Real Weddings Magazine - Issue #27-F20-DIGITAL - The Best Wedding Vendors in Sacramento, Tahoe and throughout Northern California are all here

BOOK YOUR DREAM WEDDING
HISTORIC OAKDALE RANCH
Wedding & Event Venue
(530) 507-8048 oakdaleranch@hotmail.com
historicoakdaleranch.com
expert advice
BRIDAL BOUTIQUES
A bride’s wedding attire is
the most self-expressive
garment she will ever
purchase, says Sandra
Gonzalez, founder and
creative director at
Sparkle Bridal Couture.
However, shopping for
and trying on dresses is
a bridal experience that
will change to enforce
COVID-19 precautions.
At Sparkle Bridal Couture,
Gonzalez continues
to focus on creating a safe
space for plus-size brides.
“We are known for our spacious bridal lounges,
and now we’ve made them even more ample to accommodate
for social distancing,” she says. “We’ve
expanded our virtual experiences too—from directto-bride
shopping and curbside pick-up, to video
consultations and Zoom party calls with the bride’s
loved ones who cannot be with her at her appointment,
along with more options to accommodate
brides’ schedules and needs.”
At The Clothes Mine, Owner Tracy Lindenberger
has been navigating the changes at bridal appointments
to ensure the safety of both the store’s staff
and the customers. “Brides will need to be prepared
that their dress shopping experiences will be different
no matter what,” Lindenberger says. “Stores will be
different—but we promise to still make it special.”
She suggests brides call the stores in advance to
make appointments and ask how the appointment
will go. “Find out what will be different and how you
should be prepared for new safety precautions,” she
says. “At The Clothes Mine, we will avoid close contact
during bridal appointments. I suggest brides bring a
friend or relative who can help in the fitting room to
zip up and secure the dresses. We’ll request everyone
wear masks. The experience will be slightly more
self-service, but we will make sure we’re assisting and
sharing our knowledge.”
More signage will be posted around the store to
answer frequently asked questions, including how
long will it take to order and ship the dress. “If you
are proceeding with your
original wedding date, ask
the store if they’ll sell a
dress to you off the rack.
It can take four to six
months to order a dress.
Or you can ask if you
can buy the samples, or
ask about other options
the story may offer,” she
shares. “Rush shipping is
also an option, and you
should trust the expertise
of the store you’re working
with.”
Liz Eisen, owner of De
KELSEY & JOE ELOPED 5/24/20
PLANNING AN IN-PERSON RECEPTION FOR SUMMER 2021
PHOTO BY DEE & KRIS PHOTOGRAPHY / DEEANDKRISPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
SPARKLE BRIDAL COUTURE STYLIST TAYLOR
WITH A LITTLE COVID-19 HUMOR
PHOTO BY SPARKLE BRIDAL COUTURE / SPARKLEBRIDALCOUTURE.COM
La Rosa’s Bridal & Tuxedo,
is continuing to work with
brides and grooms on
their orders, some including
rush shipping. “We
have been trying to be
mindful with our brides
as they come in with their
wedding plans set in the
upcoming months,” she
says. “We have been able
to get gowns right away,
whether in stock or on
a rush order. Because
we do on-site alterations,
we’ve been able to
accommodate our customers
with fast turnaround alterations. Our tuxedo
company we work with is also able to still send out
tuxes or suits for the men. We are all in this together
and we will get through it in time.”
WEDDING PLANNERS
Veronica Enns, owner and wedding planner at The
530 Bride, is continuing to work remotely, while
providing support to her clients through email, phone
and virtual planning sessions. “We’re leveraging our
online planning dashboard,” she says. “We have created
a process for assisting couples with the steps for
being prepared to postpone to hopefully make that
process a bit more streamlined and less of an impact
on couples.”
Communication is key, not just with updating your
vendors but also alerting guests to any changes. “We
recommend using your wedding website to update
any changes or even having one family member or
your planner assist with reaching out to guests if any
changes need to be communicated or confirmed with
guests,” she says.
Cain Event Planning Owner Rachelle Cain-Wiggins
is focusing on being flexible during this time. “Couples
need empathy first,” she says. “It’s an emotional time.
Wedding logistics and details come second after acknowledging
their feelings and how I can best service
them during this time.”
Kristina Foerster of Events by Kristina Elyse is also
adjusting to follow the orders from the Governor’s office
as they are released.
“Due to the shelter in
place mandate, all our
April to June weddings
have been pushed to
later this year or early
next year. This is new for
everyone, so all we can
do is stay flexible, patient
and positive.”
Danielle Roe is making
herself available to
clients at any given time.
“We are working with our
clients to provide nearly
round-the-clock manage-
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