Review is written by Staff @ The Ring and is based on • Interviews with this vendor • Interviews with past brides
For Fergus-based Elegant Affair Bridals, running a bridal gown shop isn’t just about helping brides find gowns. Owner Natalie Airdrie and her team of Bridal Consultants say it’s about listening to each bride’s love story, wedding details, and style, and then using that knowledge to make sure they find their dream wedding gown. Natalie says Elegant Affair Bridals will not only fit a bride with the right dress for her body, but also one that fits her personality and individual style. "You're limited only by your imagination."
Elegant Affair Bridals wants each bride to relax and enjoy their gown shopping experience in the Fergus store, which is why they don’t make demands – there’s no limit on time or the amount of gowns you can try on. And you can see, in the way the consultants get as excited about the ideal gown as the bride would herself, that they really care about the shop, delivering more than brides are used to, especially when it comes to service, options and prices. According to Natalie, in-store gowns range in price so they can cater to any bride or bridesmaid, no matter what her budget is. From such designers as Sophia Tolli, Venus, and Alexia Designs, Elegant Affair Bridals has a number of designers to choose from. And if you're one of many who love shopping in the adorable little (and not so little) tourist, gift and Celtic specialty shops in Fergus, Elegant Affair Bridals gives you a good excuse to gather together your bridesmaids, find ‘the’ gown, and make a day trip of it too.
Staff at The Wedding Ring sat down with Natalie and the team of bridal consultants at Elegant Affair Bridals to learn more about the designs, sizing, budget and reasons to love this fabulous Fergus gown shop. Here's what we found...
A small town gown shop that’s big on service
Natalie’s personal experience with shopping for wedding gowns is what ultimately led her to open Elegant Affair Bridals. She says that when she was looking for her wedding gown, it felt like there was a lack of stores that were willing to listen to her requests and help her find her dream gown. “I was overwhelmed with big stores that had designer gowns in plastic bags and little customer service,” she told us. This is the main reason that she opened Elegant Affair Bridals in 2007, which she says was a dream come true. “No gowns are in bags here!” she says. “We take pride in allowing the customer to look at the beautiful details of a gown and the craftsmanship that is put into them.”
After running as a small bridal boutique in her home for two years, Natalie expanded in 2009 to the intimate, 1200 square foot store front, which is located at 155 St. David Street North in Fergus. The shop is adorable, filled with service and fits right in with the atmosphere of Fergus.
That’s what makes it so tempting to gather the girls together, go dress shopping and then check out the rest of the shops and restaurants in the area. Make a day of it!
Natalie says she and her team strive to make the environment at Elegant Affair Bridals comfortable by combining “high quality service and a great wedding gown selection.” And they must be doing something right as now, three years after opening, they have helped hundreds of brides with their wedding attire, and attribute a lot of their success to past customers’ recommendations.
Even after dealing with hundreds of brides, Natalie and her team don't seem to lose their passion and caring, telling us that brides continue to inspire them. “When you are surrounded with spun silks, royal taffeta, delicate lace and soft satins, along with beautiful blushing brides, you are able to spread the excitement of finding a beautiful gown that is tailored not only to their figure, but most importantly, to their personality,” Natalie says. “We are inspired by the inner beauty of every bride and make sure that they feel comfortable and gorgeous on the most important day of their life."
Take your time
The goal at Elegant Affair Bridals is for each bride to relax and enjoy her gown shopping experience. And while they have a fine selection of wedding gowns, we were told that the “magic lies in the hearts of our professional bridal consultants.” Each bride is taken care of from the moment she enters the store to find her dream gown, right up until the final fittings (and even after, during follow-up conversations). “Each professional bridal consultant is dedicated to perform your every wish to ensure that you find the gown of your dreams,” says Natalie.
For Megan Winter, a June 2010 bride who bought her wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses at Elegant Affair, finding the perfect gown meant that Natalie went above and beyond her expectations. “When actually dealing with Natalie, I realized how comfortable and relaxed I was talking with her,” says Megan. “She offered to try to find any dress I had my eye on, even if she didn't have it. And that is just what she did.” Natalie actually found the exact dress Megan was looking for, even though she didn’t initially carry it in-store. Megan adds that Natalie’s personality was unmatched. “I didn't feel comfortable talking with other people at bridal stores. Natalie was very personable to me, my mom, and my dad… she is easy to talk to.”
Consultants at Elegant Affair pride themselves on being great listeners and focused on each bride’s requests so they can better understand her individuality. “With listening ears, a keen sense of style, and a vision of perfection, they will guide you to your perfect gown,” we were told. In fact, Natalie and her team will not only listen to what style of dress you’re looking for, but they’ll get to know all wedding details from your love story right down to the theme of the day so that they can best match you to your special gown, complementing you and your wedding.
“Our consultants’ experience in fitting the bride with the right bridal gown for her body and personality type leaves the brides confident in their decision,” says Natalie, who plays a major role in all aspects of the business. “I also oversee every detail and make sure that the bride is happy.”
A budget-friendly boutique
Each customer at Elegant Affair Bridals is important, which is why they say they will cater to any bride and her wedding party, regardless of style and whether her budget is small or large. “We ensure that our wedding gowns are affordable for the average bride or bridesmaid,” explains Natalie. “We offer a unique boutique experience without the boutique prices.”
“Classy and elegant” was how Megan described Elegant Affair’s style, a store that she has recommended to several of her engaged friends. She also told us that Elegant Affair’s prices were much better than anywhere else she looked. “I was very satisfied,” Megan says. “I found my dress at another store for about $300 dollars more than it was at Elegant Affair.”
The average price for a gown at Elegant Affair is about $1000, but they also have many gowns in stock to accommodate brides on a smaller budget, including off the rack dresses that are offered at discounted prices.
As far as being able to match each bride with her perfect gown, Elegant Affair offers gowns that can accommodate most styles, whether it’s traditional, simple or celeb-style, with their exciting collection of gowns that they say are the best in the Fergus area. “We carry gowns from the world's leading bridal wear designers, including bridal and bridesmaid gowns from such designers as: Mon Cheri, Sophia Tolli, Ella Rosa, Venus, Mikaella, Pallah Athena, Alexia designs, Moonlight and Elegance.”
Melanie D'Amico purchased her bridal gown from Elegant Affair leading up to her July 2009 wedding and says that she loved the options of designers that Natalie carried. "Mikaella is one of my favourite designers and Natalie carried this designer and that is why I came to this establishment," she told us. She adds that Elegant Affair is well priced and you receive "a much more personal experience" than some other bridal gown shops.
Elegant Affair also carries veils, headpieces and jewellery designed by Bridal Classics, Jade Daniels, Sweet Pea Designs, and undergarments from SPANX.
Walking you through the shopping experience
Most dresses take about four to six months to order through Elegant Affair (unless you’re buying off the rack), so you should definitely visit the shop within that timeframe. Though the team recommends sooner, if possible, just to make sure you leave yourself enough time to order the dress of your dreams.
Walk-ins are always welcomed at Elegant Affair; but, to make sure that you receive the one-on-one attention you deserve (and for your convenience), they recommend booking an appointment in advance.
When you do visit Elegant Affair to try on gowns, Natalie says they won’t make any demands of you, which means, there’s no time limit for how long you can be there, and no limit to the amount of gowns you can try on. In fact, while Elegant Affair Bridals’ hours are Monday to Friday 11 am to 5 pm, and Saturdays 10 am to 5 pm, they can book an appointment with you outside of regular hours if that works better.
Once you find the perfect gown (with the help of the Elegant Affair team, of course), you’re fitted to your measurements and the dress is ordered to your specific requests. A 50% deposit is required to order your gown. Then, the remaining 50% is due when the gown arrives. “We also offer payment plans to help those brides on a budget,” says Natalie of the flexible and accommodating service at Elegant Affair Bridals.
Elegant Affair’s contact with brides doesn’t stop as soon as the gown is purchased, though, as Natalie says they will often follow-up with brides to give them extra assistance with the seamstress. “We have even emailed the bride pictures of one-of-a-kind wedding gowns to ensure that she is happy with her purchase,” she adds. “Every detail with every bride is overseen.”
Details, details, details
• Natalie suggests ordering your gown as soon as possible, and for sure 4 to 6 months before the big day to ensure that it comes in on time.
• 50% of your total price is due upon ordering with the remaining 50% due when the gown arrives.
• The average gown is $1000 at Elegant Affair Bridals, but they will work with any budget and offer dresses at discounted prices, too.
• Taxes apply to all orders.
• There may be additional costs for sizes past 18. Alterations also cost extra.
In other words…
"I bought my dress from Elegant Affair Bridals and must say I am thrilled! They are accommodating and so easy to deal with! Thanks Natalie for getting me my dream dress!” - Mel
“Elegant Affair Bridals was friendly and knowledgeable. Ordering my dress was stress-free and enjoyable, thanks.” - Janine
"Thanks for the one-on-one attention. It was great to be able to take my time when making such an important decision.” - Tracy
"Thank you for the idea to custom design my gown. Your attention to detail was what made my gown extra special!” - Brianna
"Thank you Natalie for helping me find my dream dress. You truly know how to make finding a dress an easy and stress-free process. All the best." - Lindsay
"Beautiful store, wonderful service!" - Jen.
For Fergus-based Elegant Affair Bridals, running a bridal gown shop isn’t just about helping brides find gowns. Owner Natalie Airdrie and her team of Bridal Consultants say it’s about listening to each bride’s love story, wedding details, and style, and then using that knowledge to make sure they find their dream wedding gown. Natalie says Elegant Affair Bridals will not only fit a bride with the right dress for her body, but also one that fits her personality and individual style. "You're limited only by your imagination."
Elegant Affair Bridals wants each bride to relax and enjoy their gown shopping experience in the Fergus store, which is why they don’t make demands – there’s no limit on time or the amount of gowns you can try on. And you can see, in the way the consultants get as excited about the ideal gown as the bride would herself, that they really care about the shop, delivering more than brides are used to, especially when it comes to service, options and prices. According to Natalie, in-store gowns range in price so they can cater to any bride or bridesmaid, no matter what her budget is. From such designers as Sophia Tolli, Venus, and Alexia Designs, Elegant Affair Bridals has a number of designers to choose from. And if you're one of many who love shopping in the adorable little (and not so little) tourist, gift and Celtic specialty shops in Fergus, Elegant Affair Bridals gives you a good excuse to gather together your bridesmaids, find ‘the’ gown, and make a day trip of it too.
Staff at The Wedding Ring sat down with Natalie and the team of bridal consultants at Elegant Affair Bridals to learn more about the designs, sizing, budget and reasons to love this fabulous Fergus gown shop. Here's what we found...
A small town gown shop that’s big on service
Natalie’s personal experience with shopping for wedding gowns is what ultimately led her to open Elegant Affair Bridals. She says that when she was looking for her wedding gown, it felt like there was a lack of stores that were willing to listen to her requests and help her find her dream gown. “I was overwhelmed with big stores that had designer gowns in plastic bags and little customer service,” she told us. This is the main reason that she opened Elegant Affair Bridals in 2007, which she says was a dream come true. “No gowns are in bags here!” she says. “We take pride in allowing the customer to look at the beautiful details of a gown and the craftsmanship that is put into them.”
After running as a small bridal boutique in her home for two years, Natalie expanded in 2009 to the intimate, 1200 square foot store front, which is located at 155 St. David Street North in Fergus. The shop is adorable, filled with service and fits right in with the atmosphere of Fergus.
That’s what makes it so tempting to gather the girls together, go dress shopping and then check out the rest of the shops and restaurants in the area. Make a day of it!
Natalie says she and her team strive to make the environment at Elegant Affair Bridals comfortable by combining “high quality service and a great wedding gown selection.” And they must be doing something right as now, three years after opening, they have helped hundreds of brides with their wedding attire, and attribute a lot of their success to past customers’ recommendations.
Even after dealing with hundreds of brides, Natalie and her team don't seem to lose their passion and caring, telling us that brides continue to inspire them. “When you are surrounded with spun silks, royal taffeta, delicate lace and soft satins, along with beautiful blushing brides, you are able to spread the excitement of finding a beautiful gown that is tailored not only to their figure, but most importantly, to their personality,” Natalie says. “We are inspired by the inner beauty of every bride and make sure that they feel comfortable and gorgeous on the most important day of their life."
Take your time
The goal at Elegant Affair Bridals is for each bride to relax and enjoy her gown shopping experience. And while they have a fine selection of wedding gowns, we were told that the “magic lies in the hearts of our professional bridal consultants.” Each bride is taken care of from the moment she enters the store to find her dream gown, right up until the final fittings (and even after, during follow-up conversations). “Each professional bridal consultant is dedicated to perform your every wish to ensure that you find the gown of your dreams,” says Natalie.
For Megan Winter, a June 2010 bride who bought her wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses at Elegant Affair, finding the perfect gown meant that Natalie went above and beyond her expectations. “When actually dealing with Natalie, I realized how comfortable and relaxed I was talking with her,” says Megan. “She offered to try to find any dress I had my eye on, even if she didn't have it. And that is just what she did.” Natalie actually found the exact dress Megan was looking for, even though she didn’t initially carry it in-store. Megan adds that Natalie’s personality was unmatched. “I didn't feel comfortable talking with other people at bridal stores. Natalie was very personable to me, my mom, and my dad… she is easy to talk to.”
Consultants at Elegant Affair pride themselves on being great listeners and focused on each bride’s requests so they can better understand her individuality. “With listening ears, a keen sense of style, and a vision of perfection, they will guide you to your perfect gown,” we were told. In fact, Natalie and her team will not only listen to what style of dress you’re looking for, but they’ll get to know all wedding details from your love story right down to the theme of the day so that they can best match you to your special gown, complementing you and your wedding.
“Our consultants’ experience in fitting the bride with the right bridal gown for her body and personality type leaves the brides confident in their decision,” says Natalie, who plays a major role in all aspects of the business. “I also oversee every detail and make sure that the bride is happy.”
A budget-friendly boutique
Each customer at Elegant Affair Bridals is important, which is why they say they will cater to any bride and her wedding party, regardless of style and whether her budget is small or large. “We ensure that our wedding gowns are affordable for the average bride or bridesmaid,” explains Natalie. “We offer a unique boutique experience without the boutique prices.”
“Classy and elegant” was how Megan described Elegant Affair’s style, a store that she has recommended to several of her engaged friends. She also told us that Elegant Affair’s prices were much better than anywhere else she looked. “I was very satisfied,” Megan says. “I found my dress at another store for about $300 dollars more than it was at Elegant Affair.”
The average price for a gown at Elegant Affair is about $1000, but they also have many gowns in stock to accommodate brides on a smaller budget, including off the rack dresses that are offered at discounted prices.
As far as being able to match each bride with her perfect gown, Elegant Affair offers gowns that can accommodate most styles, whether it’s traditional, simple or celeb-style, with their exciting collection of gowns that they say are the best in the Fergus area. “We carry gowns from the world's leading bridal wear designers, including bridal and bridesmaid gowns from such designers as: Mon Cheri, Sophia Tolli, Ella Rosa, Venus, Mikaella, Pallah Athena, Alexia designs, Moonlight and Elegance.”
Melanie D'Amico purchased her bridal gown from Elegant Affair leading up to her July 2009 wedding and says that she loved the options of designers that Natalie carried. "Mikaella is one of my favourite designers and Natalie carried this designer and that is why I came to this establishment," she told us. She adds that Elegant Affair is well priced and you receive "a much more personal experience" than some other bridal gown shops.
Elegant Affair also carries veils, headpieces and jewellery designed by Bridal Classics, Jade Daniels, Sweet Pea Designs, and undergarments from SPANX.
Walking you through the shopping experience
Most dresses take about four to six months to order through Elegant Affair (unless you’re buying off the rack), so you should definitely visit the shop within that timeframe. Though the team recommends sooner, if possible, just to make sure you leave yourself enough time to order the dress of your dreams.
Walk-ins are always welcomed at Elegant Affair; but, to make sure that you receive the one-on-one attention you deserve (and for your convenience), they recommend booking an appointment in advance.
When you do visit Elegant Affair to try on gowns, Natalie says they won’t make any demands of you, which means, there’s no time limit for how long you can be there, and no limit to the amount of gowns you can try on. In fact, while Elegant Affair Bridals’ hours are Monday to Friday 11 am to 5 pm, and Saturdays 10 am to 5 pm, they can book an appointment with you outside of regular hours if that works better.
Once you find the perfect gown (with the help of the Elegant Affair team, of course), you’re fitted to your measurements and the dress is ordered to your specific requests. A 50% deposit is required to order your gown. Then, the remaining 50% is due when the gown arrives. “We also offer payment plans to help those brides on a budget,” says Natalie of the flexible and accommodating service at Elegant Affair Bridals.
Elegant Affair’s contact with brides doesn’t stop as soon as the gown is purchased, though, as Natalie says they will often follow-up with brides to give them extra assistance with the seamstress. “We have even emailed the bride pictures of one-of-a-kind wedding gowns to ensure that she is happy with her purchase,” she adds. “Every detail with every bride is overseen.”
Details, details, details
• Natalie suggests ordering your gown as soon as possible, and for sure 4 to 6 months before the big day to ensure that it comes in on time.
• 50% of your total price is due upon ordering with the remaining 50% due when the gown arrives.
• The average gown is $1000 at Elegant Affair Bridals, but they will work with any budget and offer dresses at discounted prices, too.
• Taxes apply to all orders.
• There may be additional costs for sizes past 18. Alterations also cost extra.
In other words…
"I bought my dress from Elegant Affair Bridals and must say I am thrilled! They are accommodating and so easy to deal with! Thanks Natalie for getting me my dream dress!” - Mel
“Elegant Affair Bridals was friendly and knowledgeable. Ordering my dress was stress-free and enjoyable, thanks.” - Janine
"Thanks for the one-on-one attention. It was great to be able to take my time when making such an important decision.” - Tracy
"Thank you for the idea to custom design my gown. Your attention to detail was what made my gown extra special!” - Brianna
"Thank you Natalie for helping me find my dream dress. You truly know how to make finding a dress an easy and stress-free process. All the best." - Lindsay
"Beautiful store, wonderful service!" - Jen.
