Archive for the ‘The TBP Shop’ Category
While working in the shop, our volunteers often describe to brides the vast number of things that can be done to make a dress exactly what you have envisioned, but no one demonstrates this better than Samantha from Sparkle and Pomp. She recently took 10 very outdated dresses, and transformed them into something new and funky. These were showcased at Fashion Art Toronto (FAT) in late April as they made their appearance on the runway. Sam’s creations stole the show (a personal opinion, of course!), and I think you’ll be equally impressed! All these dresses are now available at The Brides’ Project. They will go extremely quickly, so make your appointment soon.
Below is just one of the ten, a personal favourite, and the other Before/After pics can be found on Sam’s blog.
Impressive, isn’t it!!! Check out the other 9… they are just as incredible. Many have hand-sewn couture elements, and she also custom-made the belt and can make one for any dress – just drop her a line at info@sparkleandpomp.com
And, just in case that didn’t impress the pants off ya, there’s just nothing like seeing it come down a fashion show runway!
As the mercury rises, it’s nice to look back and enjoy some winter wonderland wedding pics. The lovely Erin came to visit us and found herself the perfect frock for her February event.
I was married in February of this year wearing a beautiful dress I purchased from The Brides Project. We had the chance at a great discount from our reception venue by moving our wedding up by six months, which meant I had a bit less time than I thought to find a dress.I shopped in a couple of lovely boutiques, but I just couldn’t get my head around spending that much money on a dress I would only wear once. I heard about the Bride’s Project through an episode of Til Debt Do Us Part, and I knew it was the right place to find my dress. My mother-in-law is a breast cancer survivor, and I could definitely get my head around spending the money on a dress if it went to a good cause.I had a wonderful experience at the store, and I tell all of my friends about it! I had my dress altered (quite significantly) by Lisa Van Hattem. Pictures in the link below were shot by the incredible Patti Miller.
Spring has finally ‘sprung’ just in time for the first long weekend of the summer! We’d like to wish everyone a wonderful weekend of fun and frolic. Here at The Brides’ Project, we will be open on Saturday, May 18th as per usual but closed on Sunday, May 19th. We will be back to our regular schedule the following Wednesday.
This weekend we added at least 30 dresses to our inventory; from individual brides, a salon, and also the collection of re-designed dresses from Samantha at Sparkle and Pomp that were sent down the runway at FAT (Fashion Art Toronto) Fashion Week. We’ll have pics of Samantha’s stuff in the upcoming weeks, but for now our staff picked 4 of their favourites to show you!
The first is a Jim Hjelm. This is a size 8 dress in ivory silk duchess satin, and the bodice is adorned with alencon lace with straps. It’s not nearly as revealing in the bust as the stock image suggests, and easily made a little more modest! Original retail $3800.
Our second pick was this incredible silk trumpet gown that was custom made… and what a piece of art it is! It’s about a size 10, completely unique with one-shoulder styling and cute rosebuds at the back of the knees to produce a lovely silhouette over the butt!
Front: Back:
Our third choice is this super fun Pronovias “Gaula” with lots of fluff! It’s crinkle tulle has a cathedral length train to sweep away the hearts of all your guests!
And… finally, for the bride who likes a bit of ‘risque’, we also just acquired a brand new Cymbeline (Paris) dress that takes the cake. The middle part that you see in the picture is removable to produce a short, flirty and fun dress for dancing. Gotta love this piece!
So it’s Friday, rainy and grey outside… but if you ever need a pick-me-up, all you have to do is check out one of Emily and Ken’s wedding pics!! These two have the most contagious smiles… and not just in one or two photos… but ALL of them! Christopher Luk Photography did the honours, and I’d bet he had a fun day documenting their wedding.
As Emily says,
I got married to my husband Ken on April 20 of this year and it was extra special because it is in one of your dresses!
Last summer, I visited multiple wedding dress boutiques and I was getting so frustrated because I couldn’t find a dress that I loved. One Saturday, I visited The Brides’ Project on a whim and found the one (and my veil)! The dress is a Pronovias and only needed minor alterations.
My experience with The Brides’ Project was so wonderful that I have told every bride-to-be that I know that they should visit.
Thank you so much for all you do for every bride-to-be who walks in your door and for our community as a whole.
Well, she looked phenomenal, also with noted thanks to Pom Penner who did “a flawless job” in altering her dress. Plus, she’s a hoot to work with 
Here’s my favourite picture:
Emily and Ken… may those smiles follow you every day ahead, rain or shine 
And thank you for sharing them with us!
Now that there really IS evidence of spring – leaves are starting to appear and daffodils, crocuses and other bulbs are popping up all around – our staff went through our collection and picked their 4 favourite dresses that remind them of spring and summer! These, and many many others are available in the shop. Book your appointment here!
The first two that they chose are beautifully simple, closely fit dresses with simple focal points. We chose the one below because mermaid styles are very in vogue, and the lines of this dress seem to make everyone who tries it on look really tall and lean!
The second one has a slightly different focal point with a vertical bow… also very stylish right now. This silk piece would also be extremely comfortable and light for outdoor ceremonies in the heat.
Speaking of heat, and yes, soon I’m sure we’ll all be commenting about it… they picked a lovely chiffon dress that would also be suitable for an outdoor wedding whether here or in the Caribbean! It’s simple, elegant and practical.
And finally… we all agreed that we needed something a little more fun and frivolous to add to our list of spring favourites! This silk gown is also very light, but has a lovely fluffy skirt accented with silk flowers with shoes to match… and what a wonderful piece to wear for a garden wedding!
Remember… these are only a few of the hundreds of dresses that we have available, including many pieces that are one of a kind. We receive at least one dress every day so the collection is constantly changing.
This week we had a great visit from Michelle Lawrie who is the National Executive Director of Camp Quality (on the right, below). Camp Quality has been one of our beneficiaries since the beginning, and they do incredible work offering the camp environment and other services to children with cancer.
Michelle’s also a newlywed… with a wonderful new addition coming to her family in October!! Congratulations twice over Michelle!
When she dropped by, she brought her stunning gown to offer to another bride, which Helen looks extremely excited about!
Michelle’s dress is a stunning size 10 Maggie Sottero in ivory lace… absolutely DELICIOUS! While she was here, we had a chance to chat about Camp Quality and their amazing services. Michelle had this message to pass along to our Brides’ Project staff and friends,
On July 28th – August 3rd, Camp Quality is partnering with Outward Bound Canada to run a week-long canoe trip in Algonquin Park for young adult cancer fighters, survivors and their siblings. We hope this will be the first of many trips aimed at getting young adults together to meet, bond and overcome some amazing challenges together.
It’s being able to provide kids and youth affected by childhood cancer with opportunities like this that make us so appreciative of the amazing donors who are there to help make them happen! Thank you to the Bride’s Project!
Thanks to all our clientele who have made this possible! And Thanks to Michelle for donating her gorgeous dress! It won’t last long… that’s for sure!
Today we had a lovely surprise… a visit from Jessica with the dress, veil and crinoline that she had bought here. She donated them back so they can be enjoyed again. Congratulations! You obviously had an incredible day, and thank you for sharing that with us.
I just love this picture of Jessica and Neil… she is beaming, and I don’t think her hubby could look more proud A special thanks to Byron Wong of Digistudio for the great shot!
What better thing to do over the long Easter weekend, than find a gorgeous frock at The Brides’ Project and go shopping at the One of a Kind show for a matching headpiece!
We’ve received some absolutely gorgeous dresses lately… in fact, we average at least one a day. Some are shipped from all corners of the country, and others are dropped off at the shop by the lovely brides themselves. Here’s just one example of our new arrivals. If you’d like to try on this timeless lace gown, we have a couple of appointments available this weekend. Click here to book a spot!
And once you have that perfect dress… pop on down to the One of a Kind show for more shopping fun. There you will find not only oodles of amazing handicrafts, but also two of our colleagues who will create the perfect headpiece to accessorize your gown. Or, you might just decide… What’s Easter without a new hat?!!!
You will find Karyn Gingras of Lilliput Hats at Booth I-7:
And… Alisha Stephens of Love Charlie at Booth M-22. I noticed that she also has some bridal headpieces with her at the show.
Sometimes when I wander through the racks upon racks of dresses here, they kinda start to look the same. It’s hard when you’re shopping to sift through and wonder what they’d actually look like on a woman instead of a hanger. Many are truly brought to life by having a bride inside, and this couldn’t be more true with Angela’s dress! She had this piece custom designed for her size 18 figure, and it’s a masterpiece. It beautifully accentuates her curves, and it’s a perfect match for her fun and whimsical self – almost as perfect a match as her hubby Chris!
We were thrilled when Angela popped in a couple of weeks ago and was so excited to hand over her dress and offer it another home. The clincher… she ROCKED the dress, and had such an amazing day that the glow was still there. We share her wish that another bride feels just as incredible in this frock on her special day The headpiece is here as well if you’d like the entire outfit!
Thank you so much Angela! Our staff loved your visit, your exuberance, and the beautiful sentiments you have passed on for the next bride who finds your dress. We’d also like to also thank her photographer Kevin Fung who took these incredible pics.
I can’t believe it’s already the middle of February, and for those getting tired of snow, shoveling, or just the grey days of winter… Family Day means it will soon come to an end! To celebrate, we will be open on Saturday, February 16th as per usual but closed on Sunday, February 17th. We will be back to our regular schedule the following Wednesday.
We get asked frequently about short dresses… tea length is a very ‘in’ style for 2013, particularly for destination weddings or less formal occasions! They also have a few great advantages; they’re much less heavy, they’re much cooler to wear, and… no fuss, no bustle… you can simply just dance the night away. Or ride a bike… or… use your imagination to have fun in it!
Recently we gave Belinda Dhubb several older silks… many of which retailed for 4000 Euros or more. They needed some sprucing up, and she focused on the shorter gown market.
Here are some examples!
Dress 1 before: This was a very dated Italian silk… great fabric and a neat design with the handkerchief skirt. After: So fun and flirty – and light!!! The silk organza skirt moves beautifully and some cute flowers were added to the top
Dress 2 before: This poor dress had suffered too much damage from people pulling at the delicate fabric. There was still much that could be used, so we didn’t want to throw it away! Belinda worked her magic on this one! After: I especially love the shoulder detail that she added. The silk organza makes it super soft and supple, and the beading under the empire waist adds a beautiful focal point.
Dress 3 before: This dress was pretty before, but rather plain. After being on the racks for a while, we retired it until we could have a pro give it a second chance. After: I absolutely love the changes that were made. The addition of the asymmetrical floral embroidery is gorgeous, and the lace detailing at the top of the bodice and hem adds softness to the design. The colours now blend perfectly, and this short little number is just sweet!
Dress 4 before: WOW. This is a 4500 Euro dress made of fine Italian silk. But… very dated, almost Victorian in appearance! The transformation is incredible… see below! After: Again, a little more of the floral embroidery was added for interest, and this lovely ’60s inspired piece will find a home fast!
Belinda also included a few trendy pieces for more mature brides who aren’t looking for a full-length gown. Again, high end silks and laces were used to create some beautiful dresses, and these are the end product of her inspired creativity.
In total, we have at least 25 shorter dresses here, and many of the longer gowns can easily be converted!!! If you have any questions related to redesigning a dress, perhaps even your Mum’s gown, give Belinda a call. She can be reached at 905-790-8416 or drop her a line at belindadhubb@hotmail.com
Once again, The Brides’ Project will have a booth at the Spring Show and we invite everyone to stop by on your way to the cake samples. Say hello and ask questions while you’re checking out vendors and the fashion shows. Brides-to-be are free! All info can be found on their website:
http://spring.nationalbridalshow.com/
See you there!
January 25 – 27, 2013
Location:
Hall D, Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place
Show Times:
Friday: 5pm – 9pm
Saturday: 10am – 8pm
Sunday: 10am – 6pm
Happy Holidays to everyone… including our very hardworking volunteers! To let everyone enjoy time with friends and family, we’ll be keeping the following hours during the holidays:
Saturday December 22nd: 10am – 5pm (regular hours)
Sunday December 23rd: 3pm – 5pm only
Wednesday December 26th: Closed for Boxing Day
Thursday December 27th: By Appointment Only – if this is the only day you can come, email us for an appointment
Saturday December 29th: 10am – 5pm (regular hours)
Sunday December 30th: 12pm -5pm (regular hours)
All regular hours will be kept as of January 2nd.
I can’t believe it’s upon us already… Labour Day weekend is coming up, the EX is here, and soon it’s back to school for teachers & students. To celebrate (or have one final day of R&R) to mark this momentous “end of summer” weekend, we will be open on Saturday, September 1st as per usual but closed on Sunday, September 2. We will be back to our regular schedule the following Wednesday.
We wish you and yours a safe and happy long weekend, wherever you are!
It’s Canada Day long weekend, which means we will be open on Saturday, June 30 as per usual but closed on Sunday, July 1. Hopefully you, dear readers, will be spending that day in the most leisurely way possible!
We will be back to our regular schedule the following Wednesday… long live Canada and long live long weekends!
It’s that time of the year again, when the volunteers and friends of The Brides’ Project tie corsets and shoelaces and show everyone how it’s done! This is where the rubber meets the road, or in our case where the wedding dresses drag in the grass for 12 hours to raise money for Sunnybrook Hospital’s Odette Cancer Centre.
Relay For Life – Toronto Central
When: Friday, June 15th – 7 pm to 7 am
Where: Sunnybrook Park, Toronto, Ontario
Our team page: The Brides’ Project in Relay For Life 2012
Our top team is once again headed by our illustrious captain, Helen Sweet, donning a dress that defies all laws of physics to raise awareness about what we do for the community. We guarantee you will want to bring a camera as it is a one-day-a-year outfit extravaganza, all in the name of fundraising
Why we Relay
The Brides’ Project has been involved with Relay for Life for the last 5 years, and in that time Cari and her crew have instilled a great sense of purpose amongst our team! We emerged from ‘just’ being an enthusiastic bunch of women flounting wedding dresses, to one of the event’s top fundraisers.
We want to continue in that tradition, having seen the impact of the funds raised for the Canadian Cancer Society through this event. Join us in the fight against cancer by supporting our team now. It’s easy – just click on the blue “Donate to this team” button to make a donation to the event.
Learn more about why the Canadian Cancer Society is our best partner in the fight against cancer at www.cancer.ca
As of today (June 7):
Goal: $20,000.00
Achieved: $17,507.00
Please help us reach our goal by sponsoring our team, or come to the park and join us in our 12-hour wedding march!
Hello Dear Brides!
It’s that time of the year again when we tip our collective hats to old Queen Vic (May 24, 1819-January 22, 1901), who has long passed but whose May birthday marks the unofficial beginning of summer. To this we say, “Cheers!”
As is our custom, we will be closed on the Sunday but open on the Saturday. Our regular business hours on Saturday, May 19 are 10am-5pm, but we will be closed on Sunday, May 20th. This weekend’s forecast is for sunshine, so we hope everyone can enjoy the break outside!
… and we only have until May 20 to do it! It is a contest to get Toronto Maple Leaf’s Tyler Bozak to support a local cause, and the only way we can win is to get ourselves up to the top of his list.
How do we do it? By VOTING! Just click on the website once a day until the campaign ends May 20. Tell all your friends to click it, too, which bumps our campaign up. If we win, Tyler joins our Relay For Life team and will walk with us on June 15, as either another bride (we’ll make that dress fit!) or a groom. Relay For Life is the Canadian Cancer Society’s biggest annual event, raising funds for the Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre. The official contest entry by Cari Miller from the Canadian Cancer Society:
Here Comes The Bride!
toronto, onwho wouldn’t want to see tyler in a wedding gown? the brides’ project attends relay for life each year sporting wedding gowns, and he would be a great addition to the team. you pick, tyler– you can be a bride or a groom surrounded by brides! this great event is in toronto’s sunnybrook park, and it raises money for the sunnybrook odette cancer centre and the canadian cancer society. tyler’s support would mean a lot, and we think he would look awesome in a wedding gown! swap the hockey fight for wedding white and join us this june!
We would LOVE LOVE LOVE to have a Toronto Maple Leafs hockey player on our Relay For Life team to help us achieve our fundraising goals. You can help us just by voting for our joint effort with the Canadian Cancer Society and let Tyler know how much we’d love to have his support. Wouldn’t you love to see an NHL hockey player in a wedding dress?
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