Prom 2009 is HOT

Prom 2009!

We are looking forward to Prom 2009 and are already in full swing!
Believe it or not, it's already time to think about prom of spring 2009!
We have picked out the styles we will be offering in our store for the coming months.

If you think it's too early to think about prom, think again!
The styles are hotter than ever this year and we know they will sell out fast.

Now is the time to start browsing the web and watching your favorite celebrities to get great styles ideas.

Prints are going to be THE hot thing this year... go wild with animal, pretty with floral and funky with novelty! Short dresses are really in this year more so than ever! There are some amazing new metallic fabrics that you're going to love - they even come in chiffon and stretch jersey! Lots of bling is where it's at and you'll find plenty of sparkling rhinestones and big, chunky jewels.

Wedding Insurance

I wanted to let all of you soon-to-be brides know of an interesting product that I just found out about as well. I have heard of this type of insurance but I had never really read anything official regarding it.

Matthew Tucker, with Complete Insurance Solutions, is offering wedding insurance. It's not very expensive and it would help the bride and groom protect their investment in their wedding due to an unavoidable cancellation or postponement. There is also optional liability and property damage coverage. I read about this and thought I would let readers know about it.

The website is: http://protectmywedding.com/

If you have any questions regarding this insurance or if you would like to set up a meeting by phone or in person to talk with Matthew, here is his information below:

Matthew Tucker
Complete Insurance Solutions
Office: 888.CIS.0020 ext. 692
Cell: 512.744.5469
Fax: 888.FAX.0020
MTucker@CISTexas.com

Visit our website online at http://www.cistexas.com/.

Classy Concepts in Round Rock Newspaper

Janet, our Round Rock store manager, was in the newspaper today!
The picture was on the front cover of the business section and had a caption that read:
"(Holding scissors) Classy Concepts Formal Wear Assistant Manager Janet LeLeux (left) and Sydni Jenkins, modeling a Maggie Sottero bridal gown, led a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Classy Concepts Formal Wear and Window Coverings Feb. 12. The Round Rock Chamber of Commerce hosted the event at 3000 Joe DiMaggio Blvd., Suite 36."
http://rrleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=10&TM=41645.96

I want to take a moment to recognize Janet for the work she does.
Janet is from Orange, Texas and is one of the most fun people you will meet. She has personality that goes on for days! Janet has been with us going on her 2nd year and we have had more laughs with her than anyone we've worked with. Janet is always up for anything so it's hard to say what she likes to do in her free time, but one thing I always see her doing is helping others. I can tell she must really have a lot of loyalty to her friends becuase she is always helping someone and always doing things with her family. Janet has a management and marketing degree from McNeese State University of Lake Charles, Louisianna. Her management skills as the manager of our Round Rock store get tested, but she is able to make it fun for all.

Our customers really love working with Janet- if she doesn't know the answer, she will tell you she doesn't, but she is always learning new things and helping brides have a wonderful experience. Janet has worked her way up in the company and we are very proud of where she is today and the success that lies before her within the company.

Janet, we appreciate your positive attitude, willingness to grow and succeed and your hardwork for customers. Thank you for giving our customers a wonderful experience and we look forward to a bright future ahead.

Sydni Jenkins is the model that is in the picture wearing the Maggie Sottero Wedding Gown rental that we had in our recent fashion show at the Hilton Hotel. We really enjoyed working with Sydni and were thrilled that she found her prom dress in our store as well! Sydni is a professional model through Austin Talent and Modeling and has a great future in modeling for her! She is a beautiful lady inside and out and we look forward to working with her again for upcoming events and shows!

Mavericks VS Nets

Around noon yesterday, Zach sends me a text message saying "Got tickets to the Mavericks game. Wanna Go?" My response of course was "When should I be ready to leave?" :)

His boss had given him 2 tickets in the HCA suite at the stadium downtown in Dallas and we had a great time! Zach saw a few others that he knew from his company and that was fun too. We got to enjoy the game and the half time show was really unusual. I have never seen anything like this, but there was a lady that performs acrobatics on a platform. The way she was able to hold herself up with one hand on these small platforms were amazing. Maybe some of you have seen this before, but man! I couldn't imagine the core strength this person had. It was impressive to say the least and very entertaining.

The basketball games are always so much fun! They have such a different atmosphere than a football game or any other sport. Even though I cheer for the San Antonio Spurs, it was still cool to be in an arena filled with energy, hype and lots of noise! I love the sounds a stadium like this bring. It makes you want to get up and dance!

We are new to this area so it has been so much fun getting to know new people in the Fort Worth area and trying new things together! I am so glad that we get to enjoy this ride of our life together and see what else is out there.

Mansfield Chamber of Commerce

Today, I went to the Mansfield Chamber of Commerce Women's Division Luncheon and met some fantastic ladies. I was a guest of the Mansfield Family Health Center, but Dr. Amin and Liza (from the health center) knew that I wanted to make my way there for Classy Concepts.

The lunch was held at the Walnut Creek Country Club, but the best part of the meeting was they were dispersing the $21,000.00 they raised last year during the 2008 Style Show and the 2008 Tour of homes. All of the money they raise goes to other non-profit organizations in Mansfield or to scholarships for Mansfield Seniors.

I really enjoyed this group and joined today! I am very excited to continue to get to know these ladies and learn more about this community. We are looking for a new place to call "Home" for our second location for Classy Concepts Bridal Rentals and this may be a great fit for us. We want a community that is rich in envolvement, has great growth opportunity and wonderful people that we connect with.

A lot of the business we do is with people who have money and know how to spend it wisely or with people who are not as fortunate as others and still hope to attend prom or a wedding in a dress that makes them feel so special. In our economy today, we see so many people turning to the rental idea becuase they are realizing that spending thousands on a dress for one day may not be the best idea. When you see people cold, homeless and hungry- it really makes you think twice about spending so much for something that you may never wear again.

Sure, a wedding dress can have a really special memory and significance to a person- I completely respect that! (We do sell gowns every day and I completely know the value in that.) Its really neat to see brides and young women thinking long and hard about what worth is today and the memories and people are so valuable too.

The organizations The Mansfield Chamber Women's Division gave to are so worthy of the donations they made. I was so impressed with the various programs here for students, young people and for the community. They really care and I heard of some new services that I never knew exsisted. http://www.mansfieldchamber.net/Default.aspx

New Bridal Gowns Arriving this Friday!

We have 4 new bridal gowns that are arriving Friday for our showroom.
Be the first to try them on and enjoy these beautiful gown rentals and sales in Texas!
The gowns that are coming in will range in colors, sizes and styles.
Sizes of samples will vary from size 4-14.

With gown and dress rentals starting at $29.99, See you at Classy Concepts!

New Dress Arrivals: "Kelley" and "Shannon"

We have 2 very special gowns that we wnat to announce new arrival in our store! This first dress is in bridal satin white and is "Kelley". It has a straps and we know a lot of you are looking for straps and a dropped waist so this will be a perfect dress for you to try on. With the petticoat, this skirt can be as full as you want or A-line the way it currently lays. This beautiful gown has great embroidery and beading detail on the bodice and fits a size 18. We can also alter it up or down easily for you to find this dress rental or sales in our store!

Here is "Kelley" in full front view.
The second dress you see here is "Shannon". This diamond white bridal taffeta is gorgeous the way the fabric drapes along the skirt in fullness... so romantic! I love the way the cross-over assymmetrical design really helps flatter the waistline. These straps offer an elegant V-neckline that is very classic.

The train is the perfect length as well and can be bustled to fit your style. This gown fits like an 18 but can be altered smaller or bigger to fit your figure. With wedding gown rentals in Austin, Texas... it must be Classy Concepts!

Austin Wedding Mall this Weekend!

Have you ever been to a bridal show?
Well, if the answer is NO... you need to see one to say you have lived. :)
They are an enourmous mound of wedding bliss energy and lots of free cake samples.

Seriously, if you are planning a wedding or know someone who is, this is the best way to get to know vendors and who is in the industry's top companies to work with for your big day.

It's coming to the Hilton Hotel in Austin Texas this weekend February 15th, Sunday!
The bridal show is from 1-5pm and the fashion show starts at 4:45pm.
This year, Alexia Gavela, David's Bridal and of course... yours truly- Classy Concepts are the companies participating in the fashion show.

http://www.texasweddingmall.com/

http://www.austinweddingmall.com/

We have the cutest little cookies that we are handing out at this year's show for all of the people who come say hello to our booth representatives and fashion show. We would love to see all of you there! If you are a bride, we have FREE Tickets left at our store and would be glad to get you a ticket. We only have a couple left, so be sure to call us today!
866-249-2994

See you at the show!

Christie's Big Wedding Day!

Christie sent these pictures today and we wanted to acknowledge her special day!
She recently got married a few weeks ago and rented an amazing special order gown in a pick up style skirt from Raylia Designs. It was an Antique Gold fabric with lace mixed in with a textured taffeta fabric. The corset back was so beautiful and we are so happy for her!

She worked with Janet and sent her a note saying:
"I'm attaching some pictures from the wedding so you can see how beautiful the dress was! Thanks for everything!"

Janet had a great time working with Christie and her family that came in with her during the fittings! Everyone looked so amazing and we were so pleased to be a part of their special day!

Congratulations Christie and to your new husband! We wish you a life of loving memories together. The Classy Concepts Team

SolarHalo Studios- Photography

Everyone needs to know a good photographer.

You never know when something life changing like an engagement, wedding or new baby can really need the talent of a skilled professional until you go through that moment and have a great photographer.

Meet Sueanne Gatlin and Vikas Agarwal.
They are the co-owner/operators of SolarHalo Photography:
http://www.solarhalo.com/

I have known them for quite some time through the industry and have had a great experience just knowing them professionally. Recently, I worked with them on our personal wedding and they did an amazing job with our photography. (Here is a picture they took of us on our wedding day.)

Sueanne and Vikas work as a team and are always there as a team for everything.
Zach and I did our engagement photos in downtown Austin one summer and they met us at 7am just so they could make sure our little faces weren't drenched with sweat from the hot Texas sun. Then, they scoped out the areas for me that I wanted to take pictures for my bridal portraits the day before my shoot so they could help me to know where to go before the day of. This made our photo shoot so quick and for someone like me who wants to savor the moment, but get back to work too...this was great! The thought was the most important thing. They put so much time and thought into every meeting and I truly felt as though I was the most important client to them even though I knew they were terribly busy.

Last but not least, we hired them to do our wedding day!
Wow, not only did they ask to come to our rehearsal so they could get to know the families and attendants prior to the wedding day (this again was important to them so our friends and family would feel comfortable to them)... we were so blown away by the little things they did that add up to be a LOT!

Zach and I looked into SEVERAL photographers (me being the cost effective shopper I am) and wanted the best photos in Austin for our wedding to be taken by someone who we felt a connection to, felt comfortable with, felt confident in their skills and talents, and of course felt all of this would happen within our price range.

We lucked out because they were more than we expected the day of and during our engagement. Each time we met for a shoot or meeting, they showed again and again that they really care about service and the business they lead.

If you are looking for these qualities in a wedding photographer, baby photographer or someone to take graduation pictures and family portraits- look no more. Zach and I have found a photographer for life that we will use and recommend to all of our brides, friends and family becuase we know that anyone who has 1/2 the experience we did with SolarHalo Studios will be 100 times impressed with the outcome!

CONTACT INFORMATION:
SolarHalo Studios
Postal Address
P.O. Box 81945
Austin, TX 78758
Telephone: (512) 491-5178
Fax: (512) 291-7558
Email: solarhalo.studios@gmail.com