judd waddell event

We love Judd!! The Judd Waddell collection is clean, classic and perfect for our bride!



Join us July 7th – 11th for an event featuring our Judd Waddell collection! All of Judd’s gowns will be discounted by 10% during that week. Call 860.669.4596 to book your personal consultation.

Here are a few of our favorites from Judd’s latest collection~

xoxo, TWD

let your flower girl play dress up!

We carry an adorable line of flower girls called Dress Up by Annie Girl. The concept is that you take a classic silk taffeta dress in white or ivory and customize it to suit the color palate and formality of the wedding. You then add a sash in dupioni, satin, taffeta or organza and then select from 6 different flower pins in various colors to add the perfect ‘girly’ touch. The lead time for these beauties is only 6 weeks! Prices start at $150.

the components

The adorable finished product!

xoxo, TWD

not only love lasts forever

Join us for a Winters and Rain Veil and Accessories Trunk Show~

Friday, June 26th ~ 11-7
Saturday June 27th ~ 10-4

Image by Joe Mikos

All of Winters and Rain’s exquisite cultured pearl and Swarovski crystal combs, hairpins and headpieces can be restrung into keepsake jewelry that can be worn after the wedding. Every piece is hand crafted in New Hampshire, and we are fortunate enough to be the only boutique that carries the collection in the state!

Whether you are looking for jewelry, a headpiece, or a veil, this is a must attend trunk show!

All of Winters and Rain’s veils can be customized. You can create a veil in any length with any trim. You can even add a touch of sparkle!

All of Winters and Rain cultured pearl and Swarovski crystal jewelry can be done in an array of stunning colors, making it a perfection option for Mom as well!




Call 860.669.4596 to schedule an appointment for a consultation. A 10% discount will be granted off of any Winters and Rain purchase made during this exclusive event.

xoxo, TWD

love in the mist

Our good friend Victoria Sorenson from Gourmet Galley married her true love, Tim on May 16th. The wedding took place at the Eugene O’Neil theatre and the beautiful event was captured by Maggie Conley . Flowers were done by Hana Floral Design , makeup was by Jennie Fresa and the inspired paper was from Stonington Design + Paperie .

xoxo TWD

new haven lawn club photo shoot!

Last Tuesday we had the opportunity to participate in an amazing photo shoot at the New Haven Lawn Club . The shoot included the following talents~ Carla Ten Eyck photography, Jennie Fresa makeup , Datura: A Modern Garden floral design. The makeup was natural and stunning, the floral designs were artistic and over the top and the photography was out of this world! Here is a sampling of the outcome~

Love this floral headband and cage veil by Maria Elena

Gown by Vineyard Collection, Floral Parasol by Datura: A Modern Garden



We love the vintage inspired feel of this image!

Love this one!

Some great accessory options for maids from yours truly~ The third one in is by Datura: A Modern Garden



Elegant, natural makeup by Jennie Fresa

What better accessory than a flower wrap?!~ by Datura: A Modern Garden


xoxo TWD

modern trousseau trunk show

We are thrilled to announce an amazing trunk show with CT based designer Modern Trousseau!

New Bridal Collection...

Designer Callie Tein will join us to launch her new 2010 collection for brides and moms the following days (by appointment):

Friday June 12th 12- 5

Saturday June 13th 10 – 5:30
Sunday June 14th 11-4

Here are some of her latest designs for Moms! You can also work with Callie to customize any of her gowns to create the perfect look for you and your big day!

For an appointment, please call ~ 860.669.4596

why hire a wedding planner?

This is a first in our “Ask the Experts Series”. Periodically we will interview some of the top wedding professionals in the industry to share their area of expertise with you. Please email us if you have any questions for any of our experts!

This interview is with the beautiful and talented Sarah True of True Event.

What is the advantage of having an Event Coordinator?

There are many advantages to hiring an Event Coordinator. Most importantly this is what I do for a living. It is my career, my passion and as a result I have spent time building relationships with the best vendors. I continuously stay on top of the latest fashions and trends and spend hours researching. By doing so this allows my clients to save time. It is with my expertise, that I can advise you on selecting the right vendors, areas to save money and help to allocate the budget appropriately. I offer a level of efficiency, professionalism and expertise to the event planning process that can only be gained through years of experience. For many of the same reasons one would typically hire a Realtor, an accountant, a contractor or a lawyer to assist with a significant transaction, these are the same advantages that a professional event coordinator can offer. This is one of the biggest days of a couple’s lives. An Event Coordinator allows you, your family and friends to be guests at your wedding and enjoy the planning process from start to finish. An event is ultimately a collaboration of multiple professionals working together to execute one’s vision for the event – the caterer, the florist, the photographer, the musicians, etc. The event coordinator is the one person who’s sole interest lies in making sure that all of these separate functions come together to ensure that event is executed in the vision of the bride and groom.

photo by adeline and grace

What do you say to brides who think that they don’t have room in the budget for an event planner?

I think every bride should work with an event coordinator. Budget should not deter a bride. However, it is extremely important to start with an overall budget. We build ourselves into that budget without compromising your overall vision. We advise you on the best way to use the money you have budgeted and the appropriate vendors to contract so that you aren’t wasting your time in the process. Planning a wedding should not be a frustrating process. However it can become frustrating when an impulsive, emotional buying decision is made without any planning, and suddenly a $30,000 wedding has already allocated $10,000 to one vendor, which is probably not the most effective use of one’s budget.

photo by toby morris

Can a bride hire an event planner even after they have selected many of their vendors?

Yes, but the ideal time to hire an event planner is at the very beginning. Selecting the team for your event is the most crucial part of the planning and designing process. Because of our experience and through the hundreds of weddings and events we have done over the years, we know the vendors that work best together to ensure a flawless event. It also helps with the proper allocation of the budget. Hiring an event coordinator does not mean you have to let go of this process completely, it is a joint effort. We work together to hire a group of vendors that are the best fit for you and for your event.

However, if a bride already has the majority of their vendors selected they should not underestimate how much a coordinator can assist throughout the planning and design process of bringing it all together and in the final execution on the day of the event. After spending so much time, money, and effort selecting your vendors, you will want to make sure that all the moving pieces come together to create a spectacular event, but also that you will not be responsible for managing this process on the day of your wedding. Hiring an event coordinator after you’ve selected your vendors, while not ideal, can remove a significant amount of the stress associated with making sure all of the small details that make a good event great, are executed properly.

photo by maggie conley

xoxo TWD

pretty on style me pretty

Event planner Candice Dowling from Jubilee Events is a friend of The White Dress by the shore AND one of our brides! (she is getting married August 1^st). She did an amazing fashion shoot that was featured yesterday on Style me Pretty. Here is how they so eloquently described the shoot:

THIS BRIDE wanted to do something fun and fashionable … BEFORE the wedding … while her excitement and enthusiasm were ripe! She told her photographer that she didn’t want a typical ‘trash the dress’ shoot, but something fresh and quirky. Straight out of Vogue. Together they found an old abandoned girl’s college in New York. THIS BRIDE wanted a vintage shoot, oozing with glamour … set somewhere at the extreme opposite end of the fashion world. (click images to enlarge them)

Flowers ~ Blush Floral Studio
Makeup ~ Dana Bartone
Gown ~ Modern Trousseau
Photography ~ Raw Photo


xoxo TWD