SHE SAID "YES" TO HER MATTHEW CHRISTOPHER DRESS

When Christine stepped into The Van Cleve Wedding Pavilion, she had had a tough day with her special needs kids. Christine is a teacher and I have no doubt that she is a fantastic one! But, coming through the door to shop for her wedding gown put a huge grin on her lovely face, a twinkle in her bright, big eyes and brought out her infectious personality. We were all "in love" with her from the start! Matthew Christopher was in attendance with his spectacular new collection of gowns and couldn't wait to start working with Christine. And, Christine's sister- a Van Cleve bride from last year, her mom and her future mother in law were so excited to be shopping again at The Wedding Pavilion for Christine's dress.

Christine wanted a romantic dress- but not a "safe" one. She wanted to be unique and elegant. She wanted lace- a little bling, but not overdone. But, she was open to trying things on and we wound up with about 10 dresses- but went back to the first dress.


Lourdes is gorgeous! And, when you are as pretty as Christine, anything will be beautiful! But, it was too much beading for her. The lace overlay and silver beading were stunning on this modified aline. But, lets move on. Hourglass, a duchess silk trumpet gown with a tulle train looked smashing on Christine. This dress has a very vintage feel and would be perfect for an urban chic wedding. But, for Christine, it felt like too much at the bottom.












Christine tried other designers, ballgowns, trumpets, simple and otherwise. Among my favorites was Peggy Sue. This darling 1950's inspired ballgown made of layers of pinstriped tulle and adorned with flower petals and chenille ribbon made Christine look like a doll in a window! But, again, too much skirt. This young lady was not sure exactly what she did want, but she knew what she didn't want. After about 10 dresses, she had it narrowed down to two. And, while Christine was changing, the moms were having a great chat about what their dresses looked like, how many fewer choices they had and that it was either white or ivory, not all the color and detail that there is now. Christine's sister, Jen, was also happy to re- discover her own gown of a year ago.

































































Watching Christine find her dream dress, was great fun! Matthew made it a memorable and wonderful experience for Christine. And, she looked amazing in her choice!! After donning a fingertip veil with a lace accent and a beautiful sash, Margo was the winning dress! Matthew did custom measurements and fussed over Christine so that she will be stunning on her big day!!! We all had a great time watching Christine and Matthew transform the special needs teacher/ actress into The Bride! She is beautiful and her wedding will be amazing in May!!

VAN CLEVE WEDDING PAVILION DAZZLES THE BEST OF THE MAIN LINE PARTY

Last night, The VanCleve Wedding Pavilion dazzled the crowd at the Best of the Main Line Party at Drexelbrook. It was a stellar evening- more to come later today. But, The Wedding Pavilion was a hub of excitement and beauty as the stunning gowns of designer Matthew Christopher were displayed and modeled by two lovely and charming ladies. Matthew Christopher was also in attendance, entertaining the brides and patrons of Van Cleve, as they stopped to gaze and congratulate Deborah and her staff. There was no lack of fun and frolic as the cameras snapped photos and Deborah and the "bride" danced to the amazing and entertaining sound of Jellyroll. This incredible display was a highlight of the evening. And, this is Matthew Christopher with his lovely "bride".




Deborah VanCleve Phelps, Abigail McGrah and Leslie Padilla chatting it up.





Deborah and Abigail with one of Matthew Christopher's stunning dresses.
















Matthew and Deborah pose for a photo.

Matthew kept the ladies entertained all evening. He is not only talented, but very funny with his lively humor and his adorable smile. He is mesmerizing, real and so funny.






Jellyroll kept everyone on the dance floor. The Van Cleve "bride" and Deborah were no exception. Imagine this to be your wedding and that is you in that gorgeous gown known as the "Peggy Sue Gets Married" gown. Deborah looked fabulous in her little red dress.

How much fun is this?







Deborah, Matthew Christopher and the models pose for a lovely photo- one of many taken with this stunning backdrop. As ladies stopped by to get a close up of these dresses and sign up to win a Matthew Christopher design, the models answered questions and Matthew took the time to speak to several brides.



The lovely bride. This dress is incredible. The fabric is delicate and the wispy applique makes this a perfect gown for a summer wedding.



Matthew Christopher and Leslie Padilla pose for a photo for me. I had to take two!


All in all,it was a great evening and a fabulous party. I will post more about it later today. The Best of the Main Line Party really was the best!

THE WEDDING PAVILION: THE DESIGNERS

Welcome back to The Wedding Pavilion with me. Today, I want to tell you about some of the wonderful designers that the Wedding Pavilion carries. Do you know that you can dress your entire wedding party- including the mothers at The Wedding Pavilion? There are so many fabulous choices here. Pronovias, Stephanie James and Matthew Christopher are among the most cutting edge bridal designers at The Wedding Pavilion. Whether you are looking for a figure hugging and dramatic sheath, a formal ballgown or a smashing, yet informal short dress for a country wedding, The Wedding Pavilion has a dress that will blow you away.

Dressing our maids is easy at The Wedding Pavilion. Watters, Jenny Yoo and Alvina Valenta are among the fashion forward designers you will find on the 2nd floor of the salon. Short or long, chiffon or taffeta, lots of color options and a great staff to help you decide. You will truly enjoy the process here, at The Wedding Pavilion and you will leave relaxed and assured that the dresses will arrive on time and fit right.

Lets not forget the moms. There is a whole building devoted to dressing the two most important ladies in yours and your groom's life Designers like Stephen Yearick and Rose Taft are among the stars of eveningwear designers. You will find everything your mother needs to put together the perfect look to make her feel beautiful.
Shoes, jewelry, headpieces, purses- all things you will find glittering all over the salon. Some of the most trendsetting designers, such as Sara Gabriel, decorate the salon with their finishing touches for your your special day.

You can make your wedding day attire shopping a one stop, stress free and stunning experience with a trip to The Wedding Pavilion. So, contact The Wedding Pavilion for your appointment to have that special one on one attention that every bride deserves.

Next Week: Custom Designs at The Wedding Pavilion

VAN CLEVE WEDDING PAVILION: INTRODUCTION

Today begins a series on The Wedding Pavilion. The first time I walked into this "pretty in pink" salon and gazed at the incredible array of unique and beautiful gowns, I knew I had to write about it. Then, when The Wedding Pavilion was named "Best Of" in Main Line Today, I was quick to contact Deborah and Leslie Padilla, their PR firm, to get the ball rolling. You will see, over the next months, why I am so excited about this series. We begin with the overview of the salon, we will explore the designers, their custom design studio, go to a trunk show with Matthew Christopher and follow some of The Wedding Pavilion's brides on their journey to the altar. So, don't forget to check back for every installment of this unforgettable journey.

The Wedding Pavilion is located at 72 East Lancaster Avenue in Paoli, Pa. They are open by appointment only, so call them at 610- 647-5085 to arrange a time to go and see the stunning collections. Some of the designers they carry include Lela Rose, Pronovias, Birnbaum and Bullock and Matthew Christopher. They carry bridesmaids dresses by Alvina Valenta, Watters and Watters and Jenny Yoo to name a few. And, right next door, you will find another fabulous shop for the mothers and the many parties you will be hosting during your engagement at The Van Cleve Collection.

The alteration department is the best around and if you want a custom design, that is available too. And, they have a tremendous selection of accessories, veil and headpieces to complete your bridal look. The staff is courteous and professional, very knowledgeable about what they do. You will have a perfectly wonderful experience when you purchase all of the dresses for your wedding at The Wedding Pavilion and The Van Cleve Collection. So, call today, 610-647-5085 and begin your own personal journey to the altar, along with us.