Cancer Survivor Bride

I've had the pleasure of meeting some incredible brides, but there are some brides that I'll never forget. I feel sometimes that I'm able to be part of the most wonderful day of their lives.

I received a note this week from a very precious bride.  She is a breast cancer survivor.  She told me that she once thought that she would never be beautiful again after struggling with chemo treatments. But after finding her dress at my shop, she felt amazing and beautiful on her wedding day. 
I cannot express enough, how much her note touched my heart. 

It's a pleasure owning this little store - pure joy!

Epoch by Modest Couture - Modest Wedding Dresses

I am so excited to announce Epoch by Modest Couture. For brides that are searching for a modest wedding dress that's unlike any other wedding dress, check out these fantastic new custom designs.
Many are vintage-inspired and yet still meet the standards for many faiths, including LDS brides and Apostolic brides.
The website address to preview the designs: Modest Couture.com, or through the Chatfields Bridal Boutique shop - Chatfields Boutique.com.

Also on Facebook. Facebook Modest Couture

Vera Wang does Sleeves!? Sorta

In October, Ivanka Trump married publisher Jared Kushner in a Vera Wang dress with - SLEEVES. Although they were sheer, which doesn't meet most of the modesty standards of the brides I serve; I was thrilled to see her in a bit more modest wedding dress, even if it was a tiny bit.

I love the lace and covered buttons down the back of the dress. Gorgeous.

For the wedding industry to change and move away from the strapless wedding dress, it would take a big designer like Vera Wang. Every magazine, tv show, and advertising of any kind show women in strapless dresses, so naturally that's what most brides think they are supposed to wear.

I've seen Vera's 2010 bridal collection which is almost all strapless, so another year of the strapless is what to expect.

Modest Bridal Stores

In the United States there are very few all-modest style only bridal shops. This means that the bridal store has made a commitment to serve brides that choose modesty. There are no strapless or over revealing dresses in the store.

I have had the opportunity to talk with some wonderful bridal store owners that have made the same commitment that I have.

If you're in the New Jersey area, I suggest visiting Couture De Bride owned by Tova Marc. She's an Israeli born bridal designer and her fashions are fabulous!

If you're in South Carolina, I suggest Simply Elegant owned by Dana Ellison. Mrs. Ellison is a Christian who has a passion for serving women that also choose modesty.

If you're in Texas, check out The Silver Hanger.

If you're close to Atlanta, please visit The Yellow Rose Bridal, owned by Julia Kilgore.

Of course, if you're close to the St. Louis area, I hope you will consider Chatfields Bridal Boutique..

Christian - Metro Voice Publication

The St. Louis News and Events Publication, Metro Voice contacted me after hearing we have become an all-modest bridal shop.
New Store Offers Gowns and Dresses for Modesty (Click here for the story)

A very special and heartfelt Thank You to Mr. Day for writing such a nice article about me and the shop.

I'm so humbled by the wonderful publicity my shop receives.

St. Louis Catholic Review - Virtue of Modesty

I was so happy to see a recent article in the St. Louis Catholic Review on encouraging Modesty.

August 20th article on "Living the virtue of modesty through dress and thought" by Jennifer Brinker.

Here is an excerpt:
As an ancient tradition, some of the liturgical items the Church holds sacred — the tabernacle, the ciborium, even the chalice — are covered.
Similarly, human beings should be treated with the same respect, said Colleen Hammond, a Catholic author and national speaker on the topic of modesty.
That’s why practicing the virtue of modesty is essential for Catholics, said Hammond, who wrote “Dressing with Dignity,” a book geared toward the topic of dressing modestly.
The former model and television meteorologist, who left her career to be at home with her four children, is based in Dallas, Texas.
“Our bodies are precious and we are not to use them and abuse them,” said Hammond. “The same is true in nature. Anything precious is difficult to get to,” such as diamonds, gold and pearls.

The entire article can be found online at: http://stlouisreview.com/article/2009-08-20/living-virtue-modesty

2009 UPCI General Conference

The UPCI General Conference for 2009 is being held in downtown St. Louis. I'd like to say a special thank you to so many of our UPC Brides that have suggested I have some type of representation.
Unfortunately I am too late to have a display booth. I know our happy brides will help spread the word to the thousands of Pentecostal sisters that there is a modest dress shop right here in St. Louis.
Thank You.

Modest Homecoming Dance Dress

I've been conflicted on stocking the store with modest homecoming dance dresses. It's not that there isn't a need, but a matter of mom's and girls finding me.

I'm going to stock up on several different designs. I love the designs that Beautifully Modest carries. It would be nice to have many options for women and girls of all ages.

KEZK 102.5 Summer Salute to Women Owned Business

KEZK salutes local working women in business with the "KEZK Summer Salute to Women". I was fortunate enough to be featured.

I will be on the air on Friday, August 7th at 6:30am.

From their website here is the bio:

KEZK Link (Select hear entire interview)

Debbie WelcherOwner / Founder Chatfields Bridal Boutique

Debbie Welcher always knew she had an Entrepreneurial spirit and had dreamed of owning her own boutique shop. Her dream became a reality over a year ago leaving a successful career as a Corporate Executive to start a unique bridal store featuring hard-to-find wedding gowns. With so many thriving bridal shops in the St. Louis area, she knew to be truly successful; she needed to offer brides something different.

Debbie saw firsthand how difficult it was to find a modest wedding gown based on her husband’s family religious beliefs. Many of the brides paid a great deal to alter the top so it would be suitable for their ceremony or purchased a dress on the internet. Almost all the brides were unhappy for what should be one of the happiest days of their lives.

Her tagline is An Unexpected Wedding Store, for Brides Expecting Something Special, and that’s exactly what her customers get. In an endless sea of strapless options, Chatfields serves brides that choose a modest wedding dress. Chatfields’ gowns feature modest necklines and sleeves of various lengths.

Many of her customers are religious brides, plus size brides, 2nd time brides and older brides. One of the benefits of choosing Chatfields Bridal shop is that she is familiar with the various faiths she serves. Many ceremonies require certain details about a wedding dress. Debbie has worked closely with religious leaders and her brides to understand the requirements, ensuring the brides’ dress is completely appropriate for her ceremony.

Debbie believes wholeheartedly that leaving the corporate world and opening her shop was the best decision she ever made.

Open House/One Year Anniversary Event

I'm thrilled to announce my one year anniversary. What a wonderful year it has been. Absolutely life changing.

Instead of a ribbon cutting ceremony, I am cutting a wedding cake. Knodels bakery has been so kind and offered to supply the wedding cake (and serve it). Their cakes are fantastic so this is a real treat for me.

I have asked local clergy to help me celebrate and make this a modesty event. Many faiths have asked me how other faiths support and encourage modesty. I've asked the various faiths to bring material and feel free to discuss with each other their success and frustrations.

I hope you can join this unique hour event to meet with many faiths in St. Louis.
The event is July 23rd (Thursday) at 11:00am.

If you have any questions, please contact me - 314.965.6565

Peter and Paul Community Services

I met Keith Deisner and Steve Campbell of the Peter and Paul Community Services this morning. What a wonderful organization in St. Louis, Missouri that provides housing and supportive services to the homeless. A majority of those they serve need mental health and drug abuse support. Click here for Peter and Paul Website

In the St. Louis area, most are familar with the Larry Rice, New Life Evangelistic Center, but the Peter and Paul Center is not as well known. My goal is to help support them to reach out to volunteers, raise funding and help with more recognition for their outstanding work in the community.

As many of you know, I am launching a new line of Modest Wedding dresses I designed. I plan to give a portion of my profits to the Peter and Paul Community Services and help them continue the great work they do. Keep posted for more information on Modest-Couture.

CHEF Conference 2009

I closed the shop for a couple days to attend the CHEF conference in St. Charles this week. It is an organization for Christian Homeschoolers.

We are always looking for new ways to get the word out about our unique bridal shop. Traditional marketing to the "masses" has not and does not work. I met some really nice and wonderful people over the two days and they choose modesty.

Many commented to me that they were so happy to finally have a place to shop. I heard so many stories of searching for a seamstress to make a dress, changing an existing dress top, or considering a plane ticket to Utah!

We'd love to hear from you on ways to communicate our modest wedding dresses, so brides can know there is place they can shop.

How to Marry the Wrong Guy

My neighborhood friend gave me a book called "How to Marry the Wrong Guy", written by her friend, Anne Milford (and Jennifer Gauvain).
She asked me if that was strange for a bridal shop owner to read this book. We want all our brides to marry the right man and have a wonderful, long life together.

I thought it was delightful and thoughtfully prepared. It was interesting to me that all the women had that "gut feeling" that they were making a mistake. Some were brave enough to cancel the wedding and some ended up getting married.

I encourage you to take a look at this fascinating book - "A Guide for Avoiding the Biggest Mistake of Your Life!"

COLD FEET PRESS.COM

ABC Story Retailers widen options, including more modest clothes

I've been searching news stories about women and girls choosing modesty - I found this on ABC News Source

Link to story: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Story?id=7035910&page=1

By Jayne O'Donnell, USA TODAY March 8, 2009

Here is a small portion of the Story:

Modesty in young women's clothing is getting a boost from the dismal economy.
When consumer spending was in overdrive, retailers could sell to the masses and ignore the more muted voices asking for, say, a decent supply of sleeved shirts or prom dresses that show more fabric than skin.
Now, however, it's the rare retailer who's willing to take the chance of turning off any possible customer. Luxury-store clerks can no longer afford to look down at scruffy shoppers, and store owners of every sort are recognizing the one-size-fits-all approach to retail buying no longer works.
Whether it's more of a fiscal or moral shift, understated girls' clothing may indeed be making a comeback.
Even flashy Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld declared "bling is over" and noted the economy is prompting a "new modesty," in an interview with the International Herald Tribune this year.
Retail consultant Ken Nisch says the trend is more moderation than modesty, but the effect may be the same.
"It's not because of a moral revival but about sensibility," says Nisch, chairman of retail brand and design firm JGA. "What's provocative has often been ultra trendy, and it just doesn't make sense to buy things you can't wear for a lot of occasions anymore." .....

Going Modest

As of June 1st, we have become an all-modest bridal and dress store. We are in the process of having a huge sale, to reduce the inventory of gowns that are not considered modest.

One customer recently asked me if I wore a modest wedding dress. Without realizing that I was choosing modesty, my wedding dress had a modest neckline and short sleeves. So yes, it seems that I was meant to feature a bridal store with modest wedding dresses.

I'm changing the website now to reflect the new changes.

Big Sale for brides that want a strapless dress!

On-Line Reviews

My mom, Vyvyan and I are humbled at the overwhelmingly positive feedback we have received. I have read some of the on-line reviews from brides, mothers and friends about our store.

We have been invited to weddings, parties, and BBQ's from the brides we've served at our store.

Thank you for your kindness.

Jewish Bride - Hasidic Ceremony

I've met some truly wonderful people, brides; their mother's, friends, sisters. I learn about their lives and their faiths and I'm sad when they pick up the dress and the alterations are finished. It means that I won't be seeing them again.

One family stood out to me recently. Charni and her mom Cathy Spizman. She needed a little more modesty for her wedding ceremony with a Hasidic Jewish ceremony.

We had a lot of fun with them. She was kind enough to send me a picture of her wedding day.

For more information on the ceremony and their wedding day click here: Hasidic Jewish Ceremony

Expanding Modest Selection

I've just placed the order for a sizable amount of modest style dresses from Eternity Gowns (http://www.eternitygowns.com/) and Beautifully Modest (http://www.beautifullymodest.com/).

Expanding the selection of the store to include bridesmaid, semi-formal and evening in modest styles.

Now I can serve brides, women and girls who need a beautiful modest dress.

Stay tuned - I'll have them in the store in a couple weeks.

Why are modest-styles considered Frumpy?

Strapless wedding gowns became the preferred style only about 10 years ago. Prior to that, wedding gowns had sleeves.

When I talk to women about modest styles the first response is the word frumpy. Aren't we past the Victorian era and Little House on the Prarie mentality? Out of the thousands of wedding gown designers, (and I do mean thousands), less than 10 actually do a modest line.

Now modesty standards vary, but typically the brides I see understand what modesty means and they are searching for those standards.

I've helped four brides this month that purchased a modest-style wedding dress, (that originally had no intentions of purchasing a modest dress). One bride was amazed at how comfortable the dress was and her dad was extra happy.

The brides I typically see are religious brides such as the LDS (Mormon Faith), Pentecostal (UPC headquartered in St. Louis), Jewish Orthodox, Southern Baptists etc. But I also serve plus size girls that love the extra coverage a modest dress provides, older or second time brides (most brides ages 40+ do not wear sleeveless or strapless clothes), and women with tattoo's that promise their families to cover them up.

There are many women/brides that are underserved. When women drive 6-7 hours to my store to buy a wedding dress, there is a need for modest dresses.

Check out : http://www.dressfinder.com/. You can scroll through the hundreds of wedding dress designers.

What is Chatfields?

My name is Debbie (Chatfield) Welcher. I started a bridal store in St. Louis, Missouri - Chatfields Bridal Boutique.

I feature bridal gowns that the other bridal stores do not offer.

My store is reflective of my life honestly. I've had the opportunity to travel the entire world and meet wonderful people, different cultures, religions, various ways of life. The whole world opened up to a girl from the midwest. I couldn't afford to put $10 of gas in my car, and my company put me up in 5 star hotels. Surreal.

I'm very close to my one year anniversary. I left a good career as an Executive to open a bridal store, in a city that has 20 or more bridal stores, in the craziest economy since the 1920's.

Modest wedding gowns make up 75% of my bridal shop. I carry Eco Friendly wedding dresses, Destination type wedding gowns - and one my favorites - Vintage-Inspired wedding gowns.

I've spent countless hours reading books and meeting women from various faiths to understand their need for modesty.

I'm grateful for the experience of world travel. I truly feel that my store is a culmination of my life and experiences.

I bring that feeling every day I turn the key to open my bridal store.

I made the right decision.