Some useful information for you....the BRIDE!

Redding, California is not only one of the most beautiful places for a wedding, but the absolute best place to find a wedding dress at an affordable price! 

When people think of Northern California they envision; camping, outdoor recreation(s), boating, fishing, hunting, and beautiful scenery.  But, does wedding destination fit?  Yes, it absolutely should because Shasta County now has it all!

It all starts with a ring, proposal and acceptance; followed by tedious planning for that special day every woman has dreamed about since she was a young girl.  Favorite reality shows take a backseat to this month’s bridal magazines, “Say yes to the dress” and of course “Bridezillas.”  This paves the way for those truly important questions such as, “Who will be in my wedding? How many bridesmaids will I have? Which family members can actually stand sitting together for the reception?”  Now throw wedding dress shopping in the mix and add finding a venue to the equation.  Sound familiar?  Welcome to the first month of engagement. 

In this day-and-age everyone in a household contributes.  In other words, everyone has a job or maybe even two jobs; therefore, finding time to plan your wedding can be a real challenge.  Another challenge for most people can be their personal wedding budget; however, having a budget should be one of the first steps leading to “I do.”

Every situation is different when it comes to budgeting for a wedding.  For instance, some parents are in a position to provide a blank check for their baby girl’s wedding.  While other parents are simply not able to contribute, or are only able/willing to contribute to certain facets of the wedding such as: agreeing to purchase the wedding dress, or committing to paying for the venue.  Or, like many us, this is a second wedding and “you’re on your own.”  No matter what the circumstances are, first identify a budget that you and your spouse agree on and do your best to stick with it!

Gas prices are high; taking time off work costs you money and puts you further behind.  Besides, wouldn’t you rather save your hard earned vacation time for the honey moon?  Those are two of the biggest reasons to shop local, which is where we come in.  The Pink Bean offers the same designer brand wedding and bridesmaid dresses at lower prices than competitors in Chico, Sacramento, and San Francisco.  Not only can you find the same dress at our wedding boutique, but it will a lot cheaper.  Not-to-mention you’ll save time and spare the money for fuel cost by staying local.  A four hundred mile round trip can easily tack an extra $200.00 on top of the purchase price of your dress you’ll have to order.  Then, in 12-14 weeks you’ll have to drive back down to the same bridal shop just pick up your dress and incur more fuel expense, which will cut deeper into your budget.  So a dress with a purchase price of $1,000 is actually going to cost about $1,400.00 when it’s all said and done.

In our bridal boutique, we hear a lot of horror stories from brides regarding purchasing their dresses off the Internet.  I personally have had brides come to our store who are getting married in a month and their beautiful wedding dress had yet to arrive because it’s on “back order.”  Another, bride-to-be ordered her beautiful white wedding dress from an Internet site for a great price with reasonable shipping; however, when it arrived, she eagerly opened the package to find a beautiful gold dress with a large footprint on the train and note saying, “Sorry, we ran out of white.”  Remember, going with a cut rate dress on the Internet can save you a lot of money, but it could also cost you a lot of money too. 

Planning ahead can save you money and keep you within the confines of your budget.  For example, when brides purchase their wedding gowns from The Pink Bean, we allow 14-weeks for a standard delivery.  Anytime a dress is needed sooner, “rush fees” apply and can be costly.  Our standard charge for rush orders is $75.00, but I have heard other businesses have rush order fees in excess of $150.00.  Again, that could mean the difference of staying in a honeymoon suite or a standard economy motel room on your wedding night! 

I mentioned before a recent trend where more and more couples are having their weddings in beautiful Redding, California.  This is true!  Redding, California offers gorgeous wedding venues at reasonable prices when compared to venues in the Bay Area and Napa Valley.  But it doesn’t stop there.  When compared to the Bay Area, you’ll find our wedding venues are a lot more affordable and just as beautiful.  You will find catering, seating, tents, photography, and wedding planning is of unmatched quality for a fraction of the cost in the Bay Area. 

But the saving doesn’t stop there!  Aunt Edna will be thrilled, as well.  Redding, California has a small international airport and first class hotel rates are on the average 50% less than the Bay Area.  Your guests will also find less expensive rental cars and wonderful attractions such as the Sundial Bridge, Mount Shasta Ski Resort, beautiful golf courses and Shasta Lake…houseboats anyone?

If you reside in Shasta County, you can save time and travel expenses by shopping local.  Conserve your budget by not traveling out-of-the area for a dress or venue.  If you live in Chico, Sacramento, Bay Area or Oregon; consider traveling to Redding, California for your wedding dress, accessories and venue.  In many instances you can find the exact dress or a comparable venue at a fraction of the cost!

Please take this link to explore what Redding, California and the North State Bridal Association can do for you on your special wedding day! http://www.northstatebridalguide.com/guideonline.html  You’ll find information on upcoming events such as the Wedding Extravaganza and popular local venues, caterers, photographers, and other essential wedding service providers.  

Happy hunting and get fabulous!  

Xoxoxo Em and Geno