What she wore

Photo courtesy Wedding Inspirations

"One of the many blessings that come from an original tailored garment is the opportunity to incorporate personal, poetic and sentimental touches," explains local designer R. Brooke Priddy of Ship to Shore. "Often my clients bring items from loved ones of generations past."

It's a concept that goes far beyond the "something old, something new" adage. Priddy repurposes and incorporates gloves, scraps of lace, velvet flowers, pearls, hats, even entire wedding gowns into one-of-a-kind dresses for the brides who come to her shop.

That's a really big difference — a world apart, in fact — from the process through which many women choose a gown. Catalogues, bridal superstores and mainstream mall-style shops offer plenty of selection but in impersonal settings and with few if any options for customizing. When it comes to weddings, few brides would admit to wanting a cookie-cutter feel to the big day.

So what stops many brides from purchasing a custom-made gown? Price. Tales of nest egg-cracking designer gowns are the stuff of both legend and nightmare. FYI: The most expensive wedding dress in the world, to date, is the $12 million Diamond Gown, a collaboration by Renee Strauss and jewel dealer Martin Katz. But that's hardly everyone's style, and when it comes to custom design (within reason), Priddy points out that "People don't seem to know that the prices are not that much higher than local off-the-rack chain retailers. Sometimes much less." (Alterations and extras are hidden costs of off-the-rack gowns.)

Photo courtesy R. Brooke Priddy / Ship to Shore

The Convention and Visitor's Bureau (a surprising resource for weddings) debuted its "Asheville Wedding Crashers" blog on Valentine's Day. Its intent? To celebrate and capture the unique spirit of the wedding scene in and around the Asheville area. Look for photos, guest blogs, insider tips, funny stories and bridal trends. visit www.myweddinginasheville.com

Adorn Salon just earned a Best Bridal Salon nod from The Knot wedding magazine. "We do between 40 and 50 weddings a year, take great pride in our work, and love being involved in people's big day. We have recently relocated to a beautiful new space and have added spa services to our menu in response to the many requests we get for pampering from
our brides," writes owner Rebecca Hecht. Also earning kudos were City Bakery & Cafe for wedding cake bakers; Biltmore Estate and On Broadway for reception sites; Artisan Catering and Deli for wedding caterers; and Studio Flora Diva for florists. Visit www.theknot.com for more.

While buying locally might mean spending less; it definitely means keeping money in the local economy and avoiding unfair trade or sweatshop practices associated with many mass-produced clothing lines. But most importantly, a local designer provides one-on-one consultation and personal touches. Back to that "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" tradition: "Each of these lucky items can be sewn in like secrets under hems, or woven into accentuated waistlines," says Priddy. "In my experience, the more the dress tells a story — laced with a history unique to the bride — the more emotionally fulfilling the whole experience can be."

WNC boasts many talented designers as well as small boutiques that can offer personalizes service when it comes to finding the perfect dress. Brides on a budget can check local consignment and vintage shops for second hand and antique gowns. These dresses, at the hand of a tailor or seamstress, can be updated and made to fit perfectly. Have a family heirloom wedding gown that's brimming with emotional value but is hopelessly out of style? Consider hiring one of the area's many alteration shops to take in, let out, shorten, remove sleeves or otherwise revamp the dress.