Last winter I attended a meeting for the Rising Tide Society where I met Jess, one of the owners of The Modern Bride boutique, located in Guelph Ontario.   I was so impressed with Jess, and her new store sounded gorgeous.  I knew that I needed an excuse to check it out!  I have always loved wedding dresses and, even after I got married, I still love to see what’s in style.    So, I asked Jess if I could go to her store to take a tour and ask her about current trends in wedding dresses.

A few months after our initial meeting, I finally went to The Modern Bride boutique.  When I stepped inside, the boutique blew me away!   Jess, co-owns the store with her mother Donna who is also an interior designer.   They renovated and restored the 3rd and 4th floor of the historic Petrie building located in downtown Guelph.  The whole space has so much natural light that taking photos was amazing.  The design of the space and the decor is beautiful.  It’s truly a dreamy bridal gown oasis.

Here’s a peek into the boutique…

Here’s the super stylish Jess in the bridal gown loft.

There are three different areas for you to show off your gown.  First, there are two semi-private areas at the front of the building.   One is called the “Jade” room and the other is the “Pearl” room.  Both areas are bathed in floor to ceiling natural light.  Your group will  take their seat while you change in your private area.  When you emerge, you will be the brightest thing in the room…

The third room is called the “Opal” room.  This private room is lovely, and intimate.  You will be led through double doors to this private change room/ viewing area where you and your closest can decide on a gown.

See what I mean about the Modern Bride being a dreamy bridal gown oasis?  This boutique is gorgeous and it’s the perfect place for a modern bride to choose a gown…

So, onto the questions…

Nicole:  How long have have you been in business?

Nicole:  What brands of wedding gowns do you carry?

Jess:    Pronovias & Atelier Pronovias; designed in Spain, Blush by Hayley Paige; designed in New York, Anais Anette; Canadian, Made With Love Bridal; Australian, Tatyana Merenyuk; New York, Alexandra Grecco; New York, Theia Bridal; New York, Soft by Rosa Clara; Spain and a brand new line called Jackson & Grace that is also made in Canada.

Nicole:  What can a bride expect when she books an appointment at The Modern Bride?

Jess:    Dedicated service and an amazing experience. We stock our Dress Loft with fresh and unique gowns to browse and staff that can help navigate your requests to help find the one! We truly pride ourselves on being able to provide a pressure free, relaxing and fun environment. After all, buying your wedding dress is one of the most fun parts of the wedding planning experience! The whole appointment is very laid back, we chat a bit about style preferences, where she is a getting married, breaking the ice so everyone is comfortable before we start the appointment. Then we bring the bride and her entourage upstairs into the Dress Loft and explain where how everything is organized and then she can pick whatever she’d like! Once we have a a good amount of gowns to try on, we venture back onto the 3rd floor and begin the best part – trying on the gowns! If she happens to say yes, we celebrate with a bit of bubbly and if not, she can always come back to try on her favourites at another time. The entire appointment is really enjoyable and we love getting to know each and every one of the brides that come in!

Nicole:  What type of bride does The Modern Bride cater to?

Jess:   Our bride is laid back but has a certain attention to detail. Her wedding is personal and meaningful without too many unnecessary bells and whistles. She appreciates beautiful fabric and a well made garment but also loves to be barefoot. She cares where her clothes are made and where she spends her money. She likes shopping local and know that is where you can often find something unique. She loves patio season, and trying new restaurants. She’s adventurous, witty and self assured. She brings a few trusted people with her to her appointment cause she knows in the end they will support her in finding something that makes her feel like an elevated version of herself.

Nicole:  What are some current trends in bridal gowns?

Jess:  Plunging neckline, cut outs and barely there lace. Bridal trends are changing so quickly, it’s amazing to see the new details that designers are coming up with! We love to keep on top of the trends but we also like to make sure that we have pieces that still have a traditional element – a little something for every one!

Here’s some examples of the gorgeous gowns and accessories in the loft…

The Modern Bride truly has a wedding gown and the accessories to suit every modern bride.   I was so impressed with my visit to the boutique and I definitely think it’s worth the drive to Guelph to have a unique bridal shopping experience!