What to expect at The Brides’ Project.

Well, let’s just get down to what it’s REALLY like to come here.

photo by Gail Edwin-Fielding | www.imagelegacy.com

Q: What can I expect at The Brides’ Project?
The unexpected. We’re not snobby, we’re warm friendly and welcoming! We don’t invade your privacy, we make you welcomed, and it’s FUN! Trying on dresses should be FUN! We do ask you to be respectful… every dress here is someone’s wedding dress, so treat them well. Pet them, talk to them in a soft voice, and understand that our staff and friends here wanna have fun too! Together, we make it a great experience!

Q: Who are the people who work at The Brides’ Project?
Our wonderful team here includes Helen, Vanessa, Gail, Mirela, Melody, Sikin, Clair, Sarah, Dorothy and many others who help us operate! (Gail is the person behind this website and has done some super-duper photo shoots for us too!)

BE NICE TO OUR VOLUNTEERS! Otherwise Mistress Helen will send you to the boiler room! They all put in their time to help out and do their best.  We try to ensure that we have at least one very seasoned and knowledgeable volunteer is here at all times, often assisted by another.  Sometimes, you need to be patient… and sometimes, so do we :)

Q: What should I wear?
Clothes.  No steel-reinforced undergarments are required to try on wedding dresses, and we have shoes you can borrow, etc. etc. We ask you for a few things: bring some clean, dry, nonslip indoor shoes to wear in the house for safety and comfort.
NO MAKEUP… this is absolutely essential.
Also, no food or beverages are allowed in the house. No ifs ands or buts, these are the rules. No exceptions will be made.  We’ll eat your food under duress or conditions of moderate hunger, and drink your coffee if we had a late night out.

Here’s our Top 10 List of Things To Expect:

  1. Nutty staff, often sporting strange headpieces, feather boas, or other accessories.
  2. FUN.  We want you to have fun here.  Why?  Because we’re all volunteers, and WE want to have fun too! NB.  This is a house.  If you and your bridal party would like to bring a bottle of bubbly to enjoy in the kitchen (obviously not around dresses), just let us know!  We’ll try not to drink it all before you get to it.
  3. The unexpected.  I have yet to have a client come in and say, “oh, this is what I figured it would be like…”
  4. Cat toys on the stairs.  Yes, there are cats on the property who are not permitted in gown rooms, and carefully sequestered during business hours when the gown rooms are open.  If you think you see a mouse, trust me, it’s  a toy.  However, they perform a very essential function in ensuring the mouse you see IS indeed a toy.  And other cuddling duties as required.
  5. Honesty.  Okay, let’s face it, if the dress really doesn’t flatter you, don’t you want to know?  We don’t want our brides looking anything but their BEST, so we will be honest.  Nicely so.
  6. Colour and toys.  Yes, being in a sea of white can be tiresome.  Helen is rather child-like in her tastes in decor, and you will see odd and colourful objects scattered throughout the house.
  7. PRIVACY!!!  We don’t get any special thrill out of chasing around half-naked women as they try on dresses.  You can close the door and have all the privacy you want… or all the help you would like!   Let our staff know what you’d prefer.
  8. The ‘ghost’.  This is a castle after all, and most definitely haunted.  We suspect that Rapunzel was trapped in the turret and Rumpelstiltskin or whoever that was didn’t know what rapini is.  It’s a nice ghost though, so no worries there.
  9. Great prices.  ‘nuf said?
  10. An experience for your wedding day that you’ll remember because it was so enjoyable.  We’ve met brides driven to tears, we’ve heard about pressure sales, and our staff is ALL newleyweds or soon-to-be weds.  Women who know how important it is, that this is one part of your journey that you should enjoy and celebrate.  Come and celebrate with us!

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