Emporium Bridal Expo Recap (Part 2)

Hello Zimbo Brides! Here’s Part 2 of my Emporium Bridal Expo Recap. This part is focused on the wedding attire (dresses, suits and accessories) and florists.

Wedding Attire

1.       Angelic Looks Bridal

Angelic Looks stocks wedding gowns from some well-known designers: Alfred Angelo, Pronovias, Sincerity, Benjamin Roberts, Modeca, Tia, Bonny and Linzi. If you want the dream designer gown at a reasonable price, this is the place to go! I know a certain bride (*cough* Nyasha *cough*) who’s got her eye set on a certain Alfred Angelo dress...

Address: 9 Frinton Ave, Mabelreign, Harare

Tel: +2634334208/+26342900360

Mobile: +263 772 278 885/+263 772 804 671

2.       EuStellar House of Brides

EuStellar surely is a one-stop shop for the couple and their team. They stock gowns, bridesmaid dresses, groom and groomsmen suits. They also do hair, make-up and nails. This is the place to go for the fuss-free bride. For our Bulawayo brides, EuStellar House of Brides is in your city as well.

Address: 7 Admore Close, Chisipite, Harare

Mobile: +263 773 404 470

Byo Address : 37a Brentwood Road, Matsheumhlope, Bulawayo

Mobile: +263 772 703 017

Email: eustellarbrides@gmail.com

3.       J.B. Couture

I love the fact that we have local wedding dress designers!!! Joanne Burger offers wedding and formal dress designs that are in a class of their own. They are purely breathtaking! She designs according to your taste and body shape, and consultations are strictly by appointment. I would recommend her to the fashion-forward bride and bridesmaids, or someone who wants a personal touch to her dress.

Address:16 Kew Drive, Highlands, Harare

Mobile: +263 776 188 137

Email: joanneburger@hotmail.com

Website: www.joanneburger.com

4.       La Collezione Dei Conti

Haute couture? No, it’s hott couture (I’m allowed one corny statement per post); Italian designs for the discerning couple. The company is based in Sandton, but you can place an order and have it delivered here in Zimbabwe. And with the designs that were on display, you’d want to place an order. There was this gorgeous bustier made of pearls that was on display, the only one of its kind. Oooooh... if I hadn’t already had a dress, I would’ve splurged on it!

Address: Shop U20c Upper Level, Michelangelo Towers Mall, No. 8 Maude Street, Sandton 2196

Tel: +27 11 025 3839

Mobile: +27 76 878 6878

Email: lcdeiconti@gmail.com

Website: www.lcdeiconti.co.za

5.       Brides & Dames

Brides and Dames has lovely wedding gowns and accessories, all you need to complete your wedding look. Fittings are strictly by appointment, so make sure you make a booking before you show up at their store. Word on the street says that they have new gowns in stock, so make that booking fast to see their new styles.

P.S.: Check out their wedding planning and decor company as well: http://www.facebook.com/BridesDamesPlanningDecor

Address: Shop 5 Mon Repos Mall, Newlands Shopping Centre, Harare

Mobile: +263 735 752 762

Email: info@bridesanddames.com

Website: www.bridesanddames.com

6.       Status-Quo for Men

Visit Status-Quo for suits at reasonable prices. Pick up a shirt, tie and cufflinks while you’re at it. All you need for the groom, groomsmen and the fathers is in Status-Quo.

Address: Shop 15 Mon Repos Building, Newlands, Harare

Mobile: +263 775 676 100

Emergency No: +263 712 800 183

Email: statusquonewlands@yahoo.com 

Florists

1.       Kirsty Jean Flowers & Decor

All I could say when I saw the stand for Kirsty Jean was... wow! I say it again, two weeks later... wow! Gorgeous decor, excellent centrepieces, and the wooden shelter that housed their creations? Erected it themselves! I’m a creative person, and I believe in celebrating creativity. Kirsty Jean, I celebrate you!!

Address:12 Knowles Close, Mt. Pleasant, Harare

Mobile:+263 772 289 557

Email: kirstyjean@sdzim.com

2.       Barbreanne

Confession time: This stand caught my attention because of the floral arrangements which had purple flowers. I love purple and our wedding theme includes purple, so obviously my first question was whether I’d still find purple flowers for my wedding in a few months. I loved her honesty and the way she was so helpful. A refreshing quality when all you hear sometimes is, “Ha, don’t worry, tinazvo zvese (we have it all)!” I recommend them highly.

Address:39 Argyle Road, Avondale, Harare

Tel: +263 4 2930234

 Cell: +263 774 077 600

Email: linnells@mweb.co.zw

I hope you find Part 2 useful. Again, this is only from my first impressions on visiting the vendors’ stand. I’d love to hear from brides who’ve had personal experience with our above vendors. The last part, Part 3, will showcase the rest of the vendors who exhibited. Equipment hiring, cakes, sounds, you’ll find it all there!

Emporium Bridal Expo Recap (Part 1)

Last Friday and Saturday were great days for future brides and wedding enthusiasts as Zimbabwean wedding vendors came out of hiding and gave us a great event. The expo was held on the 27^th and the 28^th of July 2012. Hosted by the Wedding Emporium, it made me realise that we’re stepping up our game when it comes to weddings. The previous generation’s view on weddings is being replaced by our own. Brides and grooms are now taking control of their day and fulfilling their vision for their special day!  I’ve decided to write my review outlining my personal experience with the exhibitors. I’ve added their contact details for those who’ll want to work with them.

Venues

These are the venues that exhibited. I unfortunately could not take pictures, but their stands were gorgeous!

1.   

           Bliss Garden and Hiring services

The event coordinator, Rutendo, was representing the above venue. I fell in love with her immediately, not only because we share the same name J. She knew her job, and was very professional. She is very accommodating, and is someone you’d want to work with. Not only is it a garden venue, they also do decor and equipment hire.

Address: 10 Elsworth Avenue, Belgravia (off 2^nd str. Ext)

                        Cnr Huyton and Pringle Road, Mandara

Tel: (+263) 4 795144, 795162, 795067

Cell: 0773 215 343

Email:partybitz@bliss.co.zw

www.bliss.co.zw

2.       Wild Geese Lodge

The representative for Wild Geese Lodge was a treat to talk to. I got to the stand, and had no idea what to ask her. She must have sensed my trepidation, cause she got up and started to ask me various questions and told me about their venue. By the time she was finished, I had all the important details of their venue and how they coordinate events. From my first impression, they’re great to work with if you need people who can pre-empt you, and will do above what you ask them to do.

Address: 2 Buckland Lane, Teviotdale, Harare, Zimbabwe

                         Tel/Fax: +263 4 2930379, 2917977-9

                         Tellular: +263 772 145 103

                         Email: events@wildgeese.co.zw

                         Web: www.wildgeeselodge.com

3.       Dunhu Ramambo

Dunhu Ramambo consists of 3 lodges: Chengeta, Pamuzinda and Umbozha Houseboats. Not only can they be wedding venues, they also can double as honeymoon getaways. They sound great for those couples who wanna get away, but don’t want to travel too far.

Cell: +263 772 573 022 or +263 772 568 832

Emails: reservations@chengeta.com

                        headoffice@dunhuramambo.com

                        reservations@pamuzinda.com

4.       Pamvura-By the Water

I had no idea this venue existed until I went to the Weddings Wow Stand! I thank God for events like these. Pamvura is located on the North Shore of Lake Chivero. I can imagine weddings by the water, pun intended, and Zimbo versions of beach weddings! I’m not too sure about kid-friendliness though...

Tel: +263 4 2930234

 Cell: +263 774 077 600

Email: linnells@mweb.co.zw

P.S: From the people that give you Pamvura, also give you  the African tree of Life, a metal baobab tree that has glasses filled with a signature cocktail for leaves. I thought that was such a creative idea! For those who want to add a bit of novelty to their cocktail hour, this is the way to go!

Photography

1.     

            Precious Memories Photography

I did not manage to speak to the owner of this company, but from the flier I saw, they must be brilliant. They also do special event and studio photography.

Bridget Doran

Mobile: +263 772 415 590

Email: brigie78@gmail.com

2.       Wild & Wonderful Photography

They do Weddings, Bridal Photography, Portraits, corporate functions, special events, wildlife, and so on. Again, I did not manage to see their work, but from their flyer, they must be good!

Mobile: +263 774 935 185

Email: wildandwonderfulphotos@gmail.com

Phew! Here’s a little snippet of what I experienced, and I hope future brides will find this helpful. Look out for Part 2, where I give you details on where you can get dresses, as well as decor and flowers.

 This is a review based on first impressions, not personal experience; if any brides have had personal experiences with these vendors, we’d love to hear from you!

The Pros and Cons of Garden Weddings

One of our readers asked us what to take into consideration when thinking of  having a garden wedding. Here is the answer, Zimbo style.

Sarris Gardens

Zimbabwe is a predominantly sunny country and a great place to hold outdoor weddings. Garden weddings are trending more and more in Zim, and because of that, we’ve come up with a short list of the pros and cons of having a garden wedding.

Mystique Weddings

Pros:

·      One stop shop venue

Many of the garden venues in Zimbabwe are big enough for the ceremony and reception to be held in one place.  Photos can be taken there as well, which is great news for us. You know how us Zimbos love our garden photos!

·      Less floral décor needed

The beauty of a garden wedding is that it does not need much floral décor. Using the flowers and plants of the venue to accent your décor is a great way to save money.

·      Unlimited number of guests

    Garden Wedding venues range from open spaces to intimate garden restaurants. Whether you want a small wedding for less than 50 or a huge wedding for more than 200, there is a venue that can cater for all tastes.

Florence Chisholm Park

      Cons:

·      Weather Dependent

Zimbabwe has beautiful weather, but our summer season is also our rainy season. The rain is unpredictable, so if you’re having a summer wedding, make sure you have a back-up indoors plan or you have hired a tent.

·      Ensure Guests are Comfortable

The Zimbabwean sun is brutal, be it summer or winter. Ensure guests have water, fans and an umbrella, or if you can’t provide for all your guests, make sure you include the information on your invitation.

·      Limited Dress Code

Ladies! Garden weddings and stilettos are a no-no! I know, I’ve done it before! It is not comfortable walking around on your tiptoes to avoid having your heels sink into the soft red soil! Wear wedges, stacked heels and chunky heels instead; they are trending nowadays.

·      Experienced Planner Required

A garden wedding is difficult to plan, with the additional expense of hiring equipment such as chairs, tables, and so on. Nowadays the garden wedding venues provide all the equipment needed, but in cases where the hiring is to be done from outside sources, an experienced planner is needed to keep track of all your vendors.

Buxton Park 

Garden weddings are quite difficult to plan, but when executed well, are memorable events. All you need is to keep the above points in mind.

We would love to hear from our brides who are planning a garden wedding or who had a garden wedding. What did you go through? What other pros or cons would you add?

Vendor Review: Mosha Bridal

I’m still squealing internally.... I finally have a dress!!! And the bridal salon I’ve decided to  purchase it from... Mosha Bridal. It’s this cute little bridal salon at the Eastgate shopping centre, specialising in wedding and special occasion dresses. After many weeks of indecision (and waiting for my mom to come and fall in love with my choice), we put down our deposit for the dress.

I enjoyed my time there. They have a fair selection of dresses, ranging from the super-poufy, to the streamlined. They charge $5 for trying on 5 dresses, and no appointment is necessary. I would recommend though, that as they grow more popular, they start booking fitting appointments.

The consultants are quite friendly and professional. They seem perpetually busy though, so it’s a bit frustrating if you are in a hurry, because they will leave you alone to attend to “something else.” Going there when you have lots of time is a must.

The bridesmaids dresses? Divine!!! I have to go there again and find out if they have the bridesmaid dresses my maid of honour and I have agreed on.

Here is my enthusiastic review of Mosha Bridal, and I hope they only get better!!!


Mosha Bridal Salon
Shop 20, Eastgate Mall
Harare 
Zimbabwe

The Emporium Bridal Expo!!! I'm Soooo There!!!

On my way to the Celebration Centre today, I came across this:

So if I'm a little bit quiet during those dates, don't worry, I'll be back with lots of feedback from the Expo! Exciting times ahead!

Let us hear from you ladies if you're gonna be there!!!

Invitations to Make You Drool (Just a bit)-Part 1

This blog started because I was bugging my co-blogger, Nyasha, about invitations. So in honour of the way our blog began, I've collected a few invitations I found while I was online, which I would like to share with you. How gorgeous are these! The two views are the front and back. Simple, yet elegant, with beautiful font!

Cosmopolitan Wedding Invitation

Classic Wedding Invitation

Marquee Wedding Invitation

Calligraphy Wedding Invitation

Glamour Wedding Invitation

All these I found on the Glamour website. 

For those who have fallen in love with these invitation designs, as I have, email Nyasha, and her company, Icclesia designs, can design them for you! I've already put in my order, I will definitely show you the finished product!

Any modern, fuss-free brides like me? I promise for all the romantic brides, we'll bring you lots of ribbon and lace next time!!! Let's hear from you!!!

The Semi-Tomboy's Tips for Wedding Dress Choosing.. :)

In planning my wedding, I’ve realized that I’m a no-fuss bride. Many women say that, and maybe it needs a near-disaster before I turn fully-fledged bridezilla, but so far, I don’t want ruffles and lace. I’ve been poring over bridal magazines, and where other brides fawn and ooh and aah, I think, “Umm… okaay?” I felt so un-bridey, and thought maybe when I tried on “the gown”, I’ll get goosebumps and cry like what they do on Say Yes to the Dress.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m a girly-girl on occasions. I love dressing up for weddings and special occasions, but I will not pour myself into an uncomfortable dress and wear layers of makeup. I’m a functional girly-girl. A semi-tomboy, if you may. A woman who’s willing to walk (comfortably… yeah, I just bragged!!) in 4-inch heels, while at the same time will cringe at a red lip. I think it’s pretty, and the ladies who rock it are gorgeous, but my inner tomboy screams from deep within, “Noooooo! Too much reeeeeeed!” So my femininity has its limits… but I digress…

I’ve had two dress fittings now, one in Sandton, and another here in Harare. I might have another one in a few weeks, just to show my mom and sister the type of dress that I’ve chosen. On both occasions, I kid you not, while my friends and cousins were oohing and aahing (another lady wanted to take pictures! Of me!!), these thoughts were running through my mind:

“Wow, these dresses are heavy!!!”

“Oh my gosh! How do I walk in this?”

“What if I need to go to the bathroom? Who’ll help me out of this?”

“Mmmm…. I wonder if they have cake…No? Aw, man!!!”

I did find a dress (I got a slight chill and I sniffled a bit), which I thought was real pretty, light and user-friendly. In the midst of all the poufiness and trying to find my footing in layers of fabric, big hoops and tight bodices, I came up with some tips for choosing a wedding gown. From a semi-tomboy. Cause they are necessary to think about.

1.       Find a dress that suits your figure.

Watching Say Yes to the Dress and trying on dresses myself made me realize that the only way you can be sure what really looks good on you is trying it on.  The typical school of thought that  the A-line dress looks good on everyone was disproved by me! I have a short torso and long legs, and wearing an A-line dress made my torso look shorter! I looked squashed and unbalanced, like those cartoons when they’re hit by a boulder.  Some dresses that may look great on your friends or in magazines may not look good on you; it’s okay, there’s nothing wrong with you, it just means you’ll look spectacular in something else.

2.       Keep an open mind when trying on dresses

Sometimes even when you have an idea of what might look good on you, try on all the styles; you may be surprised. If you think that glitter and jewels are not for you , you could be surprised to see that glitter and jewels  look amazing on you. I’m not a frou-frou girl, but I decided to try on a dress with a ball-gown silhouette with layers and layers of tulle. And I had to wear a hoop. Cue tomboy scream. I looked amazing in it, and if I wasn’t function over romance, I would have gone for that dress. The bridal boutiques I’ve been to so far charge a nominal fee for trying on dresses. One, $1 for each dress another, $5 for 5 dresses. That is more than enough for  figuring out which style works for you.

3.       Speak wedding gown speak!

Find out everything you can about the dress you try on. What is the silhouette? What is the neckline? What fabric is it? What are all the decorations on it? That way, if you find the type of dress you like, you won’t have a problem describing what you want if you need to look for it in another place.

4.       When you find your style, hold on to it and don’t let go!

There is no need for you to try on 30 dresses before you know which dress you want. When you see that the A-line, for example, is the silhouette that works for you, the next step after being open-minded is being narrow-minded. You have your silhouette, now all the other dresses you’ll try on will be in that family, but different when it comes to the embellishments. Sleeves? No  sleeves? Flowers? Ruching? Whatever, as long as you know it’s in the A-line family. If you think of dress fitting like that, you’ll have your dress in no time.

5.       Test-drive the dress you like

Many wedding gowns are not user-friendly, worse for the average Zimbabwean bride. This is where I believe you need to choose function over the romantic fantasy of the wedding dress. When you think you’ve found the dress, try it out. Walk around in it. Walk in it wearing high heels (that’s another tip: go to the bridal boutique with heels that are about the same height as the ones you’ll wear on your wedding).  Sit down in it. Dance in it. Kneel in it, if you think your relatives will expect you to kneel when serving cake. Do everything you think you’ll do in it, except kiss the groom.. he’s not supposed to see the dress yet! Spend as much time as you can in that dress, cause you will be in that dress for the whole day. Give yourself a taste of what you’ll be experiencing on your wedding. If those few minutes are unpleasant, find another dress. The worst thing at a wedding is an uncomfortable bride, cause it comes out as not enjoying yourself.

6.       If you have found “the dress” go for it!

If you’ve done all these things (or none of these things), and have zeroed in on the dress, say yes! There is no “better dress” than the one the bride loves and is comfortable in. If you, the bride, love it, then take it. No one else is going to wear it for the whole day, so it all boils down to what gives you goosebumps and tears. And if none of those feelings happen for you, a small smile and a nod of approval will suffice.

Any other tips for those who’ll be going to choose a wedding dress? Let us hear from you!