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.