Rocking a New Ring in the New Year?

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- With an extra twinkle in her eye and sparkle on her finger, it's no wonder the bride-to-be has a contagious glow. For the bevy of brides who got engaged between Thanksgiving and New Year's -- 26% do so according to Conde Nast Bridal Media's American Wedding Study -- now's the time to begin the exciting, yet sometimes hectic task of planning their special day.

To better understand the preferences and attitudes of today's brides and offer the most relevant wedding planning advice, the second annual "What's on Brides' Minds" survey was conducted by Leflein Associates, Inc. for David's Bridal, the nation's leading bridal authority. The revealing survey found that while some bridal traditions continue to withstand the test of time, times are definitely changing. On the traditional side, men are still most likely to pop the question (78%), and 63% of brides continue to wear something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue for their big day. A popular new trend has emerged, with 38% of today's brides considering the option of buying more than one gown for their wedding day. Nearly half of these respondents (47%) said they would select a second, more casual style for the reception, while nearly 40% cited they would change dresses so that they could move freely on the dance floor. When it comes to attendants, most weddings include at least one bridesmaid. Perhaps indicative of the laid-back, informal attitude of the West coast, brides in this region are less likely to have large bridal parties than brides in the Northeast and South, who are twice as likely to have more than four bridesmaids. As a sign of the times, brides admitted that they are more likely to consult with friends (55%) or bridal websites (53%) for wedding planning advice, over their own mother (40%)!

Since today's modern bride clearly marches to the beat of her own drum, David's Bridal offers a multitude of up-to-the-minute planning tips to help each woman achieve her own unique wedding style, without breaking the bank:

    -- Keep an Eye on the Bottom Line: Establishing a budget is the first and
       most important step when planning a wedding. Determine which aspects of
       the wedding are most important, and scale back on items that are not a
       top priority. Almost two-thirds of survey respondents said that the
       wedding dresses they found were too expensive. To keep finances in
       check without sacrificing quality or style, try shopping for wedding
       attire at a store like David's Bridal that offers an unparalleled array
       of elegant bridal gowns ranging in price from $299-$1200. The survey
       also revealed that engaged couples are shifting their spending plans to
       extend beyond the wedding day and into the future: 40% of brides agreed
       that putting money toward the down payment of a house was their highest
       priority when making purchases before the wedding. With the affordable
       luxury of designer collections from Oleg Cassini, Monique Luo and
       Galina, David's can help you plan for the big day and save for happily
       ever after.

    -- Location, Location, Location: Destination weddings are a popular trend,
       however the survey found that three-quarters of brides will be hosting
       their weddings close to home. Whether near or far, the location (and
       season) will influence everything from the floral arrangements and
       color scheme, to the all-important wedding dress. Reinforcing this
       notion, nearly two-thirds of brides said that their wedding locale
       would shape their gown choice. Brides will save time and effort if they
       determine their location and overall theme before heading to a store to
       look at gowns. For example, a formal hotel venue provides the perfect
       backdrop for a dramatic ball gown or sophisticated, slim silhouette,
       while a beachside setting may call for a tea-length dress or long,
       flowing gown.

    -- Online Oasis: The internet is a wonderful planning tool and a great
       time-saver, so it's no surprise that respondents ranked wedding
       websites as a top resource (53%) for useful wedding planning advice,
       tips and ideas. Today's brides shop for a variety of wedding products
       online; invitations were cited as the most popular item (49%), followed
       by favors (44%), bridal accessories/jewelry (41%) and bridal gowns
       (40%). However, when it comes to placing the actual order, the online
       purchase categories shift to wedding favors (33%), honeymoon travel
       arrangements (31%) and invitations (29%). There are numerous e-commerce
       sites that cater to brides, such as davidsbridal.com, which offers more
       than 4,000 unique wedding related items and services, including
       exclusive collections that make it easy to coordinate the entire
       wedding day. The new db Online Collection offers stylish dresses
       designed to suit any size, budget, and timeline (sizes 2-26W, starting
       at $99). The site also boasts Dress Your Wedding, an online tool that
       allows brides to create their own "virtual" wedding, experimenting with
       colors, dresses, accessories and backgrounds; perfect for the 84% of
       brides who said they want to visualize what their bridal party will
       look like prior to the big day. Interestingly, while blogs are
       prevalent, almost two-thirds of brides-to-be indicated that they don't
       feel that they are credible or helpful in planning their dream day.

    -- Time is on Your Side: 63% of recently engaged women give themselves
       less than six months before the wedding to purchase their gown, while
       38% wait until the final three months. Think that's not enough time to
       buy a gown? Think again. For those who planned their nuptials in less
       than six months, many found their gown at a bridal shop where they were
       able to try on the dress and take it home either that day or within a
       short timeframe. This is good news for the 37% of brides-to-be who
       indicated that one of the biggest obstacles when shopping for a wedding
       dress was that their gown of choice was not available to try on in
       their size. If you are planning on getting married under a tight
       timetable, visit a store like David's Bridal that stocks gowns in size
       0-26W, as well as special plus (28W & 30W) and petite (0P-16P) sizing
       options, to get a sense of what the gown will look like on you. To
       ensure all wedding preparations are timely and within budget, David's
       also provides a great savings booklet with each bridal gown purchase,
       amounting to $1,000 towards future purchases at the store and with
       preferred partners, such as MW Tux, JCPenney and Liberty Travel.

    -- Consult the Experts: When searching for a dress, brides should take
       advantage of bridal consultants' advice, as they can provide great
       insight into the gowns' quality, fit and construction. In fact, more
       than 4 out of 5 brides agreed that their consultant positively affected
       their shopping experience. Consultants are constantly helping brides
       choose gowns and are most familiar with the inventory, so they are best
       prepared to suggest a style that may be "the one." In addition to these
       gown gurus, it's a good idea to bring along a friend or family member
       to provide honest feedback, as well as an extra set of hands to help
       with full skirts and lace-up bodices. But don't expect today's bride to
       ask her fiance for his opinion: the majority of respondents (53%)
       confessed that they don't plan on showing the dress to their beloved
       before the wedding day, while only one-third said they will ask his
       advice on planning the wedding at all. Another expert you might want to
       consult is a dance instructor to fine-tune the highly anticipated first
       dance. Surprisingly, as much as people love watching their favorite
       celebrities on Dancing with the Stars, 87% of engaged women said that
       they do not plan on taking professional dance lessons before the
       wedding. So even if you won't be learning any fancy footsteps, have fun
       with it and try not to step on each others' toes!

    -- Customization is Key: If you're looking for ways to let your
       personality shine through without paying a hefty custom price tag,
       you're not alone. Over 60% of brides would like to customize their gown
       to reflect more of their personality, but 40% felt that it would be
       difficult to do so without costing a fortune. To help with this all-
       too-common bridal dilemma, try to find a bridal shop that offers cost-
       effective solutions for personalizing your wedding dress. David's
       Bridal allows you to choose from a variety of sleeve options that can
       be easily added to strapless gowns to create a unique style that is all
       your own, without blowing your budget. For additional ways to tailor
       your look, add a colorful sash or sparkling crystal brooch to your
       gown. For the perfect finishing touches, don't forget to ask your
       consultant about coordinating accessories: from tiaras and veils to
       handbags, shoes and jewelry, you can never go wrong by selecting pieces
       that complement your dress and personal style.

    -- Obliging Bridesmaids:  For the second year in a row, the top issue
       brides found with dressing their bridal party was agreeing on one style
       to fit all different body types (63% vs. 65% in 2006). Coordination is
       still in vogue, with almost three-quarters of respondents wanting their
       bridal party to wear the same color or color scheme, and 34% planning
       to have their bridesmaids wear the same dress in the same color. The
       desire for identical bridesmaid attire is stronger among brides in the
       Northeast compared to those in the Midwest (42% vs. 27%). Whatever your
       preference, it's a good idea to try a nationwide store that carries a
       large assortment of styles in a range of sizes to ensure the bridal
       party looks and feels their best. David's Bridal offers an impressive
       selection of stylish dresses, available in an expanded 30 color
       palette, to create a figure-flattering look, no matter what your size
       or style. They also recently introduced the new "Dress Up Your Dress"
       collection which boasts two versatile dress silhouettes, a sash and
       peek-a-boo slip, all available in 31 colors to mix and match, for the
       ultimate in personalization. These are just a few ways to choose
       wear-again options for bridesmaids, a perfect fit for the 39% of
       respondents who cite this as a concern when choosing bridesmaid
       dresses.

    -- Showcase Your Style: Even though we live in a celebrity-obsessed
       culture, 96% of brides-to-be said that they will not emulate the recent
       wedding of a Hollywood starlet, but instead plan on showcasing their
       own unique style. To create a seamless look, visit a one-stop-shop and
       choose a personalized color scheme that makes it easy to coordinate all
       aspects of their big day. From save-the-date cards and invitations to
       ceremony and reception items, right down to the icing on the cake,
       David's Bridal offers a wide array of coordination options, available
       both in-store and online, to create a cohesive event. Always keep in
       mind that your wedding is a time to celebrate your union as husband and
       wife and the start of your new life together. While advice from loved
       ones is important, take their suggestions into consideration, but
       ensure that your wedding is still all that you envisioned it to be.
       After all, it is your day!

"The recent survey reinforced what we already know: today's brides-to-be are looking to personalize and coordinate their special day, but don't want to spend a fortune for the custom look," said Robert Huth, President and CEO of David's Bridal. "As the only national bridal retailer, we listen to the feedback we receive from our brides and pride ourselves on responding to their preferences. We're pleased to be able to offer such a wide assortment of affordable, high-quality and fashion-forward bridal and bridal party fashions, accessories, gifts and favors -- both in-store and online -- to meet the needs of today's brides and help make the wedding of their dreams a reality."

While finding the love of her life is up to the bride, following these simple steps will help ease the wedding-planning process and make it more enjoyable. So when the big day finally arrives, her only responsibility will be to enjoy herself as she dances the night away.

Methodology

This Internet survey was conducted by Leflein Associates, Inc. from October 19-22, 2007. A total of 504 surveys were completed among a national panel of women (age 18+) who were recently engaged. This study has a margin of error of plus or minus 4% at the 95% confidence level.

About David's Bridal

With more than 50 years of bridal experience, David's Bridal understands the importance of providing brides-to-be with a vast selection of exquisitely crafted dresses, available at affordable prices. Today, with more than 280 locations nationwide, David's Bridal continues to expand its retail store locations, while maintaining its philosophy of superior quality, value and service. To locate a store nearby, consumers can call 1-877-693-BRIDE or visit http://www.davidsbridal.com.