ANDREW‘S FORMAL ~RICK SONATA ZFackion Show Manhatten Agency, The Paper Factory, Rainbow Invitations, Simply Chocolate, Domino Disc Jockey, Estoric Travel, The Village Photographer, Kathy‘s Bomboniere, Italian Gifts, Europa Photography, A Dream Wedding, Balloon Experts, Accord Photo Studio, Hintons Halftime, Angela‘s Fashion Corner, Promises Lace, Dorâ€"Mel, The Theme of Things, Pleasures, Complete Party Rentâ€"Alls, Confetti Lace, A.S. Productions Video Service. UNDAY, Ts FEBRUARY 20, 1994 FORMAL LE DOME BANQUET HALL RENTALS AIm M ALU~ SPOSAITA LIA ONE DAY ONLY 11:00 am to 6:00 pm BRIDAL FASHION SHOWS 1:00 pm 4:00 pm FREE PARKING Admission: â€" $5.00 2 for 1 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 905) 844â€"72 (416) 783â€"8181 Sponsored by 1173 North Service Road, Oakville ThE KipnEÂ¥Y FOUNDATION OF CANADA PROCEEDS TO MA Simple elegance in vogue for brides ADVERTISING FEATURE by Don Wall happened one day in January. All of a sudden, after a year of ‘ll‘)rides and bridesmaids coming through her door and asking Lily Brown of the downtown Oakville business A Dream Wedding to see bridesmaids‘ dresses in teale or emerald, they started asking for outfits in navy or raspberry. She wasn‘t expecting it, but the trend was firmly established, Brown related recently. ons "I didx;’t kr;ow béfére January that navy and raspberry would be popular," explained Brown. "It was funny, all of a sudden every woman would come in and stop in front of that dress (she pointed to it Oc oo a raspberry-coloured bridesmaid‘s gown on display) and say, I like that. I have no idea what caused it." EMn Oe o e o Brown, 26, has been operating A Dream Wedding out of a herâ€" itage home at 152 Lakeshore Road since 1992. The store stocks wedding dresses from three different designers along with all wedâ€" ding accessories, gowns for bridesmaids and flower girls and tuxeâ€" do catalogues for grooms. P 4 Mn oo 2. CR CC Brown formerly managed a women‘s fashion store in Milton. Now that she has her own place, she enjoys the personal contact she has with the young women who come into her store to prepare for the most important day of their lives. 7: i . "*You have to be a good listener and have lots of patience and a good sense of putting things together," she said. "It‘s important to be honest. Some girls think they look fat, and you have to say, don‘t be ridiculous, look at you. e _T think I have the ability to tell if they like something or not. You have to say, That‘s not for you, there‘s no sense you standing there if you don‘t like it." hn ; Snb n o_ Cl S Brown finds she becomes a friend of her clients during the series of visit that it takes to for the brides to choose a â€"«dress, get a fitting, try it on again, choose accessories such as headpieces, shoes and a string of pearls and perhaps even bring their financés in to choose their clothes. Some brides have tried on as many as 10 dresses, though Brown says she discourages that because by dress number seven or eight, noâ€"one can remember what the first dresses looked like for purposes of comparison. One of the most important qualities Brown or any other wedding shop must possess, of course, is the desire and ability to stay on top of what is in fashion. Brown says this trait requires more than simâ€" ply reading the latest bridal fashion magazines. 1 1 L on ies on ENVW CS tR "Sometimes the manufacturers are x;/rong about what brides will want," she said. "You have to go with what the brides like. You have to be able to identify new trends." e Bone China (Wedgewood) *« Crystal e Dinnerweare ® Cutlery e Glassware ® Linens e Dance Floors ® Staging e Portable Bars * Table Chairs * Party Tents e Games * Wedding Planning Service e NEW â€" Balloon Arches ENTâ€"AA®Y 448 Speers Rd., Oakville Serving Oakville since 1962 It is clear that in 1994, brides will be wearing fewer beads, fewer ruffles and fewer sequins, Brown says. "Wedding dresses will be |_â€" going back to basics," she notes. "There will be not as many |, beads or sequins. Dresses will be simpler, with no peplums | and not as much lacework." Popular materials in 1994 |% will be shantique, brocade and print satin, Brown predicts, with less satin. "If they have a lot to spend, they will go for a better material, but still simâ€" ple." Prices in bridal gowns range from $450 to $1,000 or more at A Dream Wedding, the owner indicates. m Besides the change in colours for bridesmaids‘ dresses, she says, there is also a notable shift in fabric and style for bridesmaids. | "Bridesmaids don‘t want the traditional look," said Brown. Favourites are formal sunâ€" dresses in cotton prints for the spring and summer and velvet gowns that can be worn at other formal occasions for fall and winter weddings. A Dream Wedding features | gowns by designers Alfred Angelo, Jessie McClintock and Gordon. Alfred Angelo is her biggest supplier, with about 50 styles on display in her store, but Brown also singled out the McClintock house for its ability to create "feminine" wedding gowns in the simple style that is dominant in 1994. 366 Brant Street........... 333â€"3522 4201 Upper Middle....... 336â€"1775 200 North Service Rd... Oakville Town Centre 11. 338â€"8313 Aonaines a Pautuy 1@ 4 Ay A unique catering service for discriminating tastes Fine Food Catering 6 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU ¢, Wedding Dress €,) e !â€yA BURLINGTON DRY CLEANERS Cleaning and Boxing for Storage Top and bottom: brides‘ and bridesmaids‘ gowns from Alfred Angelo feature simâ€" ple, elegant designs. 516 Plains Rd. E......637â€"1702 495 Walker‘s Line... 681-0690 2290 Lakeshore Rd. W. Oakville............. ....... 827â€"7866