"My Maya Couture Experience" Advice From a Bride: Kim Parham Grubb

Every woman dreams of her wedding day and finding that perfect dress.  It is one of the most important aspects for the bride when planning her wedding. I too envisioned finding the perfect wedding dress for the perfect wedding day.  To complete this important objective, I visited the premier bridal studio in Hampton Roads, Maya Couture, to find the dress I had always dreamed about.  When entering the beautiful showroom, I was overwhelmed by the countless and amazing bridal gowns to choose from.  The consultant really took the time to find out exactly what type of gown I was looking for down to even the smallest detail.  After trying on a variety of gowns, I found the wedding gown that was made for me.  The gown was an ivory and satin, A-line dress dazzled with crystal accents on the straps, a creation by designer Jim Hjelm.  The theme of the wedding was simple elegance and this dress encompassed that vision. Maya Couture features other services for all your wedding planning needs. In addition to finding my wedding gown, I was also able to get all of my bridesmaids dresses, save the date cards, programs, reception menus and invitations.  It is one stop shopping at its best! Maya Couture’s commitment to making each bride, like myself, feel special made my wedding planning experience memorable and truly enjoyable! I would like to give a special thanks to the staff at Maya Couture and Maya for helping in making my wedding day so special.

As the store owner, there is nothing more rewarding then hearing stories like Kim's.  At the end of the day, what we want for our brides is for their visions to become a reality, and for our "One Stop Shop" to help them achieve that seamlessly.  Kim was nothing short of gorgeous on her wedding day, and it's testimonials like these that make our job as rewarding as it is!

Have a story for Maya and the girls at Maya Couture?  E-mail us at maya@mayacouture.com with photos and testimonials!

The Beauty of a Quirky Winter Wedding & The Ideal Bridal Consultants!

Even though we live in Hampton Roads, where in January it can be 10 degrees or 75 degrees, brides planning winter weddings still grace Maya Couture to find their dream dress.  Megan Taylor was one of those brides.  She came in the store and worked with Hannah and Misty to search for her perfect New Years Day wedding dress last August.  Because of time constraints and being an out-of-town bride, she bought a beautiful sample gown that we'd just gotten in.  She was all about the atmosphere of the event, and with snow on the ground and her girls in red, the scenery was gorgeous for their wedding day.  See her photos below, with a review that she wrote later:

I just wanted to send out a special Thank You to you and your staff...especially Hannah and Misty.  I was in the shop last August, and ended up purchasing a sample dress on a whim.  It was the PERFECT dress for my slightly unconventional wedding.  Our wedding was held in Vermont on New Year\s Day (1.1.11).  We were married by our good friend who was ordained online, we had a flowerboy, groomsmaids, and the actually ceremony was in pub.

Again, please thank Misty and Hannah for their help.  And let Misty know that we ended up with a Dave Matthews song.

Cheers!

One of the great things about being a bridal consultant is being able to help with all aspects of a bride's wedding.  We can help you visualize the full outfit, and each consultant has "specialties" in different areas.  Misty and Tyler are our more alternative consultants with tattoos and indie music tastes.  Felicia and Patsy give great perspectives as former mothers of brides and grooms while still being in touch with what's current today.  Melinda is from Australia, and is getting married this weekend, so knows what it's like to be in that very moment!  Sarah is our resident fashionista, who also works at a modeling agency on the side.  Laura and Anzen see things from a design perspective- Anzen is our in-house designer with a degree from VCU, and Laura is new on board with a fashion degree from Virginia Tech.  Courtney is the ultimate "girl next door".  No matter what, you're guaranteed to find the perfect consultant to help you plan your dream wedding- whether it be a quirky Vermont winter wedding at a pub or a traditional wedding in a cathedral!  

Maya Couture Selected as a Top 50 Best Wedding Salon Nationwide

Maya Couture was honored to learn we were voted as one of the "50 Best Independent Wedding Salons" in the April 2011 Issue of BRIDES Magazine. We were chosen by real brides and industry experts across the country based on product selection, service, price, ambiance, and more!! BRIDES Magazine is the number one bridal magazine in the world, so this is quite a feather in our cap!

Big Trunk Show Weekend - Gifts and Goodies for You and Your Bridal Party

I had to Blog about the weekend of events we're having beginning tomorrow (April 14th) because we have something for everyone!!  For brides who are still searching for the perfect gown you need to come see the new Pronovias bridal collection.  I think it goes without saying that Pronovias offers some of the most stunning and unique bridal gowns you will ever see.  Incredible fit, great fabrics, and intricate details make this line our best selling collection.  Our brides just can't get enough of these gorgeous gowns.  Here are two I love.

If it's bridesmaid dresses you're seeking, look no further.  We picked up the Belsoie and B2 lines last season and they are quickly becoming our #1 requested line for the bridal party.  With the flexibility to change fabrics, and lengths (knee, tea, and floor lengths), plus loads of colors to choose from, it's impossible not to find the perfect dress for your bridal party that's affordable and stylish.

We can't forget about accessories.  Searching for the perfect statement piece to wear with your gown, or a whimsical piece to accessorize your bridal party?  And, speaking of the bridal party, what are you going to get them for attendant gifts?  I have the solution for all of the above, and it's a HUGE bridal trend right now - bold, chunky,colorful bobbles for everyone.  Stella & Dot has the perfect jewels for every bride and her maids.  You can come in and try on these goodies all weekend long or view the selections and purchase online.  Want a unique way to kick-off a bridal shower or bachelorette party?  Host an in-house trunk show with our jewelry guru and stylist Tammy Medalis.  http://www.stelladot.com/sites/tamtan



Here are some of the hottest items in the new collection - available for preview and purchase at Maya Couture through Sunday April 17th.

To pull all the pieces of your wedding looks together this is the time to visit Maya Couture.  Enjoy goodies, prizes, and perks all weekend long!!  Call 757-461-1690 to book your appointment today!

Today's Bridal Statistics & Trends

One of the most exciting aspects of the bridal industry for me is following the trends and watching the state of the industry grow and change.  In order to be successful we have to know who our customer is; intimately!  Our goal is to learn as much about the trends and our clients so we can fulfill their needs and exceed expectations.

I recently read an article on who today's bride is and wanted to share it with you. See how you stack up to the rest of the couples in the country who are in the process of planning a wedding.  These are just some fun facts and observations for you to enjoy.  The sources of these findings will be listed at the end of this post.

First and foremost the age of the first-time bride and groom is getting older.  The average age for first-time brides is 27.6, and 29.5 for grooms.  This age has steadily increased over the last three decades.  Many couples live together before saying "I do" and are more focused on career development, therefore putting off the walk down the aisle.  furthermore, many couples today are paying for part or all of the wedding expenses.

Today's couples are no-nonsense and know what they want.  The bride is a fashion-savvy, do-it-yourself'er who values a full-service store with experts who will make her experience pleasurable, personal and convenient.  That's good news for us since we are a full-service, one-stop-shop!!

Less formal and more personal, unique affairs that celebrate the individual is the most popular approach to planning these days.  More than 29% of couples incorporate a wedding logo or monogram into their wedding day details.  Only 20% of the weddings in 2009 were classified as "formal/black tie".  The average wedding has 149 guests, and is a three day celebration comprised of the rehearsal dinner, wedding and reception, and post-wedding brunch.

Planning a wedding takes time!  The average length of engagements is 14 months.  The most popular month to get engaged is December with 16% of all proposals taking place at the end of the year.  June remains the most popular month to get married with 17% of all ceremonies taking place.  It's followed by August, September, and October.

82% of couples set a wedding budget, with the average costing about $28,082, and the bulk of the budget going towards the venue.  81% of couples will enjoy a honeymoon for an average of 7.6 days and the cost of 3,473.00.


What are today's bridal wear trends?

Two trends I've touched on before seem to still be growing stronger and stronger.  The first is floral embellishments.  Bold and structured or soft and sweet, flowers are everywhere!  They really ooze of romance.  You just can't go wrong in my eyes!

 The next trend definitely speaks to individuality, and that is the "little short wedding gown".  Changing dresses or having a convertible dress (changing necklines, shoulder straps, or hem lengths) is really big right now.  The dress in the picture below is one of my favorites and we can't keep this gown in stock it's so popular!

Hints of bold black are really popular today.  Whether in headpieces, shoes, or sashes, this small accent makes a huge statement and offers a unique flair!

 This is one of our brides photographed by Twilight Images by Melody Smith

The color of the moment is grey.  I know it sounds blahhhh, but when you pair it with almost any shade of yellow,purple,or orange or with antique white the palette is so striking.  See how one of our bridal parties wore it below.

 This photo was provided by Keith Cephus Photography.

Grey is so big right now we actually have a new, tailored grey tuxedo for rental.  It's darker than the heather grey, but not quite black.  The color is rich and modern...this tuxedo is sharp!

Today tuxedo rentals can have that tailored custom look!  A very hot look for the guys is the introduction of the flat-front tuxedo pant.  Available in black and white, these pants enhance the overall look and feel of today's hottest tuxedo styles.  These are great for the metro-sexual, or fashion forward man who desires  clean lines and an impeccable fit.

This is a very exciting time for couples who are planning a wedding.  Based on the statistics you have more resources at your disposal, you have more control over the planning and details to make sure it has your personal stamp on the biggest celebration of your life, and the trends today are all about making sure your individuality and the the elements that make your union special can be celebrated however you see fit!

Happy Planning!
-Maya

Resources: Vows: The Bridal & Wedding Business Journal,  The Knot's 2009 Real Weddings Survey, Conde' Nast's American Wedding Study 2009

The New Look of Maya Couture

I'm so happy to announce that Maya Couture has a new look!  As we continue to build our brand and grow as a company we strive to evolve and become more visible and accessible to our clients.  I'm so proud of our new image and hope you like our new look too!

I have to extend a huge thanks to my dear friend and graphic designer Katie Bundy.  Her ability to clearly understand our vision and mission is truly a gift.  Her talent and aesthetic blew me away.  I know you'll see why when you visit our new site.  She was patient, and clearly communicated to me what she needed to make our new look possible.  It was the perfect collaboration.  Thank you Katie!!  You can find her contact information at the bottom of this post.

The first step was to create a new logo.  After numerous edits and tweaks I fell in love with this one.  The MC watermark I feel emphasizes our brand and combined with the two different fonts in the store name and bridal salon is modern yet timeless and is still feminine.  Here's the new Maya Couture logo...

We've also freshened up our advertisements.  You will find our new ads in VOW Bride and Hampton Roads Wedding Guide.  I think the image supports our goal to provide our brides the best selection and gowns that grace the pages of the most popular bridal magazines and runways of today's leading wedding designers.  More importantly it reinforces our commitment to you by offering the services and products to bring the wedding of your dreams to life!

But I have to say the grand finale is our new website!  Our goal was to present our visitors with a site that showcases our one-stop-shopping concept, oozes of wedding details, and is romantic, but that is also functional and informative. Our new site is also a celebration and testament to the growth of our brand, our reputation, and the mark we've made and continue to make in the bridal industry!  I hope you enjoy visiting our new site, and that you find the content helpful and will encourage you to visit us!

For the new site click on the link - www.mayacouture.com

If you're ready for a new look you can contact Katie:

Katie Bundy
Twelve 24 Design, LLC
757- 343-9145
kb@twelve24design.com
www.twelve24design.com

Meet Designer Matthew Christopher

Brides of Hampton Roads, are you seeking a fresh new look for your bridal gown that's glamorous, fashion forward, yet sophisticated and offers some of the most exquisite details in bridal designs today?  If so, a Matthew Christopher gown may be waiting for you!

We are so happy to introduce Matthew Christopher and his stunning silhouettes to you during an exclusive trunk show of his collection!

You can see his designs on the runway at the VOW Bridal Event Sunday, February 20th at the Virginia Beach Convention Center.  Doors open at 11:30AM.

On Monday February 21st you can meet the designer and try on his gowns during an exclusive showing of his collection at our store!  Doors will open at 9:00AM.  Call 757-461-1690 to schedule your appointment with Matthew Christopher.

We look forward to welcoming Matthew to Hampton Roads and introducing him to our lovely brides!