Best of Utah Wedding Vendors: Alta Moda
[intro]Utah has so many amazing wedding vendors! Each Wednesday we feature one. This week we interviewed Lenni, of Alta Moda Bridal. We’re so excited for you read all about their services and the tips Alta Moda has to offer:[/intro]
1) Tell us a little about your business
Alta Moda Bridal has been working with brides for almost a decade, helping them find the most perfect and most unique designs from the best designers. We offer a truly unique, hand-selected assortment of gowns that offer something different for the Utah bride, and even brides around the country. We pride ourselves on our exemplary level of customer service, that goes far beyond just finding the gown.
2) How far in advance should a bride start shopping for a gown and when should she order it by?
In a perfect world, brides should allow about 9 months for production and alterations on their gown. Our couture gowns are cut and made as they are ordered by our brides, which allows for plenty of freedom with custom changes, but does mean extra time needed for production of the gown.
However, the vast majority of our designers offer plenty of options for getting the gown faster. If need be, we can have a fabulous couture gown created for a bride within just a few months. We can easily accommodate three and four month order times for our brides, and really no wedding is too soon. Our record is about one week!
3) What is the starting price of your gowns? Are there any trunk shows coming up?
Alta Moda has a very wide price range of gowns. They start at about $1500, and go up to around $8000. We have a wide selection of gowns across the spectrum, and many gowns that sit right between $3000 and $4000. We also sometimes offer a small selection of sample gowns, available as is and to purchase right off the floor, at a discounted price.
4) What’s the most important thing to remember when selecting a gown?
The most important thing to remember when selecting a gown is to stay true to your own vision. Wear something you love, and that makes you feel great. Whether it’s completely unique and a little off-the-wall, or what you think everyone else is wearing, it doesn’t matter. Wear what you love, no matter what other brides are wearing. In the end, you’ll be happier!
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5) What are the latest trends you’ve seen for gowns and bridesmaids dresses?
Wedding dress and bridesmaids trends are constantly changing and fluctuating. The wedding dress trends that have stuck around for the last few years include unique sleeves, soft and flowing fabrics, intricate beading and embroidery, and low and open back gowns.
For bridesmaids, the trend is predominantly to keep it simple. Whether you’re going for something short, sweet and casual, or long and formal, we are seeing a lot of really soft, comfortable fabrics, neutral colors like peach, blush, coral, mint, navy, and even classic black. Letting the bridesmaids be comfortable and classic is really the key to these trends.
6) Do you have on-premise alterations with a seamstress, or do you have recommendations on where to go?
Alta Moda brides work directly with our seamstresses for any alterations they need, whether they are completely rebuilding a floor sample, or just need some little changes to a custom-ordered gown. All gowns need some alterations, so we have the best seamstresses in the state on-hand to work with our brides to achieve their perfect wedding day look. Our brides meet with our seamstresses here at the shop, and our bridal consultants are always available during those fittings to help in any way, whether it’s to suggest a sleeve style or find the perfect bracelet or veil.
7) What’s the best way to take care of a gown after the wedding?
We always recommend having your gown cleaned and preserved after the wedding day, to keep it looking perfect for many years to come. We work directly with a preservation company out of New York, who specialize in silk and couture gowns just like ours. All a bride needs to do is bring her gown to Alta Moda, pay a small fee, and we take care of the rest!
The staff of Alta Moda will lovingly box up the gown (and veil or belt, if you wish), send it off to New York, and a few months later it will arrive back on the bride’s doorstep, perfectly preserved and ready to share with generations to come. You can even take the gown out of its box, and it can even be worn again! (We do recommend having it preserved again if it is worn again, as the oils from skin and makeup can affect the preservation process.)
9) Who’s your favorite designer lately and why?
It’s so hard to pick a favorite designer! Each of our designers really offers something unique to our collection, so it’s hard to say that one or another is my favorite. Right now, I am loving Hayley Paige gowns. Her gowns are new to our shop, and we are just loving every one of them. Her designs are so soft, feminine, and just-the-right-amount of flirty, I can’t help but love them. Her use of beading and unique fabrics, really sets her apart from the rest of the bridal world right now.
10) Any other tips you’d like to share with our brides?
Have fun with the process! Finding a wedding dress should be fun and exciting! It can get stressful, because of all the importance placed on finding The One, but remember that you should enjoy the process too. Relax, bring only those opinions you really need to each appointment, and focus on finding something that you feel wonderful in. And remember, you don’t have to stop at every shop within a day’s drive from you to find The One. Find a shop where you like the ambience, the staff, and the selection, and know that you can find the perfect gown there!
photos credit: Moxie Photography
photos taken: Alta Moda, 536 east 300 south, Salt Lake City, UT
