Boutique in 1995 as a womens apparel store. One day, she added a rack of evening wear to her boutique and quickly noticed customers lining up for them. She showed up one day with a U-Haul truck and took out all the existing inventory and replaced the entire boutique with evening wear! Over time, customers came to her wanting to be styled for their weddings. Unfortunately, the store was never big enough, so in 2013 she expanded and moved into a 3,000 sq. foot showroom. Finally, we had the capacity to bring our customer's wishes come true! I procured the dresses and designed the space. And in 2015, we expanded our evening gown division to add bridal.


HBD: Wow, that's incredible! You mentioned to us that you are of Persian background. How has your background influenced your choice of designers or style of dresses, if any at all?

YS: Very much so. Our culture is rich in decadence, luxe and details. Our culture prides itself in having rich history and attention to detail. With this embedded in our roots, we procure dresses that no one in our area has. We choose to bring in unique wedding gowns with more beading, detail and design. Because of our experience and partnerships with designers for 20+ years, we have been able to curate a collection that is unique and timeless.

HBD: Upon visiting your boutique, we’ve noticed a stunning array of bridal designs. Who are some of the designers you carry?

YS: We carry Casablanca Bridal, Morilee, Eddy K, Lilian West, Calla Blanche. We also work with a team of designers from Turkey and India to create a private label with authentic middle eastern design and flavor.

HBD: Who selects the gowns and/or designers who become a part of your boutique's selection and what inspires your process?

YS: I select everything and consult with Samila from time to time. The first inspiration comes from brides; listening to what they want and what they wish was different and unique. Secondly, watching the trends on the runway and on social media.

HBD: What's your biggest seller?

YS: Lace is really in high fashion now, particularly with unique illusion detail on the neckline.

HBD: Where do you see Samila Boutique in the next 5 years?

YS: Continue to be a place where women come to find evening gowns and wedding gowns that help celebrate and define who they are.

HBD: And last, for the bride-to-be who is looking to come in and check out your collections, do you take walk-ins or should they call to schedule an appointment first?

YS: Appointments are required. Walk-ins are welcome, subject to a wait list.

We can be contacted via Email: info@samilasboutique.com or phone: 425-558-5714 
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for live updates on our upcoming trunk shows, events and new arrivals!

Also, check out what our previous clients have to say about their experience at Samila Boutique Here. Hope to see you all soon!

Get your tickets today and come say hello to Samila Boutique: bit.ly/herbigday2017 !!! See you soon, Bellas, xx.

La Belle Elaine's Bridal Boutique

On November 15th, Her Big Day held a model casting call at La Belle Elaine's Bridal Boutique located in the Eastlake neighborhood of Seattle. Thanks to the owners of the boutique, along with our Sales and Marketing Director, Kayla Reynolds, we had an incredible night of auditioning against a backdrop of lovely lace, sequin and tulle wedding gowns!

Recently, Kayla sat down with manager Stacey Gimmestad to bring  you a fun, getting to know you post about the boutique and the owners behind it!

Kayla Reynolds: How did La Belle Elaine's get started?

Stacey Gimmestad: The owners originally took over Elaine’s of Edmonds in the early 90s, which was started by Elaine in 1979. After a few years of success, we opened a second boutique in Kirkland known as La Belle Mariee. The two stores were then merged to create a larger boutique in downtown Seattle in 2004. And now, we are in a more intimate setting in Eastlake.

KR: You recently moved to the Eastlake neighborhood, how it that going?

SG: We love our new Eastlake location; the lighting is beautiful. It creates an incredible experience for each bride. And the brides love our runway! Our new location allows us to cater to brides in the Seattle area. 

KR: Our models loved the runway during the casting call as well! And of course, they were all mesmerized by the gorgeous collection of gowns carried in the boutique. Who are some of the designers carried in the boutique?

SG: A few of  the designers in our collection include: Kenneth Winston, Allure, WTOO, Eddy K, Rosa Clara and Nicole Spose.

KR: Who selects the gowns and/or designers to become a part of the boutique's selection and what inspires that process?

SG: The owners as well as the manager of 13 years, myself, do all the buying. Their selections are inspired by what they see on the red carpet during award season. They also try to keep up and pay attention to what’s new and fresh in bridal every season.

KR: What's your biggest seller?

SG: The great thing with having such a unique variety of gowns is that every bride's choice is different. Which means the popularity of dresses are always changing. We have noticed that no matter what is trending, a simple, elegant gown is always a timeless wedding look. 

KR: Bridal accessories such as belts, headpieces and earrings are also available in the boutique. Is it true that some of these pieces are custom made and exclusive to La Belle Elaine's boutique? Tell us more about that:

SG: Sally Crew lives here locally in Seattle and exclusively makes everything you see in the store and will customize any jewelry a bride desires. Her experience of jewelry ranges from working on necklaces, headbands, bracelets, earrings, head pieces, garters, etc. It's easy to call and schedule an appointment with her to help you create the accessory look for your big day! 

KR: Where do you see La Belle Elaine's in the next 5 years?

SG: What we feel our customers enjoy about La Belle Elaine's is that we focus on one-on-one personal service. In the following years we don't plan to expand locations or grow in size. We love our space on Eastlake and want to stay here. Our brides love it and we plan to continue that satisfaction of our store and service by staying intimate and always working toward helping the bride. 

KR: What would you say to the bride-to-be who is interested in coming in to check out your collections?

SG: It's best for a bride to set up an appointment with us because it ensures that they get all the time and attention they need. The appointment reserves a dressing room and a bridal consultant to assist a bride through the process. Bridal consultants will then be able to answer any question a bride has along with giving them their undivided attention.

KR: Yes, give La Belle Elaine's a call at  (206) 432-9383 for an appointment! Also, to take a peek at what's offered in the boutique, visit us on the Website or say hello on Facebook or Instagram. 

Happy Dress Shopping, Bellas! xo

Meet Wedding Planner Jessy Jule

Image source: Weddings with Love

As our Wedding Planning workshop is just around the corner, we wanted to reach out to wedding and events planner Jessy Jule and pick her brains on her role as a wedding planner and what tips she would offer the bride embarking on the wedding planning journey! Jessy Jule's business is located in Milton Keynes and London and she has been in the events industry for four years now. A year and a half ago she decided to focus on and develop her skills further within the weddings industry. Here's what she had to say about wedding planning for the cultural bride:

Her Big Day: What do you love most about working with brides on their big day?

Jessy Jules: Personally, I love the satisfaction and that proud moment at the end of the wedding knowing that the Bride (and her groom) are happy and pleased with your services. Despite the reality of how challenging and stressful it can be, it feels great to be trusted on such a significant special day and how you not only end up with a successful wedding but also a great relationship with the bride that can extend beyond the wedding.

HBD: For cultural brides and weddings, what would you say tends to be the hardest part about planning?

JJ: When it comes to cultural/traditional weddings, I believe the most challenging part is having to plan under the influence and input of family members. This is due to the fact that the ceremonies are very much family based (you may hear of the saying that the traditional wedding is for the family and not necessarily the couple) so family members tend to have a lot to say during the planning stage. For example, the location, the setting, the timing, guests etc.

This can cause some issues when some decisions need to be made from a more logical and professional perspective.

HBD: What is the role of a wedding/event planner and how do they work with the bride and/or family?

JJ: A wedding planner’s role is to stand as the professional, organised and neutral person who takes on the responsibility of planning the wedding. The list of tasks they must handle tend to always vary due to what their client requires. Generally, they would need to research into venues, vendors, manage the budget, arrange and attend meetings with the bride (and family)… the list goes on!

HBD: How important would you say it is to have a wedding/event planner for your big day? Do you have any stories of how having one or not having one made an impact on a bride? 

JJ: I personally think that it is very important to have a wedding planner for your wedding day. Mainly because this day will only come once and it is one of the biggest and most special days of your life so you do not want to take any risks or end up as a stressful, dissatisfied bride on your big day.

It is also important to budget and manage your set budget during the planning process. After the day is over, you have till death do us part to live! So it is imperative to ensure that you have someone that can support you and advise you on how best to spend your money during the course of planning.

I have come across many brides who didn't have a wedding planner and the common end result is seeing her stressed out about one thing or the other on the night before the wedding! I remember a bride who hadn’t given her DJ the song list for her entrances and she was absolutely devastated to the point where she just wanted to abruptly walk in. However, if the bride is someone who is organized and has the ability to balance being the planner and the bride all in one, then it can also work out perfectly.

HBD: How soon should a bride start searching for a wedding/event planner?

JJ: From the moment the bride and groom have saved enough money and are happy to begin planning, that is when they should start searching for their planner.

   

HBD: Is there anything the bride should know or consider when searching for a wedding/event planner?

JJ: I would recommend every bride-to-be to consider their budget and what their requirements of the planner would be. They should also consider how much experience and knowledge the planner has within weddings as it’ll give you some insight as to whether they would do a good job or be a good fit for you.

HBD: Any priority or pressing questions the bride should ask the planner before booking?

JJ: Do they have a portfolio/testimonials of past weddings they have worked on? What packages and services do they offer/provide? How much do they charge? Do they have any experience with cultural weddings?

HBD: Any advice for the bride who has yet to begin the wedding planning process?

JJ: My advice would be to make sure you have a good, realistic idea of what you want for your wedding that fits within your budget to avoid any disappointments when you reach the planning process. So attend wedding shows, read wedding magazines and blogs, check out wedding platforms on social media, etc. in order to gain some inspiration, and tips along the way. 

Also, ensure that you set enough time for the wedding planning. The last thing you want is to be stressed out and disappointed at the fact that the venue you want is unavailable on your date. Lastly, remember to also include your husband-to-be in your decision making and researching. After all it is his wedding as much as it is yours!

HBD: Thank you so much, Jessy for taking the time to share with our brides to be! xoxo

Bellas, if you're in the Seattle area, join us at our wedding planning workshop on June 26th, we would LOVE to see you all there! Check out more details on our Facebook event page here! 

Also, don't forget to connect with Jessy Jule and her wedding planning endeavors on Instagram here!

Jessy Jule Weddings | T: 07984 99006 |E: jessyjule@hotmail.com