Red Hot Brides

by Karen Vander

Beautiful Melinda

All brides chose their own wedding gowns prior to their grand day but how many brides actually get to wear something that they honestly want to wear? The process of selecting a wedding dress can be pretty harrowing especially if she succumbs to peer pressure and ended up choosing a dress that she does not feel too happy about. However one such bride who refused to conform let anything stand between her and the perfect wedding dress is Melinda.

White is out for her

Melinda is a globe-trotting bride who has been to Austria, Bosnia and other countries before John, her beau, proposed to her in Vienna during November 2007. She decided to return to Arkansas for her wedding and wasted no time in searching for the perfect dress to don on the grandest day of her life. At one point, she felt frustrated at the lack of wedding dress ideas and since she was not too fond of wearing a traditional white gown, she shared her feelings with a friend. Her friend sent an email of a red dress and suggested she wore a red wedding dress. Melinda was also inspired by European weddings and by other cultures where brides wore red wedding dresses, and that was how she vowed that she will don a red wedding gown on her wedding day, no matter the cost!

Melinda’s quest for a red wedding gown took her all over the World Wide Web (including the Red Hot Brides website!) and to countless bridal salons across the United States. She finally discovered a dressmaker who was willing to create her red wedding dress according to her specifications.

Alfred Angelo gown which Melinda chose for her hem line

Melinda drew inspiration from an Alfred Angelo wedding dress, more specifically the Style #1136 gown which was given a new twist by her dressmaker from Bridal outlet World. Instead of white, the dress was made in a striking burgundy color complete with crystal clear irridescent beading. I love the dress so much and I interviewed the designer asking about this dress.

I showed photos of Melinda to Pam at Bridal Outlet World. She recognized the beautiful bride in red and told me the following information:

“She ordered this gown in burgandy, with clear and irridescent beading, no train and with the front hem line the same as on the Alfred Angelo style 1136. We have a lot of flexiblily with our gowns. Our customers can order their gown in any color choice, change beading, add sleeves, put the top of one gown with the skirt of another, shorten or lengthen train. We pretty much make the sky the limit in making the design their own. They also have the option of ordering their gown according to their personal measurements, which alleviates the need for costly alterations. The best part of this service is there is no additional charge for it. We manage to make it possible for every bride to be able to design and afford their dream gown.”

The dress ordered was the “Michelle” wedding gown from Bridal Outlet World (http://bridaloutletworld.com)

Our blushing bride was also very clear about what accessories are to be worn and decided on a simple but contemporarily designed headband, a bezel-set garnet on a white gold chain, matching white gold earrings and a pair of red patent leather shoes.

On her big day, Melinda appeared with her groom, ever resplendent in their red-themed wedding dress and suit respectively. Needless to say, she received many compliments from well wishers who were amazed at the sight of a dazzling bride clad in red from head to toe. Melinda was thrilled to be at the receiving end of so much praises but more than ever, she was satisfied that she got to wear the perfect red wedding gown that is the embodiment of her robust personality. Melinda also plans to wear it in Austria when she returns to attend the numerous parties thrown there. Now how many brides have you met who have worn their wedding gowns more than once?

Charming groom to match the bride

Matching delicious shoes

Melinda’s parting words for other brides-to-be are: “The main reason I opted for a red wedding dress is because I have never liked myself in white, and I love the color red. It’s that simple. Once I decided that I was going to do my wedding my way and not listen to the naysayers, red was really the only option! Good luck, girls”

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