It is the prettiest dress a girl will ever wear. Some little girls have been dreaming of their wedding dress since they heard their first fairytale. Others experience a quieter, more intimate moment when they see themselves as a bride for the first time. Behind those personal moments are professionals who treat every day as a walk down the aisle. General manager RoseLynn Fiumara has been with Bridal Reflections since she was in eighth grade.
The company celebrated 45 years of business in February, making Bridal Reflections one of the oldest names in the wedding industry. It is that milestone that qualifies Fiumara to know a thing or two about wedding dress designs, styles and what’s on trend.
“People are starting to ask for satin again. For a long time everything was lace, tulle or net but we’re seeing satin come back,” said Fiumara of the once traditional material that has regained popularity. “We’re also seeing A-line after a long time of fit and flare, mermaid and trumpet looks. Long sleeves are also popular, even in the summer because girls are looking for that Boho long sleeve very feminine, soft floral feel.”
While the traditional styles seem to be making a comeback, Fiumara said that the biggest trend the industry has seen comes in the form of detachable wrap trains and overskirts, which many designers leave as an option.
“It looks like a big full skirt and once you take off the outer layer, inside is something sexier with a slit or fit and flare,” said Fiumara, adding that the once preferred strapless neckline is slowly losing momentum. “It’s mostly sleeves, a deep v neck, illusion and very sexy fronts and backs that are open or sheer.”
Bridal Reflections focuses on 15-20 different bridal designers across the three locations in Massapequa, Carle Place and Manhattan. Top designers of the moment are Calla Blanche, Galia Lahav and Eve of Milady. The Manhattan salon also receives requests for Australian designer Leah Da Gloria and her couture styles.
“We are doing very nicely with Calla Blanche and we’re still doing really well with Galia Lahav, which we get asked for constantly,” said Fiumara of the fashion house’s two lines, Galia and Galia Lahav Couture in Manhattan. “We’ve always done well with Eve of Milady. Her look changes with the times and she nails it every season.”
Fiumara says that while nine to 12 months before a wedding is the ideal time for a bride to order her dress, some designers can do quick deliveries. Bridal Reflections also has an online portal to see what designers have in stock and what is available.
“A lot of times, brides have a vision of what they want to look like, so we will always try on what they want, and then respectfully show them what we think might look even more flattering on their body,” said Fiumara, noting that there is so much information at a bride’s disposal from magazines to social media that can be confusing and overwhelming. “The wedding industry is forever changing, but we meet a lot of nice people and families. We just started a mother/daughter blog on our website that has pictures of mothers and daughters who were both our brides, which is really nice to see. We have the experience, we cater to different types of brides and we know them well.”
Bridal Reflections Massapequa is located at 3 Broadway, Massapequa. For more information on hours and locations, call 516-795-2222 or visit www.bridalreflections.com.
