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 PINK HAUTE COUTURE LACE UP BACK WEDDING GOWN NWT SIZE 16 ORIGINAL RETAIL 599 $159.99 Time Remaining: 28d 17h 6m Buy It Now for only: $159.99 |
 Wedding Bridal Gown Dress Designer Jasmine Couture T369 STUNNING sz 6 $127.50 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 18h 19m |
 Never Worn Haute Couture by Maggie Sottero Wedding Gown $80.00 Time Remaining: 16h 10m Buy It Now for only: $150.00 |
 Carolina Herrera 35807 Ivory Silk Faille Organza New Couture Bridal Wedding Gown $1,750.00 Time Remaining: 5d 12h 2m Buy It Now for only: $1,750.00 |
 Wedding Bridal Gown Dress Designer Jasmine Couture T370 STUNNING sz 6 $93.00 (18 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 18h 28m |
 Couture Bevely Hills LEzu Atelier silk shantung wedding dress fits 4 6 Small $150.00 Time Remaining: 8d 15h 5m Buy It Now for only: $150.00 |
 Wedding Bridal Gown Dress Designer Jasmine Couture T317 STUNNING sz 6 $49.95 Time Remaining: 1d 18h 31m |
 Wedding Bridal Gown Dress Designer Jasmine Couture T368 STUNNING sz 6 $52.00 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 18h 25m |
 VTG JASMINE COUTURE Embroidered Beaded Wedding Dress 0 2 4 Small $225.00 Time Remaining: 26d 15h 28m Buy It Now for only: $225.00 |
 Designer Maggie Sottero Couture Wedding Gown $100.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 46m Buy It Now for only: $950.00 |
 Ines Di Santo Flora Ivory Silk Taffeta Strapless Couture Bridal Gown New $1.99 Time Remaining: 17d 13h 25m Buy It Now for only: $1.99 |
 Jasmine Couture Bridal Gown Style T437 Size 6 Ivory $675.00 Time Remaining: 2d 12h 7m Buy It Now for only: $1,350.00 |
 AUTHENTIC Monique Lhuillier Platinum Soleil Strapless Couture Bridal Gown NEW $11,700.00 Time Remaining: 6d 16h 12m Buy It Now for only: $11,700.00 |
 Mon Cheri Couture Gorgeous Bridal Gown Pick up Skirt 10 $199.00 Time Remaining: 18h 13m |
 AUTHENTIC Anne Barge La Fleur LF184 Silk Shantung Aline Couture Bridal Gown NEW $449.00 Time Remaining: 19h 55m |
 MAGGIE SOTTERO Couture WEDDING GOWN size 2 New NEVER WORN my loss your GAIN $725.00 Time Remaining: 18d 20h 43m Buy It Now for only: $725.00 |
 Wedding Bridal Gown Dress Designer Jasmine Couture F309 STUNNING sz 6 $49.95 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 18h 37m |
 Carolina Herrera 35503 Ivory Silk Satin Gazar New Couture Bridal Wedding Gown $1,650.00 Time Remaining: 12d 9h 29m Buy It Now for only: $1,650.00 |
 Maggie Sottero Phillipa Size 4 Tailored to Size 2 Couture Wedding Dress $250.00 Time Remaining: 1d 7h 53m |
 AUTHENTIC Anne Barge 507 Silk Satin Vneck Beads Couture Bridal Wedding Dress NEW $749.00 Time Remaining: 20h |
 ST PUCCHI COUTURE style Z195 IVORY 10 SILK BRIDAL WEDDING GOWN DRESS $883.00 Time Remaining: 9d 11h 9m Buy It Now for only: $883.00 |
 NWT Size 8 MON CHERI COUTURE WEDDING GOWN DIAMOND SWAROVSKI GORGEOUS $50.00 Time Remaining: 1d 10h 19m |
 Amsale Couture Wedding Gown Sz 6 $6,995.00 Time Remaining: 19d 8h 49m Buy It Now for only: $6,995.00 |
 5k Shannon McLean Couture Wedding Gown Anna Sz10 $349.00 Time Remaining: 18h 13m |
 AUTHENTIC Monique Lhuillier Platinum Collection Vivienne Couture Bridal Gown NEW $11,890.00 Time Remaining: 26d 15h 43m Buy It Now for only: $11,890.00 |
 AUTHENTIC Anna Maier Ulla Maija Darcelle Silk Ivory Couture Bridal Dress Gown $849.00 Time Remaining: 1d 19h 20m |
 AUTHENTIC Justina McCaffrey 1005 Kimberly Silk White Couture Bridal Gown NEW 6 $1,374.00 Time Remaining: 1d 21h 30m |
 Justina McCaffrey 1103 Corine Tulle Silk Organza Ivory Couture Bridal Gown New 2 $1,950.00 Time Remaining: 17d 10h 26m Buy It Now for only: $1,950.00 |
 AUTHENTIC Justina McCaffrey 1004 Grace Silk White Couture Bridal Gown NEW 2 $1,444.00 Time Remaining: 1d 21h 35m |
 AUTHENTIC Elizabeth Fillmore Sophia Lace Sleeveless Couture Bridal Gown NEW $2,250.00 Time Remaining: 6d 11h 15m Buy It Now for only: $2,250.00 |
 AUTHENTIC Anne Barge La Fleur LF218 Ivory Silk Couture Bridal Wedding Dress NEW $549.00 Time Remaining: 19h 49m |
 AUTHENTIC Monique Lhuillier Collette Ivory Silk Couture Bridal Gown NEW $3,950.00 Time Remaining: 8d 16h 47m Buy It Now for only: $3,950.00 |
 AUTHENTIC Monique Lhuillier Opal Couture Bridal Gown Silk Ivory Strapless NEW $874.00 Time Remaining: 1d 20h 44m |
 GALIT COUTURE WEDDING GOWN $2,500.00 Time Remaining: 9h 17m |
 Ines Di Santo Marquise X Silk Organza Light Ivory Couture Bridal Gown New 8 $4,550.00 Time Remaining: 23d 12h 31m Buy It Now for only: $4,550.00 |
 Jasmine Couture Bridal Gown Style T483 Size 14 Ivory Pewter $655.00 Time Remaining: 2d 12h 59m Buy It Now for only: $1,325.00 |
 Carolina Herrera 32700 Strapless Silk Satin Aline Couture Bridal Wedding Gown $1,495.00 Time Remaining: 14h 25m Buy It Now for only: $1,495.00 |
 AUTHENTIC Alvina Valenta 9910 Ivory Silk Satin Ballgown Couture Bridal Gown NEW $899.00 Time Remaining: 1d 19h 24m |
 Birnbaum Bullock Heather Couture Silk Wedding Dress 6 $99.00 Time Remaining: 18h 13m |
 NWT NEW Winnie Couture Ivory Satin Wedding Dress Bridal Gown size 10 $90.99 Time Remaining: 8d 12h 19m Buy It Now for only: $90.99 |
 Brand New Allure 2012 Couture C203 Wedding Dress $1,350.00 Time Remaining: 4d 15m Buy It Now for only: $1,600.00 |
 Monique Lhuillier Strapless Couture Wedding Dress Gown $2,800.00 Time Remaining: 2d 19h 24m Buy It Now for only: $2,800.00 |
 Wedding Gown Jasmine Couture Gorgeous Includes free veil No reserve $150.00 Time Remaining: 19h 17m Buy It Now for only: $225.00 |
 Carolina Herrera 35959 Carolina Diamond White Strapless Couture Bridal Gown New $4,950.00 Time Remaining: 6d 12h 18m Buy It Now for only: $4,950.00 |
 SALE 2Be Bride 610 Couture Wedding Dress pickups sz12 $129.00 Time Remaining: 18h 13m |
 Maggie Sottero Couture Wedding Dress Size 16 Only Worn Once $100.00 Time Remaining: 2d 20h 42m Buy It Now for only: $450.00 |
 Anne Barge 467 Ivory Alencon Lace Sweetheart New Couture Bridal Wedding Gown $0.99 Time Remaining: 17d 14h 16m Buy It Now for only: $0.99 |
 SALE Jasmine Couture A line Empire Wedding Gown Sz 8 $49.00 Time Remaining: 18h 13m |
 STUNNING Winnie Couture White Wedding Dress Bridal Gown size 10 Heavily Beaded $160.99 Time Remaining: 8d 12h 19m Buy It Now for only: $160.99 |
 PICCIONE COUTURE 428WEDDING BRIDAL DRESSWH SZ 8100 AUTHENTICNWTMAKE OFFER $599.99 Time Remaining: 22h 32m |
 AUTHENTIC Ysa Makino 2413 Beaded Couture Bridal Formal Prom Gown NEW $3,150.00 Time Remaining: 18d 13h 55m Buy It Now for only: $3,150.00 |
 ALEX PERRY COUTURE WEDDING DRESS $2,860.56 Time Remaining: 20h 46m Buy It Now for only: $3,945.60 |
 9800AUTHENTIC COUTURE DESIGNERSLOT OF 4GORGEOUS WEDDING GOWNSBRIDAL DRESS $1,999.99 Time Remaining: 22h 32m |
 COUTURE WEDDING GOWN ONE OF A KIND 4 6 LONG TRAIN VEIL $350.00 Time Remaining: 18d 15h 37m Buy It Now for only: $350.00 |
 9800AUTHENTIC COUTURE DESIGNERSLOT OF 4GORGEOUS WEDDING GOWNSBRIDAL DRESS $999.99 Time Remaining: 22h 32m |
 AUTHENTIC Sarli Couture of Italy 26 Silk Ivory Strapless Couture Bridal Gown NEW $1,750.00 Time Remaining: 15d 16h 7m Buy It Now for only: $1,750.00 |
 AUTHENTIC Justina McCaffrey 1017 Sarah Silk Couture Wedding Gown Dress NEW $749.00 Time Remaining: 20h 10m |
 Maggie Sottero Couture Wedding Gown Size 10 $500.00 Time Remaining: 11h 48m Buy It Now for only: $750.00 |
 Badgley Mischka Katerina Ivory Strapless Silk Couture Bridal Gown New 8 $3,150.00 Time Remaining: 4d 17h 8m Buy It Now for only: $3,150.00 |
 PRICE REDUCED Couture Wedding Dress $49.99 Time Remaining: 1d 10h 12m Buy It Now for only: $100.00 |
 Liancarlo 4871 Strapless Diamond White Silk Mikado Couture Bridal Gown New 10 $3,150.00 Time Remaining: 5d 14h 29m Buy It Now for only: $3,150.00 |
 AUTHENTIC Ristarose Ivory Light Pink Silk Satin Couture Bridal Wedding Dress NEW $249.00 Time Remaining: 1d 21h 50m |
 BNWT Venovia Couture 2631 201631 Wedding Dress Gown size 6 Ivory Taffeta 1200 $269.50 Time Remaining: 8d 12h 25m Buy It Now for only: $269.50 |
 AUTHENTIC Amsale A509 Rachel Ivory Silk Satin Drop Waist Couture Bridal Gown NEW $649.00 Time Remaining: 1d 21h 19m |
 Mia Callaway bridal couture dress size 0 4 small wedding dress rhinestones $59.99 Time Remaining: 3d 21h 56m |
 AUTHENTIC Vera Wang Couture 1G049 Strapless Ivory English Net Bridal Gown NEW $2,450.00 Time Remaining: 12d 14h 45m Buy It Now for only: $2,450.00 |
 Winnie Couture Bridal Gown Style 8324 Maelee Size 6 Cream Pearl Beadwork Add $778.00 Time Remaining: 1d 11h 4m Buy It Now for only: $1,500.00 |
 Badgley Mischka Elise Silk Sleeveless Elegant Couture Bridal Wedding Gown $1,950.00 Time Remaining: 19d 16h 33m Buy It Now for only: $1,950.00 |
 Winnie Couture Destiny Wedding Gown Unaltered $750.00 Time Remaining: 13h 22m Buy It Now for only: $950.00 |
 Le Bella Couture Wedding Dress Ivory Strapless NWOT SZ 16 Amazing Beadwork NR $162.53 Time Remaining: 12h 44m |
 NWOT 5000 Yolanda Couture for IRENE Wedding dress Bridal gown GRACE 7010 Iv 10 $1,710.00 Time Remaining: 14d 14h 35m Buy It Now for only: $1,710.00 |
 Jasmine Couture Bridal Gown Style T843 Gold Size 12 $500.00 Time Remaining: 1d 11h 48m Buy It Now for only: $750.00 |
 AUTHENTIC Elizabeth Fillmore Eden Ivory Silver Lace Silk Couture Bridal Gown NEW $4,850.00 Time Remaining: 5d 15h 39m Buy It Now for only: $4,850.00 |
 FORMAL PROM CHAMPAGNE BEIGE TAN WEDDING BRIDAL BRIDE DRESS GOWN COUTURE $49.99 Time Remaining: 2d 20h 29m Buy It Now for only: $65.00 |
 AUTHENTIC Oscar de la Renta 92E22 Ivory Strapless Silk Couture Bridal Gown NEW $6,150.00 Time Remaining: 17d 10h 18m Buy It Now for only: $6,150.00 |
 Winnie Couture Stunning beaded designer wedding dress and matching veil $125.00 Time Remaining: 2d 7h 4m Buy It Now for only: $250.00 |
 Jasmine Haute Couture Bridal Gown Style T890 Cream Size 12 $525.00 Time Remaining: 1d 13h 51m Buy It Now for only: $1,050.00 |
 Sottero Midgley Haute Couture SEQUIN White Strapless Wedding Gown Dress size 8 $350.00 Time Remaining: 4d 21h 37m Buy It Now for only: $350.00 |
 AUTHENTIC Justina McCaffrey 1011 Bernadette White Silk Couture Wedding Dress NEW $749.00 Time Remaining: 1d 19h 54m |
 AUTHENTIC Oscar de la Renta 92N13 Silk Ivory Strapless Couture Bridal Gown NE $2,150.00 Time Remaining: 20d 12h 44m Buy It Now for only: $2,150.00 |
 AUTHENTIC Anna Maier Ulla Maija 3001 Amound Silk Satin Couture Wedding Dress New $649.00 Time Remaining: 1d 21h 15m |
 Jasmine Couture T834 Pre Owned Wedding Dress $500.00 Time Remaining: 27d 13h 29m Buy It Now for only: $500.00 |
 AUTHENTIC Anne Barge 495 Strapless Empire Waist Couture Wedding Dress NEW $649.00 Time Remaining: 1d 20h 40m |
 DAYMOR COUTURE 4001 CHAMPAGNE SZ 18 NWT Retails 517 WEDDING Elegant relisted $99.00 Time Remaining: 21h 41m |
 Anne Barge 562 Light Ivory Organza over Satin New Couture Bridal Wedding Gown $1,850.00 Time Remaining: 9d 15h 30m Buy It Now for only: $1,850.00 |
 NWT SZ 14 SILK SATIN Casablanca bridal gown B036 Couture wedding dress Ivory $199.99 Time Remaining: 3d 7h 34m |
 AUTHENTIC Monique Lhuillier Tinsley Strapless Ivory Silk Couture Bridal Gown NEW $5,250.00 Time Remaining: 2d 10h 41m Buy It Now for only: $5,250.00 |
 Manolo Couture New York beaded wedding gown size 8 Good Dolce Gabbana dup $80.00 Time Remaining: 3d 7h 55m |
 NWOT White Wedding Bridal Gown Dress Moonlight Valerie Couture H1108 2 4 990 $349.99 Time Remaining: 3d 15h 25m |
 Ines Di Santo Flora Ivory Silk Taffeta Strapless Couture Bridal Gown New $1.99 Time Remaining: 13d 16h 45m Buy It Now for only: $1.99 |
 Winnie Couture Bridal Gown Style 2120 Bernice Size 6 $425.00 Time Remaining: 2d 13h 51m Buy It Now for only: $855.00 |
 Casablanca Couture style B041 Size 10 ivory color BRIDAL WEDDING GOWN $399.00 Time Remaining: 14d 14h 3m Buy It Now for only: $399.00 |
 Yellow Wedding Dress Sash Couture Quality 275 x 4yd $18.00 Time Remaining: 18h 14m |
 Carolina Herrera 34304 Ivory Silk Mikado Taffeta Aline Couture Bridal Gown New 8 $2,550.00 Time Remaining: 5d 15h 9m Buy It Now for only: $2,550.00 |
 Original Jasmine Couture Wedding Gown T833 $980.00 Time Remaining: 1d 23h 30m Buy It Now for only: $1,100.00 |
 NEW Casablanca Couture Bridal B035 Wedding Dress Gown Ivory Sweetheart Neck 10 $599.99 Time Remaining: 2d 13h 11m |
 AUTHENTIC Monique Lhuillier Platinum Collection Leisel Couture Bridal Gown NEW $6,150.00 Time Remaining: 10d 14h Buy It Now for only: $6,150.00 |
 Winnie Couture Bridal Gown Quintessa Style 8302 Cream Pearl Size 8 $879.00 Time Remaining: 1d 14h 19m Buy It Now for only: $1,760.00 |
 STPUCCHI COUTURE SILK WEDDING GOWN 9338 $590.00 Time Remaining: 6d 19m Buy It Now for only: $590.00 |
 AUTHENTIC Anne Barge 600 Ivory Silk Ballgown Beads Couture Wedding Dress NEW $899.00 Time Remaining: 1d 20h |
Couture Wedding
Are Expensive Wedding Cakes Really Worth It?
Are expensive wedding cakes really worth it? As a wedding planner in the SF Bay Area, this is one of the questions I'm continuously asked by brides. The answer I always give is that, it really depends on a lot of things.
Any wedding planner or wedding budget calculator will tell you to allocate 2-3% of your total wedding budget towards a cake. This is the average, the norm, the current trend. So if your total wedding budget is $50,000, then you should allocate $1000 - $1500 towards your cake. If you're expecting 150 guests, then you would need to find a baker whose cakes ranged between $6 - $10 a slice. However, 2-3% is only a suggestion.
I recently worked with clients who had their heart set on a string trio for their ceremony. They chose to pay 3 times as much as they originally budgeted for ceremony music to get the string trio. To cut costs elsewhere, they cut the videographer and cake from the wedding. Instead of a cake, they had a candy station. The candy station was set up by family members in heirloom dishes and bowls, and was a conversation piece amongst all of the guests. It was cute, inexpensive, and it worked.
If couples are totally into decadent desserts, or have their heart set on a cake you saw in a trendy cakery's window, then allocating 5% or more of your budget towards a higher quality cake, taking funds away from other wedding items in their budget, may be the right choice for them. Many high end cakes in the SF Bay Area can cost up to $20 a slice. For a wedding of 150 guests, that's $3000 for a cake. This translates to 6% of the total wedding cost, if the overall budget is $50,000.
Many couples want a wedding completely unique and all their own. Knowing what the trends and traditions are, often help couples steer away from them, to help create what they want their "untraditional and original" event to be. A lot of the time, the untraditional and original events do not include wedding cakes.
My clients that do chose wedding cakes, often struggle with their overpriced costs. "How could something made out of flour, sugar and eggs be so expensive?" they ask, as they're holding a picture of a couture wedding cake from the latest Town and Country Weddings Magazine. Are these expensive wedding cakes really worth it?
To best answer this, I've listed a list of points below to help shed some light on this blazing question.
Wedding
Put the word "wedding" in front of anything, and watch the price increase by 30-40%. It's the way of the world. As long as customers pay high prices, bakers will charge high prices.
The mark up on weddings also has a lot to do with the pressure to make the event perfect. There is an enormous amount of expectation on wedding professionals for perfection. This is stressful, period. Would you be that upset if your birthday cake were flawed? Maybe a little, but you'd have a lifetime of birthdays to get it perfect, right? Not the case with a wedding. Couples view their wedding as a one-time chance to get it perfect. If their cake is flawed, they could be angered and disappointment on their wedding day. You best be sure the baker will hear about it. Discounts or partial refunds may be offered by the baker, or demanded by the couple.
Ingredients
If bakers use real butter and cream, and/or organic products, then their cakes will cost more than those that don't. . The type of cake also matters. A simple sponge cake made from a mix that's full of preservatives, is much less expensive than a cheese cake made from scratch with all organic products. Also, top notch cakes are fresh. They are made 2-3 days prior to the event. It takes a lot of manpower to work non-stop on a cake in just a few days, as opposed to one person taking their time, freezing layers and beginning the baking months ahead.
Décor
Many agree that the most expensive and time consuming factor of wedding cakes is the décor. A butter cream frosting cake with fresh flowers for decoration is much easier to create than a fondant cake with hundreds of intricate sugar flowers. If your cake involves elaborate designs, then it will take much longer to create, and cost more money.
Structure
A standard 3 tiered cake is much easier to assemble, support and transport, than a 4, 5 or 6 tier cake. The taller the cake, the more effort it takes a baker to support it, and to get all of the tiers level and straight. Many layered cakes are not easy to assemble and keep straight, and a baker will charge you for this.
Location of the Baker or Bakery
You may find that a baker in a major metropolitan area or a bakery in a trendy main street location will be much more expensive than a baker that bakes out of their home in suburbia.
Training of Bakers
Where did the bakers get baking and pastry arts training? Do they even have training? Well trained bakers and sugarcrafters, especially with many years of experience, demand a higher price for their creations.
Reputation
Bakers who have a reputation for creating outstanding cakes, are covered often in the media and are in high demand, will ask high dollar for their cakes.
Time of Year
The high season for many bakeries is during December, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and Easter. If your wedding falls on one of the key high season days, it's possible your cake may cost a bit more.
Delivery & Set-up
If your venue is far from the bakery, it's possible that your cake may cost more to deliver. Delivering a cake safely is a timely and stressful process. So the longer the stress and the longer the baker is not in their shop making money, the more you'll be charged.
Many brides that I've worked with insist on purchasing cakes from grocery stores. Grocery store may be full of preservatives and not made with the finest ingredients or from scratch, but they're decent looking cakes. The problem is that grocery stores may not deliver and set-up. I always remind couples that if they chose to purchase a grocery store cake, they'll probably need to take on the stress, time and bother of safely transporting a wedding cake. Do they have a car with a large flat area? Do they have working air conditioning that will need to be on high the entire time the cake is in their car? Do they have a rubber mat to prevent the cake from sliding around? Do they have a friend or family member who has dealt with assembling cakes before? These are things to consider.
Frantic Bride Time
This could also be called "bridezilla time".There is a lot of pressure and expectation put on the cake designer to meet and often exceed the expectations of the bride. This sometimes requires dropping everything else they're doing to make the bride happy.
Many bakers build in time into their initial cake costs for this. In an emotional frenzy, brides often panic about last minute details of their wedding cake. Of course any professional baker will deal with a stressed bride calmly and do anything to make her happy. It's part of what they do. They strive to meet the expectation of wedding perfection. However, calming and appeasing a frantic and emotional bride-to-be is stressful and time consuming.
For more articles and information regarding everything wedding cake: wedding cake designs, wedding cake toppers, and more, visit our site at www.wedding-cakes-and-toppers.com
About the Author
At www.wedding-cakes-and-toppers.com, Maria Binasco offers her wedding planner's view on wedding cakes, wedding cake toppers, and cake design. After designing events across Northern California for many years, she was intrigued by cake design as an art and wanted to create a forum for brides-to-be to share and learn. Cakes marry the worlds of design and culinary - her two favorite things.
How can i find a Christiana Couture wedding dress??
i am looking for a christiana Courture wedding dress 'Lavinia' to be precise and i know she no longers makes them but any ideas if anyone has one out there? help, i've fallen in love with it and would love to have it for my wedding, any help or ideas would be happily taken on board!! thanks:)
http://www.bridalwave.tv/2007/01/christiana_cout.html
There are a few places that you might be able to look - aside from ebay and craigslist.
http://www.woreitonce.com/buy.cfm
http://www.usedweddingdresses.com/
http://www.preownedweddingdresses.com/
http://www.sellyourweddingdress.com/
You can also go to her website and see where the dresses are sold. Call around to the bridal shops that sell her dresses and see if they have that dress still in their store. I got my dress that way - I bought the sample because the dress was discontinued.
Also, I know that it's not the exact dress, but it does look very similar to some of Maggie Sottero's gowns...you could probably just add the cap sleeves. I hope this helps! Good luck finding the dress!
http://www.maggiesottero.com/dress.aspx?keywordText=grace&keywordType=any&page=0&pageSize=8&style=J122
http://www.maggiesottero.com/dress.aspx?keywordText=jorie&keywordType=any&page=0&pageSize=8&style=S774
CNN: Royal wedding celebrity couture