Bride Spotlight: Madeline

Madeline and her husband Joseph got married on August 20th, 2022 at Anthony’s at Paxon Hollow Country Club. She was dressed in a stunning Essense of Australia bridal gown. The fit and flare style and plunging neckline were a dazzling addition to the charming atmosphere of their venue.

There's nothing better than hearing positive feedback from our beautiful brides. Here’s what Madeline had to say about her experience at The Curvy Bride:  “When I got engaged I was so excited to begin the dress shopping experience with my mom, but I was also extremely hesitant due to the fact I have a larger chest. Previous experiences shopping for any type of formal dress usually resulted in tears due to the fact I never felt comfortable without a bra and a lot of dress styles aren’t made to hide bra straps etc. To add to my hesitance was the fact that so many of my “smaller” friends had even expressed THEY had bad experiences at some bridal salons due to the fact the sample sizing is so limited... they were told to “just imagine it” if they could not get the dress over their hips etc. If they had trouble - how would I, a size 14/16 with DDD breasts, fair? I was so nervous to begin the process until I found The Curvy Bride while doing a Google search for size inclusive bridal shops. The only problem - it was 2 hours away from where I live! I called my mom, and she said the trip was worth it, so I made an appointment which was super easy to do online. We took the day off from work and made the journey from Philadelphia to North Jersey. It was worth every mile!” 

We understand how hard it can be to find plus size wedding gowns so we are so excited that Madeline was able to make the journey out to meet us! Some more about her experience:  “From the moment we walked into the salon we felt so taken care of. I gave a brief description of what I was looking for and Pervin, my sales associate and Operations Manager, pulled some dresses. Each dress sample was big enough to fully try the dress on and have it clipped if needed to see what it would really look like. No imagining! Pervin not only listened to my style preferences but also stayed within our budget with no pressure or pushing to try anything outside of it. I tried on about 8 to 9 dresses and had it narrowed down to my top 2 choices. Since this was such a big decision I wanted to think about it and bring out my best friend and Matron of Honor, Kristen, to see the 2 styles in person. Pervin did not pressure me to decide that day and even took the time to set up a follow up appointment for the following week so I could bring Kristen. I left my first appointment so relieved and happy.

Appointment #2 was where the real magic happened. When we walked through the door not only was I greeted by name but so was my friend Kristen. It was like we were old friends stopping in for a visit. The 2 dresses I was between were already out and ready for me to try on. I decided on the Essense of Australia gown and Pervin held my iPhone up so we could Facetime my mom for my final decision. I had a few questions on the way the bust sat, and Pervin on the spot called the seamstress to check on my question. It was top notch service. I filled out paperwork, got the dress ordered in my correct size and was on my way. The entire process was stress-free and easy. What I like the most about my dress is the fact it has a little bit of everything I asked for! The bottom is very traditional with some appliques and the top has a slight illusion with glam. The best part is the structure - it held me in without the need for any supportive undergarments and showed off my curves without revealing too much. I felt beautiful and sexy while also timeless and elegant.”

Madeline says the most memorable part of her wedding was the first look with her husband, “I was so excited to have a private moment with him prior to the ceremony. Just us, a time to reflect and enjoy each other’s company before the chaos of the reception!” Thankfully Carly from Carley K Photography (https://carleykphotography.com/) was able to snag some amazing shots of the couple during this moment.

No bridal look is complete without the help of some spectacular vendors. Madeline’s hair and makeup were done with the help of  Blush Salon (https://blushlooks.com/) to ensure no one could take their eyes off her. Her stylish and elegant bouquet, which perfectly matched her gown, was from The Bouquet Shop (https://www.thebouquetshops.com/). 

Madeline would like to leave other brides with this piece of advice, “It is YOUR day, so stay true to your vision. If you want to nix some of the “traditions”, do it. If you want an adult only event, stand your ground! When it comes to dress shopping, my advice is to keep an open mind, you never know what might look good until you try it on. Also do a sit test haha!” We couldn’t agree more!

Thank you so much to Madeline for sharing your words and experience with us. As a small bridal boutique in New Jersey, we are always so happy to be a part of someone’s special day and share their joy. Your positive feedback means more than you know!

If you bought a dress from us and would like to share your story, please email us at TheCurvyBrideNJ@gmail.com with the subject “Bridal Spotlight” to be featured.