Behind Alvina Valenta

With our up coming Trunk Show for Alvina Valenta, December 17th and 18th, we wanted to make sure you knew who the designer was and how it all got started. Alvina Valenta's designer is Jessica Williams. She started off designing dresses for St. John's social dress collection. As the new designer, she brought her sophistication to the collections. Her gowns are known for their elegance, sophistication and attention to detail. One of the most successful looks is the fluted silhouette. While designing she planned to add new silhouettes and combine a mix of different beading and fabrics. She has truly been a great contribution to JLM Couture.

What is Cristina's about!!!

Cristina's has been in business 26 years. We started as a high end designer clothing store, as the economy changed, we decided to go into the bridal business. Today Cristina's is known as one of the top 50 bridal salons in America. We carry bridal gowns, bridesmaids, accessories, mother of the bride and groom, and cocktail wear. Our web site indicates the lines we carry. We also offer in house alterations and some custom design.

LAZARO TRUNK SHOW

We would like to thank Lazaro for making our trunk show a success! Not only is he an amazing designer, but also an amazing person! We had a wonderful time with him and so did our brides.

Why attend a trunk show.

A trunk show is the perfect opportunity to find your bridal. Most often the trunk show will consist of either the designers newest collection or a best of collection, ( best selling bridal gowns). Often the designer or a company representative will attend the show and special incentives are offered.

LAZARO TRUNK SHOW December 3-11 ,2010

On December 3-11 Cristina's will be hosting a Lazaro Trunk Show, featuring Lazaro's Spring 2011 collection. Lazaro Perez will be attending the trunk show on December 3-4 only. Come meet Lazaro, one of New York's top bridal designers. Lazaro will personally work with you, to find your perfect bridal gown. With your purchase, Lazaro will sketch your gown and sign your personalized sketch. There will be special promotions along with the trunk show. Book your appointment asap, since there is limited space.

Alterations on your bridal gown

Once you received your letter or email that your bridal gown has arrived at Cristina's, you should call us 90 days before your wedding to set up your first fitting appointment. We normal do the first fitting 45-60 days out from your wedding date. At your fitting you must have your shoes and under garment. We usually do 2-3 fitting on your gown and then schedule your pick up date, when your gown will be pressed and bagged for the trip home. Alterations are extra and due at your last fitting.

Why an appointment to try on bridal gowns

Most bridal salons require an appointment to try on bridal gowns. Buying a bridal gown is a unique experience and requires a knowledgeable bridal consultant. When you arrive for your appointment, you probably have either purchased a few bridal magazines or have been surfing the internet. You probably have an idea of the style and price point you want to spend. A good bridal consultant will have a detailed knowledge of their stock, and will find styles based on the pictures the bride brings in or the information she provides. They will assist you in trying on the gowns, and explain to you about the designer, fabrics, and what styles look best on your body type.

Toni Federici Veil & Accessory Trunk Show

On November 19-20, 2010, Cristina's will have a trunk show with our veil and accessory line, Toni Federici. This is a perfect opportunity to meet Jilly, one of the designers, and have her create that perfect veil, hairpiece, and jewelry, to match your bridal gown. They bring in their entire line and their new 2011 line, to have the most current styles for the brides getting married in 2011. All appointments are about 30 minutes. Don't miss this opportunity to complete your bridal wardrobe.

The importance of under garments.

When you receive your notice that your bridal gown has arrived, the next set is to get your under garment. The best place to shop for under garments is: Night and Day in Andover, Undercoverwear in Andover, or Lady Grace usually located at most major malls. If your gown is strapless, we recommend a low line smooth strapless bra. You do not want any lines in the bodice of your bridal gown. If you gown has straps you can get a regular bra, but again smooth finish. Also, if you are a A or B cup, we can sew in cups as part of your alterations. Please contact us, if you ever have any questions, since we will not start your alterations with out the proper under garment.

Bridesmaids Ordering

Cristina's is known for having hundreds of bridesmaids dresses. Under attendants on our website there are links to every designer we carry. Once a bride has decided on a dress, it is the bridesmaids duty to come in and get measured or call in with the measurements. After we recieve a 60% deposite for all the dresses we will place the order. Most lines we carry take anywhere from 12-16 weeks to come in. We try to make sure that brides know that the bridesmaid needs anywhere from a month to two months to have alterations done. So looking at just that on the long end of it bridesmaids dresses need about 6 months to order and be altered. Keep in mind that WE DO NOT ORDER THE DRESSES TILL THE LAST BRIDESMAID CALLS IN AND PUTS DOWN THE DEPOSIT. This is very important to remember because 6 months does not include the amount of time it takes for making sure that everyone gets there deposits in. Usually you want to keep that at about another month. So 7 months before the wedding, the final decision for the bridesmaids dress should be made.

Lazaro Trunk Show

Cristina's has some big news, we have Lazaro Perez, the designer of the Lazaro Bridal line coming for a trunk show December 3rd and 4th. This is a very exciting event for us as well as you. Not often for a trunk show do we have the designer themselves come, and we could not be happier. Lazaro is one of the more popular lines we have in the store. We cannot wait to not only have the entire new collection from Lazaro but the designer himself there to show it off to you. Keep in mind that trunk shows are done by appointment only so don't forget to make yours today by calling 978-470-3956. Also, look at the new collection at http://www.jlmcouture.com/lazaro . We hope to see you there!

New 2011 Collections

Cristina's made it to Bridal Market in the end of October. We have finished placing our orders for the Spring 2011 collections. We will begin to see everything coming in when January finally gets here. Don't forget to check out our facebook page to see all the pictures of what we will be getting in.

What is the length?

What do people mean when they talk about the length of a dress? Bridesmaids always come into Cristina's trying to figure out what the bride means by tea length or street length. We at Cristina's Bridal have a guide to the perfect length for everything from Bridal to Bridesmaids.

Floor Length: Hemline is 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches above the floor

Ballerina Length: Just above the ankle

Tea Length: End at lower calf or above the ankle

Intermission Length: Longer in the back then the front

Asymmetrical: Longer on one side then the other

Street Length: Hemline falls just below the knee

Mini: Right above the knee to all the way up

Hopefully this guide helps you when you are trying to figure out just what length to make your dresses for the big day, as well as everyday life. And remember Cristina's is always here to help!

Bridesmaids Shopping

As a bride the hardest thing to do is find your bridal gown. Once you have found your perfect gown, the next step is to choice your bridesmaid dresses. The best place to shop is our web site, www,cristinasbridal.com. All of your venders are located in the bridesmaid section. The next step would be to browse the web sites for styles that you like as well as styles that would work for your bridesmaids. When you finally find the styles you like, contact Cristina's to see what we have in stock. When you do to try on the bridesmaid dresses, it is best to bring your maid of honor and one or two of your bridesmaids. To many people to many opinions. Once you have made your selection, style and color, Cristina's will provide you with a swatch of the fabric.The next step is the ordering process. Dress usually take 12-16 weeks to arrive and should be in 60 days prior to the wedding. The bridesmaids are measured: bust, waist, and hip. A size is selected based on each manufactures size chart. Once the dresses arrive, the alteration process is started. Most bridesmaids need to be altered.We never recommend buying bridesmaids on the internet, since they can not service you like a full service bridal salon.

Cristina's First Blog

At Cristina's we want to keep everyone updated on all of our upcoming changes and events. First we want everyone to know about the new blog we are starting. Look for us every day to post new tips, things going on in the industry, and some personal things that we think everyone should know. Also, with the launch of our new website we have added a new section for all of our upcoming events, including the one next week, on November 11-13, for the Amsale Bridesmaids Trunk Show. Finally, we are still keeping everyone updated on our move date, which looks to be in late December or Early January. So remember to follow us!

With the upcoming events a lot of people wonder what a Trunk Show is and we are here to explain it a little bit more to you. Working with as many designers as we do it can be hard to carry all of what they have, so a designer may choose to have a trunk show in our store. Bridesmaids and Bridal trunk shows are very similar, in that we are sent the entire line of their new collection. Head piece trunk shows are a little different, you can still look at their stock, but they can also design one around what you are looking for. Each trunk show brings with it things we don't carry, as well as a consultant who works with the line. By making an appointment you get your personal time with the designer/ consultant. We also add a little incentive to make it easier for you. This is a great event to take part in if there is a line you are drawn to or if you want to change something on a gown. It is a wonderful event full of cake, coffee, and of course dresses or head pieces.