Alessia is all about texture through two different types of silk organza. The pleats on the bodice are slimming while the textured skirt is whimsical and lavish.
I am so happy to "unveil" my 2013 Collection. It seemed fitting to stage the photoshoot at the beautiful Auberge St-Gabriel. My own wedding took place there seven years ago, and I have the best memories. I just love the character and architecture of the location. In fact it is the oldest inn in North America.
Aileen is all about the beautiful open back and the gorgeous Alencon lace. Simplicity and romance come together beautifully.
This photo shoot and collection were especially close to my heart, as this is my own collection. We have loaned our gowns for numerous shoots that were more collaborative efforts, but there is something just so satisfying about being able to conceptualize and execute a vision from A to Z. I can't thank Lisa, (our in-house Designer and Stylist) enough who worked hard to go over everything from hair and concept inspiration right down to the perfect shade of lipstick. Two of the dresses are in fact Lisa's designs, including the convertible dress below.
Laura is our Stylist Lisa's creation which is actually a silk satin inner dress paired with a lace overlay. The pieces can be purchased together or separately. Laura is named after Lisa's sister, who inspired the dress.
In terms of the inspiration for this collection, it is really all about simplicity and elegance. Our brides want to look beautiful without looking artificial, and that is partly why l'Auberge was the perfect location - it has lots of natural beauty and character, as do our dresses. This collection is made of natural fabrics such as silk satin and silk organza, which have nice movement and sheen, and with the earthy exposed brick walls, hardwood floors and antique furniture of l'Auberge, it became a perfect match.
Grace is an edgier take on a classic ball gown. It has a full circular-cut skirt of pure silk organza,and a corset-style bodice
There are a variety of silhouettes: mermaid, dropped waist, A-line and even two ball gowns. I tend to design dresses that have a purity to them, and this collection is definitely representative of my core aesthetic: symmetry, minimal embellishment and a balanced silhouette.
Audrey is a modern classic with a gorgeous mermaid silhouette and slimming princess seams.
I also want to thank Julia Vona of junophoto for the excellent photography. Cynthia-Cristina did a fantastic job on hair and make-up. Last but not least, our "trooper" of a model Dimitra put up with a gruelling schedule and didn't even blink and eye when we pulled out the "booty-enhancing" crinoline! We find she has a striking resemblance to Keira Knightly, don't you?
Lynne is a lighthearted tulle ballgown for the inner girl in all of us.
Here is Maggie, our consultant Rina's favourite dress of all time.
The gallery above was created January 4th - therefore there are lots more gorgeous
gowns that will be added to our sample racks the day of the sale that are not shown.
Who doesn't love a great sale? Brides certainly do - which is why everyone needs to know about our upcoming sample sale. If your wedding is in 2013 or 2014 you will not want to miss this opportunity.
The sale will only be held the weekend of January 31 to February 3. If you're a bride who is open to various styles and might be willing to overlook a couple of very
minor imperfections on her dress (things that no one will notice - trust us!), then you
can save as much as 40% or more off the original price (up to 70%!). That means you can get your pretty little hands on a gorgeous high-fashion dress for a fraction of the price and still look as beautiful as you always envisioned for your special day.
We are often asked, "Why are you selling these dresses at such a good price?" Designers release new collections either once or twice a year, and our store's top priority is to have the most current collections available to our customers. We have a finite amount of space in the showroom to display our dresses, and therefore we simply need to make room. Some of these dresses have been in our immaculately clean loft for only 6 months to one year and been tried on only a handful of times.
We also have accessories and headpieces on sale that our expert consultants can help you choose to really complete your look.
If you're interested in this unique sale, you've got to be a quick decision-maker because these dresses will likely be gone after the weekend sale. We'd love to see you, but it's important that you call first because, as always, you can only visit our boutique and see our professional stylists by appointment only. You can also use our convenient feature by following the preceding link to book your appointment in real-time and receive an instant confirmation.
Sample Sale Hours:
Thursday, January 31: 3:00 - 7:30
Friday, February 1st: 10:00 - 8:00
Saturday, February 2nd: 10:00 - 5:00
Sunday, February 3rd: 10:00 - 5:00
Pinterest has been catching on like wildfire (in fact, it's the number-one social media site today), and it's especially useful when it comes to wedding planning. The wealth of images that are out there, particularly when it comes to fashion and accessories, is astounding (maybe even a tad overwhelming), and rather than go through pages and pages of magazine spreads, a bride (or groom, or even her wedding party) can scroll through an endless array of beautiful images to find looks and styles that they love on Pinterest instead.
We're very proud of our Christianne Brunelle page (be sure to follow us!), as we have nearly 300 pins of our own, and we love following the various designers that we carry. There's also a fabulous array of pictures of brides and photo shoots, wedding accessories, hairstyles, and more to check out. We want our brides and their bridesmaids to feel empowered and inspired, and our virtual corkboard is a great starting point.
Pinterest is also useful for other wedding details, like finding unique decor ideas, centrepieces, flowers, favours, and more. In fact, you can find recipes, crafts, photography... the list goes on and on! If you haven't checked it out, then go to Pinterest today (and don't forget to follow Christianne Brunelle Couture, of course!).
We love ivory dresses and accessories, and so, too, do our brides.
Approximately 98% of our dresses are displayed in various shades of ivory as opposed
to a pure white. There are two types of white: poly white (which has almost a blue tinge to it - and maybe only 2% of women can pull off this unique hue), and silk white, however a much more flattering colour is ivory. It's more natural and therefore more people can wear it. It can be extremely complimentary to various skin tones and hair colours, and it's much less stark than a true shade of white.
Ivory is also luxurious-looking. It's one of the reasons why our dresses tend to look more expensive than
they actually are - because of the rich, elegant colour. (Of course, high-quality fabrics
help as well.)
Most of the dresses that we offer at Christianne Brunelle are available in
both colours (white as well as ivory), giving brides the choice between the traditional white gown and the more modern ivory style. However, we can tell you: very few brides go with a very pure white once they see how flattering and stunning their dress looks in ivory.
Ivory accessories are also extremely popular, and we offer a vast selection of such items in this beautiful colour, giving our brides a completely lavish look from head to toe.
Call us today to book an appointment with one of our professional
stylists, who can put together your perfect look from head to toe - in the colour that looks best on you!
Most brides like a second opinion when wedding dress shopping, but a third, fourth or even fifth opinion can make things very overwhelming. How many people should come with the bride during her gown consultation?
We've helped hundreds of brides choose their perfect dress, but something that we have noticed is that when she brings too many people
it becomes a bit counterproductive. She quickly finds herself being pulled in different directions, and even
worse, someone may shoot down her top dress choice without even realizing it.
That is why we allow two guests to accompany the bride on weekend and evening appointments, and recommend no more than this. We are on the bride's side, and when the group
gets bigger, she gets less attention from them, not more, since a larger group
tends to start talking amongst themselves. Too much input makes the experience less memorable and more overwhelming.
When you decide to go wedding dress shopping, make it a more personal event. Invite your mother and maybe your maid of honour, and keep it at that. Set up some ground rules before you go so that everyone knows their "role" in the shopping process. Ensure that this once-in-a-lifetime experience is really all about you - after all, you deserve it!
What bride wouldn't want to be adorned in a stunning collection that was inspired by the Greek goddess of light?! They'll find such regal beauty with the new White Collection from Theia.
Designed by infamous evening and bridal designer Don O'Neill, who has worked with a number of industry greats, this line of dresses is perfect for the bride who likes to stray ever-so-slightly from the conventional and traditional. Layered flowing fabrics, subtle detail, and flattering silhouettes are what make Theia gowns such a popular choice with modern brides. The styles are simplistically elegant and allow women to truly find a look that mirrors their inner goddess.
Call us today to book an appointment with one of our professional
stylists, who can put together your perfect look from head to toe.
Our most anticipated event of the year is around the corner... the Lis Simon Trunk Show! We've always loved Lis Simon for the high quality at such a reasonable price. Montreal brides have followed suit by making Lis Simon one of our most popular collections.
After having seen the 2013 collection in New York at the International Bridal Fashion Week, I really have to say that this is the best one by far. I literally stopped reviewing the dresses at one point, stepped back and exclaimed, "These look so expensive!" (I was quickly reassured by the designer that the prices had not gone up...) It can get overwhelming reviewing hundreds of wedding dresses in one weekend, and for a minute I forgot the price-point of the collection, which was showing near dresses double the price.
All this to say that if you tend to have "champagne taste on a beer budget", this could be the designer for you.
What is a Trunk Show? We are having the whole 2013 collection flown in for an event November 2-4. It is by appointment, which is normally how we work. You will have a consultant to help guide you through the process. It will be a festive atmosphere with bubbly and Parisian "Macarons". We will also have a special incentive for brides saying "Yes to the dress" during their appointment. Shhh! It's a surprise!
The dresses in the slideshow below will give you a little taste of the 2013 collection. Call us to make your appointment: 514-285-2002, or, you can book online.
