We had the pleasure of working together with Mary from Paper Doll Formals on some promotional photos for her store. She opened her bridal boutique a short while ago and they are Duncan’s first full-service bridal salon. They carry wedding dresses, shoes, accessories, but also prom dresses and even tuxedos. Here’s a little interview with Mary where she’ll tell us a little bit more about her store and about wedding gowns.
What does Paper Doll Formals offer brides and what makes you unique?
We offer wedding gowns that aren’t found on the Island, in BC, and even in Canada! We also have an exclusive “Bridal Perks Program” that all of our brides get when they purchase from us. The Perks Package is full of local Cowichan Valley wedding vendors offering exclusive deals to our brides, including hair, spa, personal training, cakes, venues, catering, even a wedding planner! We’ve tried to cover all the needs our brides have with our Perks Package. But the biggest thing in the Package, is the opportunity for our brides to get the purchase price (less taxes) of their gown back! If eight of the bride’s
friends purchase their wedding gown by the time the first bride’s wedding anniversary comes, that first bride will get her gown for free!
Why did you decide to open your boutique?
I was searching for a formal gown for an event in Victoria, and as I live in Cowichan, I thought I’d buy locally. I was quite shocked to find that there was nowhere in Duncan or the surrounding areas that had formal wear for women. I decided to change that, to give the Cowichan Valley a local option to their formal attire needs.
How do you select the lines you carry?
Our first criteria is that it’s not carried from Nanaimo to Victoria. Second, the quality must be high, but the price point attractive to thrifty brides. Third, the styles must be fashion-forward and indicative of the Cowichan Valley lifestyle. Last, the manufacturers must help us to give great customer service. A manufacturer that can’t be flexible or helpful won’t last past a season with us. We do have some bridesmaid lines that are carried in Nanaimo or Victoria, but we aim to keep our bridal gown selections unique to the South Island bride.
Why are you doing what you do; what do you like most about your job?
We love helping people look their best. From our brides who search out a fun place to shop, to the prom girls who are looking for that original dress. From young men who want to look sharp at Prom to the Father of the Bride who wants to stand proud while his daughter gets married. We try to offer alternatives to the same-old, same-old, along with a lot of fun (like a tv on the back wall and mini gingerbread cookies) while finding that perfect outfit, no matter the bride’s budget or size.
What do you enjoy about working with brides?
We love the look on their face when they see themselves as we see them – happy, glowing, excited, and beautiful. Relieving some of their wedding stress when we find the right dress, or manage to get the perfect pair of shoes for them, or the right hair accessory, is great too. It helps the bride enjoy what’s supposed to be an exciting time for them.
Can you share a little bit of the wedding gown trends for 2011?
The dress trends that seem to be appearing for the fall of 2011 involve a lot of textured skirts, with flowers, feathers, and frills. Ruching helps everyone look slender; it’s very figure flattering. And it’s still big in the fall fashions. Shots of colour are still popular too – whether with a belt or accent on the gown itself.
Do you have any tips for brides when it comes to picking out their wedding dress?
Be honest with the consultant – if you’ve ever tried on a wedding dress, your budget, your venue, etc. This helps us determine the best gown for your requirements. At Paper Doll, we put every new bride in one gown of each cut (there’s only four), and then we zero in on the one the bride likes the best on her figure. Once you’ve decided on the cut, experiment and trust your instinct. Try on a dress that you wouldn’t usually go for, just to see. Don’t try on more than 6 or 7 gowns in one go – they all start to meld together. And when you find the dress you love – STOP! Just like you didn’t keep searching for a better man once you met your fiance, you don’t need to keep searching for a better gown.
Do you know another local wedding business that you would recommend?
As a matter of fact, we do! All of our businesses in our Perks Package are amazing, and if one of them is booked for the wedding date, we usually have another one in reserve to suggest as well. The list can be found on our website and on our Facebook Page.
Any last words?
You don’t need to go all over the place to try on gowns to find your wedding dress. If you find it in the first store you go to, then it was meant to be. If you don’t then keep looking, but have an open mind because it very well may be the first dress in the first store that is YOUR dress. And what a relief that will be to get the gown out of the way so you can concentrate on the rest of the wedding details.
We have teamed up with Paper Doll to offer their first wedding gown customers a special GIFT! So if your still looking for your wedding dress, be sure to pay them a visit.
