Okay, so maybe it’s shallow, but among the many other more worthy things for which I give thanks (family, friends, food, shelter… the big things), I also give thanks for sales. And I give thanks for (and to!) those who clue me in to the really good sales. It’s no secret that the total bill for a bride’s gorgeous attire can add up pretty quickly, so in my book, a bridal salon event is really, really good.
In the spirit of giving, I’ve spent the morning hunting down sales happening between now and the end of the year at DC-area bridal salons. Some of them are even starting the day after Thanksgiving. And it’s not just about the bride: There are some good sales happening on bridesmaids’ and flower girls’ dresses as well. What better way to spend the day after Turkey Day than to hit the bridal salons? Leave the boys at home with their football games and take your bridesmaids out for a day of shopping.
Read, clap with glee, then get on the phone and start making appointments as necessary. You can thank me later. :)
Blueberries Bridal, Kensington, Maryland
Now through November 30th, 2008
10% + $10.00 off Suri bridesmaid dresses
Now through December 1st, 2008
10% off little girl dresses
Dharma & Leopold’s, Warrenton, Virginia
(super-cute clothes for your flower girl and ring bearer)
Valid through December 24, 2008
Coupon worth 15% off any one item
Distinctive Designs Bridal, Rockville, Maryland
Now through December 31st, 2008
Sample Sale (up to 75% off!)
Formalities Bridal, Winchester, Virginia
Now through December 23rd, 2008
Bring in a toy to donate to Toys for Tots and get 10% off any dress purchased that day
Hannelore’s, Alexandria, Virginia
Going on now!
Sample Sale (up to 50% off!)
TLC Bridal Boutique, Frederick, Maryland
Going on now!
Sample Sale (many gowns priced at $99.00!)
David’s Bridal, locations throughout the DC area
November 26th – December 1st, 2008
Sample Sale (50% off select styles)
The Barn, Bunker Hill, West Virginia
November 28th, 2008
50% off all out-of-stock wedding gowns
Promise, Bethesda, Maryland
November 29th – December 31st, 2008
Winter Sample Sale
Carine’s Bridal Atelier, Washington, DC
December 7th, 2008
Sample Sale (up to 75% off!) at the Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner
Last week I had the pleasure of lunching at the Carlyle Club with Arlene Hewitt, who generously invited me for a visit.
The Carlyle Club is a relatively new venue; however, you’d never know it. It’s a painstaking recreation of a 1930s supper club that immediately transports you back to the swing era. No art deco detail has been spared, and Arlene explained that many of the decorative items — including the carpets! — were imported from Europe. The supper club atmosphere doesn’t stop at the decor: Our lunch was served at a table with white linens and lovely china by a tuxedoed waiter who unobtrusively attended to our every need. It was nice to enjoy the kind of service that, for better or worse, is becoming something of a throwback in our rapid-paced society.
My spinach salad with chicken was delicious, and Arlene’s plate of squash ravioli looked pretty yummy too. The special events menus feature a wide range of possibilities, and I’m sure they’re all equally tasty.
After lunch and a great conversation all about being businesswomen in Alexandria, Arlene took me on a brief tour of the club. In addition to the main dining room, there’s a private VIP room, a beautiful bar, and a luxurious bathroom that would be a nice getting-ready area for a bride and her maids.
I tried to take some photos to share, but most of them turned out pretty awful (I’m still learning my way around our new DSLR). Here’s a picture of the bar:
There are many other great pictures on the Gallery page on the Club’s website.
The Carlyle Club can accommodate up to 250 people, although a smaller group would probably allow for better use of the dance floor. The Club features a large raised bandstand and a beautiful parquet dance floor your guests will love. Their A/V capabilities include an excellent sound system, some special lighting, and even video! Parking for your guests is available in a nearby garage, and the Club can arrange valet parking service for a very reasonable rate.
Like any good supper club, the Carlyle Club is open for lunch and dinner almost every day, and frequently hosts local and national dance bands. Check them out for your next date night, and if you’d like a bit of a vintage, classy atmosphere for your wedding and reception, then be sure to add the Club to your list of venue possibilities.
This is not at all wedding-related, but it’s Friday. And maybe some of you who are stressed out with wedding planning and need a break can find it here. So maybe it’s wedding-related after all? Hey, I’ll take it.
One of my Texas friends sent me the link to the Shiba Inu Puppycam. Before you click on it, I have to warn you: Once you start watching, you’ll be sucked in and will get no more work done today.
Enjoy! And have a happy weekend.
I'm Stephanie Aspinwall, the owner of Ayr Hill Events. We're a full-service wedding planning and coordination company based in Alexandria, Virginia, and serving the entire Washington, DC, metro area.