433- Bridal Concierge Services with Rebecca Somnitz

Leah Haslage:

Welcome to the Bridechilla Podcast. I'm your host, Leah Haslage. Whether you're just starting to plan or you're counting down the days, I'm here to help you stay cool, calm, and collected throughout the wedding journey. So let's get this wedding party started and embrace your inner Bridechilla.

Hey, chillas, we're coming to you from The Bridal Shop today, Something White Bridal in Independence, Ohio, and we're here with the owner, Rebecca Somnitz. Rebecca, so happy to see you.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Thank you, thank you. Good to see you in person.

Leah Haslage:

In person, I know. Rebecca and I met virtually during COVID when she was a guest on my other show, Weddings on Veil with Leah, and we were talking trends back then, and that was in like 2020, 2021. And a lot has changed in bridal and the world, obviously. But I'm so happy to be in your store.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Thank you.

Leah Haslage:

This one year of this particular shop. So tell us about Something White and your background with it.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yeah. Oh, gosh. So Something White has been around for 14 years. It'll be 15 years in June, which is kind of crazy. I started down the street in an old building in Independence, and I recently bought the old post office, which we're in now, renovated it, and it is what it is today, what you see.

Leah Haslage:

So beautiful. If you're in Northeast Ohio or just want to make a trip out here, which you should.

Rebecca Somnitz:

I agree.

Leah Haslage:

Check it out. So now you have concierge services.

Rebecca Somnitz:

I do.

Leah Haslage:

That is something I'm starting to hear about in bridal. I hadn't really been around too much, except for maybe luxury market. So tell us about concierge services and what you offer. Yes.

Rebecca Somnitz:

So like I said, I've been around for 14 years. So I've helped a lot of brides pick out their fashions. And I've worked with them throughout the whole process. And I always thought, that we were the one vendor that I don't get to see you on your wedding day. I'm not there on your wedding day, but I'm such a big part of your journey because you come in multiple times to try on a dress and finding a dress is a big deal. And then we kind of just give you the dress and we're like, okay good luck! Like, I hope everything works out and so i felt like there was more that could be done to help brides because there's so much about a gown that you might not know how to put it on correctly or how to button it or how to tie the bow. Or the bustle, you always hear about how people's bustles break or they didn't know how to do it or whatnot.

Um, so it was about four years ago. It was like right after coming out of COVID, I thought I should really think about this more. And as I was thinking about it, one of the planners from Kirkbrides actually reached out to me and she was like, Hey, do you ever press and steam dresses on site? And I was like, huh? Funny you asked, because I was actually thinking of starting this new branch of Something White, and I would like your feedback on it. And they were like, yes, this is so needed. So it kind of just snowballed from there. But it's been great. I love it. Yeah.

Leah Haslage:

So what is included in a concierge service then?

Rebecca Somnitz:

It sounds really intimidating and really scary, but it's not. And I don't work with just my brides. I think that's a misconception that some people are like, oh, I didn't know that you could do bridal concierge for anybody. I'm like, oh, I've done it for California brides who are getting married here. I've done it for a myriad of brides. You do not have to buy your dress at Something White for me to come with you on your wedding day.

Leah Haslage:

You can just do your concierge services separately.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Absolutely. So typically, with day-of bridal concierge services, I will start chatting with you after you have your dress, and then we kind of work with what you need up until the wedding day. Typically, I'll come to you for your final fitting so that I can learn the bustle, especially if it's a dress that I don't carry, so I can know what it looks like, how it's supposed to fit.

Leah Haslage:

And there's different bustles, which I don't think everyone realizes. I think everyone thinks it's just one kind of bustle. It is not.

Rebecca Somnitz:

No. And it's funny because people are always asking me, like, when they're trying on dresses, oh, and what will the bustle look like on this dress? I'm like, the bustle can look like however you want it because there are so many bustles. Like, if you can dream it and the seamstress can do it, then you can have their bustle that way. But there's so many different bustles, yeah, depending on the fabric and the weight and all the things.

So I'll go to their final fitting with them, learn all about their dress, and then I will pick up their dress from the seamstress or the tailor after it's all completed. And I usually pick it up the week of the wedding so that they don't have to worry about transporting it or getting it anywhere.

Leah Haslage:

Oh my gosh, it's less stress. That’s awesome.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yes! So the whole plan of bridal concierge is to take the stress away from you. there is like a lot when it comes to your dress that I don't think people think about until you're in it and then you're like oh shoot what do I do here and how do I do this and what am I gonna do? So I help with that. So I'll pick up your dress the week of the wedding and then I will bring it to your venue. I'll press your dress, I'll press your bridesmaid's dresses, your veil, your mother of the bride or groom, pretty much anything that you want pressed, I'll press that morning-of. A lot of times I see things when I'm on site that I'm like, Do you want me to press that? Because it looks really wrinkly and we don't really want to take photos like that.

Leah Haslage:

Again, a detail that people don't really think about until they're seeing the pictures in post and like, oh, damn, that's satin was so– yeah.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Why didn't I do that? The number one thing that is so wrinkly that people do not think about are bridal PJs and bridal robes.

Leah Haslage:

So the getting-ready photos and stuff.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yes, and you see the lines or you see the wrinkles. And I get it. It's because most of the time they're all packaged really nicely because you've gotten them, you know, embroidered or whatnot and you're handing them to your girls the morning of. But nobody thinks like, oh, I take it out of the package and now it's super wrinkly.

Leah Haslage:

That's a great tip. Thank you for that.

Rebecca Somnitz:

So even if I don't come with you on your wedding day, you need to make sure that your robes and your PJs are pressed because they are notoriously wrinkled.

Leah Haslage:

Oh gosh, yeah. You mentioned bridesmaids. Do you also do concierge for bridesmaids or just for brides?

Rebecca Somnitz:

So when I do bridal concierge, it's pretty much I take care of everybody that's kind of in the fashion realm for the bride. So the mother of the groom, the mother of the bride, the bridesmaids, obviously the bride. Anybody that needs fashion help, I am there to assist so that, you know, the mom doesn't have to worry about, where am I gonna go get fashion tape? Or the bridesmaid isn't worried about it. So it's, I'm there to help you.

So after I press the dress, I get everything ready to go. Usually the photographer will come in at that point and then me and the photographer will work through how we're going to take pictures of the dress. Where are we going to take pictures of the dress? Where are we going to hang it? Where does it look the best? How does it look the best?

Photographers really have told me that they really like having me on site because I'm… A lot of people are very nervous about wedding gowns, and so everybody's nervous that I'm going to ruin it, or I'm going to...

Leah Haslage:

It's the most high-profile piece of fashion that entire day.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Which, like, I get, right? I mean, I still say a little prayer every time I press something, because I'm like, you just, you know, it is. There's a lot of pressure on it. And so me and the photographer will work about where we're going to take it. And then sometimes I give it another little press right before we put it on the bride, just because after photos, it can get a little wrinkly. Then I help the bride get dressed. I'm obviously not in the photos. I'm very much like behind the scenes. I don't want people to see me, but we'll stage the mom so like she can pretend to do the buttons because a lot of times they're real buttons. And then that's kind of hard to do.

Leah Haslage:

Those loops are tricky.

Rebecca Somnitz:

They're tight and they're tight for a reason. So I'll help her get into her dress and then once she's in her dress I'm kind of tied to her the rest of the day. Like we're like hip to hip. I pretty much help with anything that she needs. You know, does she need a snack? I have snacks. Does she need water? I have water. I have a fan. I have, I have like all the things.

Leah Haslage:

You're like a second wedding planner.

Rebecca Somnitz:

I am. I like to say that I'm a wedding planner that is focused on you so that the wedding planner can focus on the wedding and the styling. So that they're not running around and doing all the things for your dress. But yeah, I carry around your dress with you. I stay with the bride, make sure the photos look good, stay with the bridesmaid, stay with the mothers. I've had to do, I've had to sew on buttons before, sew on hooks, before, sew on straps before, like pretty much just anything that needs to be done. One time there was a flower girl and her dress was too big so I took up the shoulders on her dress so that she didn't have to walk down the aisle with like a giant dress on her.

Leah Haslage:

Again, alterations and trying on things ahead of time is very important. Even flower girls might need alterations.

Rebecca Somnitz:

It is true. So yeah, it's just nice to have like an extra set of hands.

Leah Haslage:

So when someone comes to you for services, whether they bought the dress with you, which I'm sure is going to be a whole different ballgame, right, because you're really there from the beginning. Or a bride coming in already having purchased a dress, how do you then help them complete their look? Are you helping them pick out their headpiece, jewelry, and accessorize everything?

Rebecca Somnitz:

So that falls more into the styling services of bridal concierge. So it's like, you're just segwaying right into another thing. So I did bridal concierge, I said, like for about four years. And kind of in that timeframe, I would get calls from moms and brides being like, I'm trying to find this type of dress and I'm having a hard time finding it. I don't know what designers are good. I don't know what fabrics are good. And I'm like, yeah, I get it. Finding a wedding dress, especially nowadays, super overwhelming, because there's just so much out there. Oh, yeah. So it's like, how do you sift through and make a good choice? Yeah. Because there's so much out there. So I started another branch of bridal concierge called Styling, where I work with you. And it's more like if I was an interior designer for a wedding dress purchase. Oh, OK. So we kind of go through what you're looking for. And then I pull appointments for you of where I think you should shop, what I think you should try on. I had a bride who was living in Ireland, and she was getting married in Chicago. And her mom had heard of me, and she was like, we need help. She's coming in for 24 hours. Oh my gosh. No pressure or anything. What should we do? So me and the mom and her would just text, and I sent them a PowerPoint of all the things that I think she should look for. And then I called shops in Chicago for her, set up appointments, pulled dresses based on what I thought that she would like. And then she went to her appointments. They would text me while they were there asking questions, and I would answer their questions. And then, yeah, she found her dress and flew back to Ireland. That's amazing. Isn't that crazy? Yeah. But, like, that's the kind of things where the mom called me and she was like, I don't know how to help my daughter because this is not my world and we don't have a lot of time.

Leah Haslage:

Speaking of the moms, like, just total side note, side track. Yes, there's so many options for bridal, but why is it harder for maids and moms of the bride and groom? Why are there not as many options anymore?

Rebecca Somnitz:

Well, okay, so I think, and maybe this is a trend we could talk about, but I think the traditional bridesmaids dresses are on their way out.

Leah Haslage:

Like officially? Like it's been going that way.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yeah, I feel like one, people are just not having bridesmaids anymore, which I totally get. And I tell my brides all the time, just because you don't have bridesmaids does not mean that you can't have your friends come up get ready with you on your wedding day and like hang out that's pretty much what you want your bridesmaid to do anyway right without doing the matches and the matching and the high stress and all the things like people can come and just hang with you yeah that's okay too now moms I think we're on the like start of seeing more mom stuff. I think this is kind of how bridal was when I opened up my shop and the reason why I opened my shop, because I couldn't find anything that was like unique and pretty and quality. It was all kind of like the same stuff over and over again. And now I feel like we've gotten to a place where there's like an overwhelming amount of choices. But I think moms are I think we're going to start seeing that with moms, like more bridal lines are starting to come out with mom lines. that are more interesting, good quality fabrics, good construction. They don't have to have the little jacket, things like that. Which is also great for other formal events too, right?

Leah Haslage:

For sure.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Because that's something to consider.

Leah Haslage:

Yeah.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Wow. So this is what I always tell my moms, because my moms call me all the time. And they're like, where do I shop for a wedding dress or a mother-of-the-bride dress? And I always ask them, where are you looking and what is your price point? And they always tell me, they're like, Oh, you know, I want to stay around 500, you know, maybe 700. And I'm like, okay, this is why we're not finding anything because it's hard to just find a sundress. That's not something from, you know, Macy's or one of these bigger box stores that's under $300. And you want to find something that's special and unique for 500, it's just not going to happen. It's slim pickings. But there are some good designers. You just have to find the boutiques that carry them. It's just like bridal, right? I feel the biggest marketing budgets are the ones that are the mass-produced. So those are the ones you're going to see all the time. And you have to find the boutiques, like me, that carry the quality, smaller designers. Yeah, that's a great point.

Leah Haslage:

So with cultural and nontraditional, does your services also help cater to that? What do you consider nontraditional? Like a jumpsuit is like not considered nontraditional. Oh. You know what I mean? Like if you want like a jumpsuit or like a second look or anything like that. Yeah, second looks. And then like for cultural, if you're having a sari or you know that.

Rebecca Somnitz:

I mean, no, I do not carry saris because that's a whole different ballgame.

Leah Haslage:

But do you help like if someone was to say, I want to hire you for day of and all that? Are there specific concierge services depending on someone to meet your cultural needs?

Rebecca Somnitz:

For me personally, I would not know how to wrap a sari, but I can definitely press saris, and I can definitely be there to help them. So yeah, I guess there's just different aspects that, depending on what you're doing, I can definitely help with things.

Leah Haslage:

Let's jump ahead to second look.

Rebecca Somnitz:

So is that part of the day of two then? So typically with bridal concierge, I will stay with the bride through photos, through the ceremony, through additional photos, and then up until cocktail hour. I will bustle her right before cocktail hour and then kind of send her on her way. And then unless she needs me to help her into a second look, I'm typically not there. I will come back the following day and I pick up her dress and I get it cleaned and preserved and sent back to her.

Leah Haslage:

Oh, so that's included. Yes. I always forget about preservation.

Rebecca Somnitz:

You don't include that in your budget. That's like a huge thing that People really love that they don't know that they're going to love because they're like, oh my gosh, now I don't have to worry about what am I going to do with my dress for the next week and a half while I'm on my honeymoon. And then usually you come back and you forget about it. And then usually you call me a year later and it's like at the bottom of your closet in a ball. And you're like, what should I do with this? So I just take that off your plate.

Leah Haslage:

He never cleaned mine. I see. You can. You can.

Rebecca Somnitz:

At my mom's house. You can. Yeah. After 20 years, it's considered vintage, but up until then, you're good. But second looks, I have stayed with some of my brides. I actually just had a bride this past September, and she wore a beautiful Oscar de la Renta dress. She did not get it from me. And I pressed that dress and helped with her. And then her second dress was definitely more of a sophisticated second look. It was more of a bridal look. It wasn't like short or anything. And she did purchase that from me and I stayed and helped her get into it because it did have some pieces and parts because it wasn't just like a little short cocktail dress.

Leah Haslage:

So when it comes to budgeting for this, I know you're going to have one price and depending on where you are in the world, and we're obviously a very global show, What's the kind of rough idea when it comes to budgeting for a concierge service, especially since I'm sure there's some a la carte services that you can do as well, right?

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yeah, so throughout the time that I've been doing this, I've done different iterations of packages and things like that. I have found that the best way is to just do a flat rate full day. I have done half days, and it's so funny because as I'm getting ready to leave, the moms inevitably stop me and they're like, do you have to leave? Can we have you for the rest of the day? And sometimes I'm like, yeah, I have budgeted my time. I can definitely stay. And then there's other times where I'm like, I can't. can't, I'm already booked up. But it does depend on where you're located. So I know some planners and some bridal concierge people on the coasts, and so they're obviously going to start at a higher price point. But I would say budget between $2,000 and $6,000 for your day of needs. Yeah.

Leah Haslage:

So that doesn't include you being a part of fittings and choosing the look and all that.

Rebecca Somnitz:

So that'll be, for me, I will come to your last fitting. But I mean, I'm the type of person, I'm not going to let you, I'm not going to like leave you hanging. Of course I'm going to help you as much as I can. So yeah, but that's typically the process.

Leah Haslage:

Are there any other extra and add-ons that people can do, they can pay for?

Rebecca Somnitz:

So typically when I do bridal concierge, I talk with the bride beforehand and we discuss how many people do you have that are going to have items that need pressing.

Leah Haslage:

Like do you have 10 bridesmaids? Right.

Rebecca Somnitz:

So I've done one where there were 17 bridesmaids, I know, and 17 groomsmen, and they wanted me to do both sides. Totally happy to do it. Yeah. Not feasible for me or me and two people to do all of those garments in a morning. So I worked with the family, and I came in that Friday while they were at the rehearsal dinner. I pressed all the groomsmen outfits. And then the following day, I pressed all the bridesmaids and got everything taken care of. But yes, so typically with a regular package, you get five to seven items pressed and then anything above that is like a la carte. Okay, well that makes sense.

Leah Haslage:

Yeah. Okay, so anything else with concierge services we need to touch upon before we hop into 2025 trends? All it is, which is a lot. And I love doing that. And it sounds amazing. Yeah, I love it. And like worth every penny. Yeah. The less stress you can have that day and be more chill, the better.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Well, and I also think it's nice because who's doing all the things that I'm doing if I'm not there? No one. Is it the mom? Because to be honest, your mom wants to have fun at your wedding. She doesn't want to be running around doing all those things. Bridesmaids are great, but they're not what they used to be. Like bridesmaids are more hype people now, which I think is fun. They're not like the workhorses that I feel like our parents' generation grew up with. So you don't want to put that burden on them either. So it's like, who's doing this thing if nobody's doing it?

Leah Haslage:

Well, and you brought up a really great point about how a lot of people don't realize things look wrinkled or off until you see the photos later.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yes, and I know some photographers are like, oh, we can smooth that out, but this is why photographers really like me, because they don't have to take the additional time. Which can also give you additional costs. Yes, to smooth things out. So yeah, it's nice that everybody can work together and help each other out when all the vendors are there. And it just makes it more and more run smoothly. Yeah.

Leah Haslage:

We'll be right back after a quick break.

Leah Haslage:

I'm so excited to start talking about this with you, because I love following Rebecca on Instagram, somethingwhitebridal. And you were posting from New York fashion, Bridal Fashion Week. I did. And I was wishing I was there, but living vicariously. So let's talk trends. What are you seeing for 25, 26 from Bridal Fashion Week?

Rebecca Somnitz:

So, okay, so I go to market. Market happens twice a year, in April and in October. And I typically go to the October one. I'll sprinkle in the April one here and there. But the October one is like the big one. That's the one that everybody's going to. It's just like fall ready-to-wear bridal fashion week.

Leah Haslage:

Yeah.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Sometimes when you go to market, there's not that much difference that's happening in trends. But I will say this market, there's a lot of new things coming that we have not seen for a long time. Scarves? Do you remember scarves from like the 90s?

Leah Haslage:

Yeah and I loved it.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yeah, I mean I say the 90s but the 90s got them from the 40s like they've been around forever.

Leah Haslage:

Everything comes back around. It has like a slight different iteration.

Rebecca Somnitz:

It totally does. Yes for sure. So scarves are going to be big which I love and they're just draped very delicately over your neck and then long tails in the back. Corsets are big. So a few years ago, maybe like seven, eight years ago, corsets were big, but you put the skirt over the corset. Now you put the corset over the skirt. So it almost looks like a basque waist,

Leah Haslage:

Yeah, which is trending.

Rebecca Somnitz:

That is also trending, so that's another big trend that's coming. But this version of really tight in the waist and then accentuating the hips. Which I think is going to be really interesting to see how brides feel about that. Because most of my brides, when they come in here, they do not want to accentuate their hips. So I think it'll be really interesting to see how that goes.

Leah Haslage:

Wow. Why do you think basque came back?

Rebecca Somnitz:

I think because it's different. Again, you know, when you see the same thing over and over and over again, you just naturally feel like, I want something different.

Leah Haslage:

So are scarves the new capes?

Rebecca Somnitz:

Capes are still huge in Europe. Like huge. People wear capes all the time in Europe. I wish we would get on the cape trend more. I think they're super sophisticated.

Leah Haslage:

It was hot for a second and then I didn't really see it.

Rebecca Somnitz:

I think they're sophisticated. I think they're elegant. I think they're unique. I love capes. But yes, so basque waists. And you'll see them. So basque waists are when they kind of go into a V past your belly button. And some of them have very accentuated hips with big pleats on the hips. And then some of them will have like box pleats so they sit flatter on the hips.

Leah Haslage:

Kind of like Sleeping Beauty. Because she has a basque waist.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yes, yes, yes. So it'll be interesting to see how that goes. Other things that are big, sleeves, which you know I love.

Leah Haslage:

You love a sleeve. I see some beautiful sleeve dresses here.

Rebecca Somnitz:

I love a sleeve. I just love sleeves, and they're hard to find. And I get it. They're not going to be for everybody. If you're getting married on August 1st, you're probably not going to want a sleeve. That's going to be really hot for you.

Leah Haslage:

But there are people that want that elegant look. Or if you are, say, Mormon, that's a huge thing. Or certain Catholic churches, you have to have that. You can detach them later. Oh yeah, detachables. Isn't that so huge?

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yeah, detachables. And then the thing that is really interesting are sleeve gloves, I like to call them. They start at your wrist and then go up to almost your shoulder. They fall in line a lot with a strapless dress, so it almost looks seamless. But then you can take them off. But then they don't have fingers, so you can still see. You don't have to worry about your ring and everything like that. So you don't have to worry about, like, did you ever see your grandma's gloves? How they would have, like, the ring finger would be able to, like, slip out so you can put the ring on and then slip it back in. Slither back in.

So those are big. In lace and in non-lace. I have some of those coming in. I'm very, very excited about them.

Leah Haslage:

Didn't Hailey Bieber wear the lace version?

Yeah. So those are still big. Gloves. Gloves with fingers. Those are still big. Organza skirts? I don't know. So, organza skirts, when I first started, were huge. And I loved them. They're very floaty. They're very light. I really like silk organza because it's not shiny like a polyester organza. The only thing is, organza does wrinkle, so you need to be worried about that if that is something that bothers you.

Leah Haslage:

It's up there with satin.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yeah. You know what? I love satin, but I don't love satin. Because the second any sort of moisture gets on satin, it's ruined. Like, there's nothing you can do. You can't clean it.

Leah Haslage:

No. Your sweat will show. And stay.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yes. Yes. But yeah, those are some of the big ones. The big ones you're going to see are the drop waists. Well, I guess drop waists and basque waists are different too. So basque waists are going to be more into like a triangle after your belly button and then drop waists are just going to be straight down past your belly button and then seaming.

Leah Haslage:

So making your, to give a visual, so making your waistline longer.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Correct. Yeah. Yeah. Super long.

Leah Haslage:

Not for all body types though.

Rebecca Somnitz:

So I think it's really interesting. I think that it depends on the fabric and how the dress is constructed. If you have a lot of boning, so those are like the strips that you see like in a bustier or whatnot, and it's coming down, I think that that's going to be very helpful for everybody's body type because it's almost going to like suck you in like a corset, right? So I think that would work for anybody. If it's more of a flimsier fabric, like a lace or something like that, yeah, it's going to be trickier.

Leah Haslage:

Because I have zero waist. I have no waist. I go from boobs to belly button. I have no waist.

Rebecca Somnitz:

I actually think you would like it then.

Leah Haslage:

Really?

Rebecca Somnitz:

Because it would like, well, it would give you, depending on the construction, it would give you a waist shape if it had the right construction at your waist.

Leah Haslage:

I mean, I guess I'll have to come back and play dress up.

Rebecca Somnitz:

You know what you would really like. If you say that you don't have a waist, you should wear a corset. So my one designer, Suzanne Neville, every single one of her dresses, I won't say every single one, there's like one or two that don't have it, but they come with internal corsets. So they're not on the outside because I'm not an outside corset shop. I don't like to make it look like lingerie, but they're inside so you can really pull and make yourself snug. And then it gives you that shape that you want.

Leah Haslage:

A snatched waist?

And then it's also really nice because throughout the day on your wedding day, before you walk down the aisle, my brides who have a corset dress and I'm doing bridal concierge for them, they're like, make me super tight, like get as tight as you can. So I'm like, okay, let's get as tight as we can. And then after they're married and they're like having a glass of champagne, they're like, can you let it out a little bit? I can't breathe. I'm like, yeah, that's the benefit of having a corset. You can make it tighter or looser.

Leah Haslage:

That is such a good point, though, because that is the thing with corsets to keep in mind. Once you start eating and drinking, you need to loosen it up. Yeah. Yeah. So what else did we see trending at Market?

Rebecca Somnitz:

So I feel like for the longest time, we have seen very clean fabrics, not a lot of embellishments, not a lot of texture. My shop has a ton of simple dresses because that is what I love, and I feel like it was really hard to find. But now we're swinging to the other side. Like, you're going to start seeing more embellishments on dresses, more texture on fabrics.

Leah Haslage:

Like the 3D appliques.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yes, 3D appliques, laces.

Leah Haslage:

She has a beautiful floral dress in here that I just... I love all of them, but this floral number..

Rebecca Somnitz:

Well, thank you. I love all of them. So yeah, I think you're going to start seeing more interest, like more stuff on the dresses, which I think is really interesting and fun.

Leah Haslage:

What about with headpieces and accessories?

Rebecca Somnitz:

So I love this, and I think that people are not totally on board with it yet, which is pretty much how a trend goes, right? Like you see it first, and you're really jarred by it, and you're like, ugh. Like the pink dresses. I don't know. I would never do that. And then you start to see it more and more, and you're like, OK. Okay, I think I can get on board with this. Tiaras.

Leah Haslage:

Stop. Oh my gosh, the 90s are back.

Rebecca Somnitz:

I know, in a way. Tiaras and then, but I always like to do my tiara type headpieces with a big blusher veil that comes over it.

Leah Haslage:

Are blushers coming back? Because I haven't seen those in forever.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Have blushers ever gone out of style?

Leah Haslage:

I feel like they have. I feel like I never see them.

Rebecca Somnitz:

I have a lot of brides do blushers. I think blushers have made a transition. So I think they obviously started as a way that was very religious. You would put it over your face as you walk down the aisle. I think it has turned into something that is like super high fashion now. I feel like when you see a bride wearing a blusher, they're either religious and that's why they're wearing it or they're super sophisticated and high fashion and that's why they're wearing it. I love blushers. Love them. Love them. Love them.

Leah Haslage:

I love the dramatic effect. The tiara, my brain is just like poof. I can't believe it's coming back. I don't know why I'm surprised, especially with things like Bridgerton. You know, you get inspired by it and the basque waist. It makes sense to have the regal royal look. Right?

Rebecca Somnitz:

And you know I love that. It's like how much more classic can you get than like a regal queen type look?

Leah Haslage:

Being like a Kate Middleton, Princess Diana.

Rebecca Somnitz:

I mean it's never gonna go out of style.

Leah Haslage:

It's not.

Rebecca Somnitz:

That's what I love about it. It's like so classic

Leah Haslage:

It's your one time that you can get away with wearing it and no one thinks that you've gone that shit crazy.

Rebecca Somnitz:

No. And I know that some people are like no you're gonna look back no matter what you wear and you're gonna think like what was I thinking and I'm like I really don't think every bride feels that way.

Leah Haslage:

I don't think any bride looks back at a tiara and regrets it on the wedding day.

Rebecca Somnitz:

No, but I have moms that come in and they're like, I thought I was all classic with my giant sleeves in the 80s, and now look, nobody likes them. However, look, though. They came back. They came back.

Leah Haslage:

They came back, which I couldn't believe.

Rebecca Somnitz:

I know, but I think they came back in a better way

Leah Haslage:

It's definitely a better way. It's not my personal cup of tea, but to each their own. But I, like you, I love the 90s streamlined classic. That's my favorite era.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Classic, classic. Which I think is funny, though, because that's your favorite era, and you call it the 90s, but we got to go back to the 50s, 40s for that.

Leah Haslage:

Yeah, that's true. And actually, before that, the 20s. Yeah, that's true. That's very true. But every decade or generation does it differently and better.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Everything old comes back.

Leah Haslage:

Yeah, that's true. What trend that we haven't mentioned yet do you foresee? Like if you can get out your crystal ball, what do you think is going to be following? Now that you're seeing how the trends have been going, what do you think will be on the horizon?

Rebecca Somnitz:

Like what will be next after all?

Leah Haslage:

Like a year from now, back at market, you're like, Yep, I kind of feel like this was the next thing.

Rebecca Somnitz:

I think in the next year, I don't think too much will change because I think that the drop waists, the basque waists, like those are coming out, just starting to come out. People are just starting to get excited about them. So I think that they're going to be around for like two or three years. But I do think when you look at those dresses, they feel a little trendy to me. So I do think we'll swing on back to like the classic. I mean, you're never going to get away from the classic.

Leah Haslage:

Well, that's why it's called a classic, right? And then every personality is different. Some people want to be classic and have that, and some want to be trendy. Is there a way that you can incorporate the trends but still have a timeless look?

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yeah. I mean, OK, so I carry one designer, Lela Rose. I'm the only one in Ohio that carries Lela Rose.

Leah Haslage:

Love Lela Rose.

Rebecca Somnitz:

I say her calling is that she does such a good job of making a dress unique and on trend, but it still feels bridal. It still feels classic. It doesn't feel too out there that you're like, ooh, what was I thinking?

Leah Haslage:

You gotta look back and regret it.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yeah. Which is not easy to do, to be honest. It's hard to marry those two things. Because a lot of times you'll try and be one thing and it ends up looking like an evening gown. And then you try to do the classic route and it just looks so classic that you could find it anywhere. So it's like, she does a really good job. She finds really interesting fabrics, really interesting cuts, but they still feel appropriate. The other thing I really like about her is her dresses are always like two years ahead of what you're seeing. So she came out with drop waist and basque waist.

Leah Haslage:

So she's our crystal ball. Look at Lela Rose.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yes, for sure. She is our crystal ball. And every time I go to market, I always see something and I'm like, ugh. I don't know. But again, it's jarring when you first see something that you haven't seen. And then after I see it, I'm like, OK. OK. Yeah. I get it. I see. It's funny. I actually had a dress. And I've had her for two years. And I just talked to Lela at Market. And I was like, OK. We were so sure that this dress was going to be like the big dress. And it is like, it's not doing anything.

Leah Haslage:

Interesting.

Rebecca Somnitz:

This year, just in like the past two months, people walk in and they're like, oh, I want to try that dress. I'm like, yes, finally. OK, we're here. We're going to start trying on this dress. So she's the crystal ball. She shows me what people are going to want in a few years that I don't see myself. Which I think is hard. So much goes into fashion that people don't think about.

Leah Haslage:

It makes me think of that Devil Wears Prada scene. With the blue sweater. And she goes into the whole dissertation and it's like, yeah, that's fashion. That's exactly what it is. I know. It's like, you think you just picked this out of a… whatever it was she said. And it's like, yeah, that was a brilliant analog.

Rebecca Somnitz:

I know. So much goes into it that I don't think people think about. They just think that it just shows up. But people, at least the dresses that I carry in my shop, people are actually making these dresses. They're cutting them out. They're handmade. They're handmade. They're putting them through a sewing machine. It's not like this machine in a factory is making all of these.

Leah Haslage:

These aren't mass produced.

RST

No. No. When you go down the rabbit hole, you're like, wow. So much.

Leah Haslage:

So any trends that either are here now or you just hope to God never makes a comeback.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Um, so I do think that, it's not that I don't like this trend. I'm just, I'm ready for something else. Um, color is coming back, which I am so excited about.

Leah Haslage:

I'm seeing more black dresses again.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Well, no, like colorful weddings.

Leah Haslage:

Oh, colorful weddings. Yeah, that's trending.

Rebecca Somnitz:

So for the longest time, everything was black and white, black and white, black and white.

Leah Haslage:

Or nudes.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Or nudes or champagnes, like very neutral colors. And now we're getting back into like color, color and it makes me really excited. Um, because I like color, color. I have a Lela Rose dress coming. I'm so excited about it. It has like these little pink flowers on it. So I think color in wedding dresses is also gonna, you're gonna see more and more of it. Like Monique Lulier started the trend with her florals. And you're gonna see more and more and more as we keep going.

Leah Haslage:

That's exciting. I love color in dresses.

Rebecca Somnitz:

I do too.

Leah Haslage:

Yeah. I'm with you. I'm glad color's coming back. the nudes kind of dying. Pantone came out with the mousse, the mocha mousse.

Rebecca Somnitz:

I'm excited about that.

Leah Haslage:

So I'm on the fence. I think it will look great in like wedding party schemes and touches and stuff like that. But when it says that like the Pantone color is matching what the year ahead’s going to be like, that does not make me happy for society. Like, oh, shit brown? But I think when it comes to events, having it segwayed in to things, like whether it be maids' dresses or the cake color.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yeah. I think we're just getting it. I mean, you've seen it in, I don't know if you follow interior design. I follow interior design pretty closely. And they have been, browns have been trending in interior design for like the past two years. So it's like, it's coming. Like the grays and the blacks, like those are starting to make their way out. You know, it happens.

Leah Haslage:

As trends do.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yeah, as trends do. And then the browns are coming back, the warmer, warmer tones. I'm all about it. I had brown bridesmaids dresses.

Leah Haslage:

Oh, did you? Were you the chocolate brown?

Rebecca Somnitz:

I did. I was.

Leah Haslage:

Early 2000s?

Rebecca Somnitz:

Uh, 2008. Yeah. Got them from J.Crew.

Leah Haslage:

I loved them, yeah. When J.Crew had weddings.

Rebecca Somnitz:

I know. Well, they had this fabric. It was called silk tricotine, and I loved it. It was like this heavy silk. It was so good. That's what my bridesmaid's dresses were.

Leah Haslage:

J.Crew needs to bring back the bridal.

Rebecca Somnitz:

No.You know what's really interesting?

Leah Haslage:

You don't think the maids in the men's wear? Oh, for J.Crew?

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yeah. So you'll see, so you've seen like J.Crew had a bridal line, I think Banana Republic had a bridal line.

Leah Haslage:

Anthropologie.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yeah, theirs is actually doing... they have been doing the best out of all the ready-to-wear lines that then decide they want to get into bridal. And then they get into bridal, and bridal is a whole other beast. Like, it is not what you would expect if you were a ready-to-wear brand. And so most of them sunset their bridal lines pretty quickly after having them. So it's just different.

Leah Haslage:

It's just a different beast. What do you think of, I mean, obviously you bought your bridesmaids dresses with J.Crew…

Rebecca Somnitz:

I did, but I bought them back in the day when J.Crew was nice and quality.

Leah Haslage:

I love the hot takes. Bring it.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Well, you know, because J.Crew went through bankruptcy. So, and then everything changes.

Leah Haslage:

After Jenna Lyons left.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Do you still follow her?

Leah Haslage:

On New York Housewives? Yeah, the best thing Bravo ever did was to like revamp New York and put Jenna in there. She's the best.

Rebecca Somnitz:

She's so good. And I just, her style. I love her style.

Leah Haslage:

So inspiring. Back to 2025, 26 brides. What else should they be considering? when looking for their look? I mean, you mentioned these kind of two-piece numbers with the Basque waist corsets over a skirt. Should they be doing two-piece looks? Should they be looking at the second look? Or should people just be really sticking to the one look all day?

Rebecca Somnitz:

I mean, I'm sure it's not going to come as a surprise to you that I am a classic and sophisticated bridal shop, but most of my brides do not do second looks. I think most of them feel like this is a really special dress, I want to wear it as long as possible, and I think it's a price point thing too. If you're spending $6,000 to $8,000, sometimes $10,000 on a dress, I think you should wear it all night long. You don't need to switch out of it.

Leah Haslage:

And you're taking away time from your loved ones to try on. I mean, to each their own. Like, I do love a second look. I do prefer just to wear the one dress all day.

Rebecca Somnitz:

I think there's ways, if you're looking to change up your look for your reception, I think there's easier ways than finding a whole other dress. Because think of how much energy it's taking you to find the one dress, and now we have to find another dress? Like, you can take off If you have a topper, you can take off your topper. I have these giant earrings that everybody's always nervous to put on, and then they put on and they fall in love with them. You can put on giant earrings for your reception. There's so many other things that you can do so that you feel a little different, but it doesn't have to be this big elaborate change out.

Leah Haslage:

I love the main skirt and then you can just remove it and have the little look. Like the little dress and stuff. That's awesome. Or a romper.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yes. Or like take a big bow off. Like there's just so many things that you could do that's a lot easier the day of and easier leading up to than a second look.

Leah Haslage:

Any final advice for brides, whether it be for trends or concierge services?

Rebecca Somnitz:

So I always tell brides that I think, and here's the other thing I tell brides, you don't know what you don't know, right?

Leah Haslage:

Yeah.

Rebecca Somnitz:

So when you come into an appointment or when you start this wedding journey, You don't know how long dresses take. You don't know what you should be doing for alterations. Like, you don't know what you don't know. So I always tell my brides, give yourself a year ahead of your wedding to buy your dress, which I know sounds like so crazy, but…

Leah Haslage:

It flies by.

Rebecca Somnitz:

It flies by, but it's also, think of it in terms of interior design. If you're choosing a sofa from scratch, somebody's going to have to make the sofa. Then you're going to have to pick the fabric for the sofa. Then you have to deliver the sofa. There's just so many things you have to do. And it's same with a wedding dress. You have to find your dress. Then you have to order your dress. Then you have to wait for the dress. Then you have to start your alterations for the dress. There's like a lot that goes into it.

So your dress is going to take like four to six months to come in. And then you want to give yourself three months for alterations. So like nine months is kind of the minimum. And then you're going to kind of hit the ground running. Like you're not going to have a lot of downtime. And I always tell my brides, I feel like if we have learned nothing from COVID is give yourself extra time, pad your timeline, because I think crazy things come up all the time that you never would dream of.

Leah Haslage:

No, it's true. What if you get sick or what if like... Plan your vacations.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yes!

Leah Haslage:

You have fittings, you have alterations, like there's so much involved that people don't really realize. Who should you be bringing with you to your appointments to pick out your dress and your fittings? As shop owners, there are too many cooks in the kitchen at a certain point.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yeah, yeah. Now, I always tell brides, I don't know the best way that you make decisions, but typically four people is like the max that you want. But if you have a big family, you know, maybe you want to have all your sisters there and you have six sisters. I think that's fine too. I think you just have to think about how are you going to feel when you're trying on all these dresses and people are looking at you?

I'm always telling my brides, stop and think and give yourself a moment and think about how you will feel when you're surrounded by all these people. Do you feel comfortable enough to tell these people, no, I don't like this, even though they're like, this is amazing on you? Because that happens a lot. And then I also say my brides always tend to say that they are very bad at making decisions. And I always tell them, no, you're not. You're really good at making a decision. You just haven't found anything that you love yet. Once you find something that you're really excited about.

Leah Haslage:

You found your partner. You made a decision. You agreed to get married. You made decisions.

Rebecca Somnitz:

You found your venue. There's so many decisions that you've already made up until the point.

Leah Haslage:

You've already done hard things. You got this.

Rebecca Somnitz:

You know how to make decisions. It's just you haven't found anything that excites you.

Leah Haslage:

It is overwhelming. We totally get it.

Rebecca Somnitz:

I, it is overwhelming. Like, I don't know how brides today keep it all together with 99.999% of them working. Like, everybody's working and then you're taking this on. Like, it's another full-time job. It really is.

Leah Haslage:

Yeah, it's a lot. Expensive one.

Rebecca Somnitz:

So, yeah. So, like, don't stress yourself out with all, who should I bring and who's going to be upset? Like, it doesn't, don't worry about that. You'll figure it out. Go with your gut.

Leah Haslage:

Yeah. Go with your gut. Yeah. Your gut never lies. When you go against it, you get really disappointed.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yes. And I always tell my brides, like, just quiet your mind. What is your gut telling you? Which one makes you, like, if you're deciding between two dresses, like, which one makes you more excited when you think about it? Because there's one that makes you more excited. You just have to quiet your mind and think about it.

Leah Haslage:

It may be the one that no one else likes, but you're absolutely in love with it.

Rebecca Somnitz:

And that's okay.

Leah Haslage:

It's okay. It's your day.

Rebecca Somnitz:

And I always tell my brides, did you bring them to appointments when you were just going to shop for a dress for your friend's wedding? Probably not. And you showed up in a dress, and they probably loved it on you. And nobody's going to tell you that they didn't like it on you.

Leah Haslage:

Oh, I love it. That is well said. Right there. Yes. All right, final question. What is your all-time favorite movie or TV wedding?

Rebecca Somnitz:

Bride Wars. But I think most people like Kate Hudson's Vera Wang.

Leah Haslage:

You prefer Anne Hathaway's?

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yes!

Leah Haslage:

You're such a classic bride.

Rebecca Somnitz:

I know, I loved her dress so much.

Leah Haslage:

Both are trending though. Because it's a long dress waist with Kate Hudson's and a classic with Anne's. That's such a good movie. I'm actually surprised with your answer. That's not what I thought you were going to say.

Rebecca Somnitz:

What did you think I was going to say?

Leah Haslage:

Because it's so funny. So I think you posted this on your Insta story. And I was thinking about the day before, and you posted it, Maria's dress in Sound of Music.

Rebecca Somnitz:

OK. Can we talk about that?

Leah Haslage:

Yes. I was waiting for this. Literally, I was thinking about it randomly, like how much I love that dress, and it's so underrated. And Grace Kelly gets all the attention. And the very next day, Rebecca posted on Insta story. And you show the scene from the movie. You're like, this dress is not getting enough attention.

Rebecca Somnitz:

So I don't know that I have seen The Sound of Music as an adult from the start to finish. So my daughter came home, and she's in fifth grade. And she was like, Mommy, can we watch The Sound of Music? And I was like, yes, yes, we can. So Friday night, we get ready, and we watch the movie. And I'm laying there watching. And the wedding scene comes up, and her beautiful dress. And I was like, why do we not talk about this? Nobody ever talks about her dress.

Leah Haslage:

It's so iconic to me. It's perfection.

Rebecca Somnitz:

It's beautiful. Long sleeve. And her veil. Yes. Did you see the long blusher veil? The picture that I posted of her from the side with her long train and the long blusher veil is like, oh my gosh. It's like, love it.

Leah Haslage:

A true cathedral veil.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Oh, yeah. And her flower crown.

Leah Haslage:

Yes. And she had the... That flower crown was done right. She had a little... Like the little lilies of the valley. Yeah. It's like regal.

Rebecca Somnitz:

I think we need to bring that up more often. Yes. Like how has that not been all over TikTok?

Leah Haslage:

Julie Andrews looked perfection in that dress. She looked so good. And if you think about it, it's kind of like a solid, maybe like a silk Mikado, I'm not sure what material that was. It's shaped like Kate Middleton's. It's not the full, like it's a high neck, but it's open in the front like Kate's was. So it is a cross between Grace Kelly and what Kate Middleton ended up having with Sarah Burton. Without the lace. Yeah.

Leah Haslage & Rebecca Somnitz:

I love it.

Leah Haslage:

I'm with you. Watch all these movies to get inspiration. That's when you're looking for your dress.

Rebecca Somnitz:

What other good wedding movies are there? Oh, my gosh. I mean, you can find, let's see. I would not wear this dress. But one of my favorite movies with a wedding in it is Steele Magnolias. The whole opening is about Shelby's wedding, right?

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yeah.

Leah Haslage:

Your colors are pink and pink. My colors are blush and bashful. One is much deeper than the other. It looks like the church has been hosed down with Pepto-Bismol. Oh, I love that movie so much.

Rebecca Somnitz:

But yeah, I don't think I would do her dress.

Leah Haslage:

And like they're dancing at the reception and the girls are like shit-talking the woman in the lace dress. That's one to watch. Obviously Wedding Planner, which we bring up on this all the time.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yeah, but what does she wear?

Leah Haslage:

She wears the courthouse dress.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Oh, yeah.

Leah Haslage:

The suit. Yeah. But the dresses that Matthew McConaughey was going to marry the girl. Yeah. And then the opening when she's helping the bride.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yeah. I actually felt that. I always felt that one was ill-fitting.

Leah Haslage:

Yeah, and I don't like the veil. It bothered me. Okay, I want to go look up all the wedding movies now because I'm drawing a blank right now. Like Wedding Singer…

Rebecca Somnitz:

You know what we also need to look up? Because I think it also plays into your overall wedding look, grooms attire. I think we need to start paying more attention to the grooms.

Leah Haslage:

I'm with you on that. Let's do a deep dive. Let's come back to this and deep dive on that.

Rebecca Somnitz:

I think that a lot of grooms are getting more excited about things, and I love that.

Leah Haslage:

And the inner lining, having print, or like, why not surprise the bride with the photos or, you know, dates. Yeah. Groom's attire needs more detail and attention too.. Because it's part of the whole look. You're painting a picture.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yes, you're painting like an overall feel of your entire wedding. You can't just look at yourself in, you know, just a silo. You have to look at the whole thing. Yeah. which is what I always tell my brides, like, what is your groom gonna wear? And, you know, we chat about what she's thinking, like a tux or a blue suit or whatnot, and I'm always like, okay, this dress would look amazing with that. This one, maybe not so much. So, like, look at everything.

Leah Haslage:

So consider everything. That's our final tip of the day.

Rebecca Somnitz:

Yeah, consider it all.

Leah Haslage:

Thanks so much, Rebecca, for being here. How can we find out more about you and Something White?

Rebecca Somnitz:

Of course, on my website, somethingwhitebridal.com, and then Instagram, somethingwhitebridal.

Leah Haslage:

Which you definitely want to follow her because she has the best posts.

Rebecca Somnitz:

I love that. Thank you so much.

Leah Haslage:

Thanks for joining us today! Be sure to subscribe wherever you get podcasts so you never miss an episode. Give us a follow on social media and visit thebridechilla.com. To leave a question you'd like to hear answered on the show, head to speakpipe.com/bridechillapodcast, also linked in the description.

Bridechilla is a production of Evergreen Podcasts. Thanks to our producer and engineer, Gray Sienna Longfellow, and our executive producers, Brigid Coyne and Gerardo Orlando. And of course, a special thanks to Aleisha, our OG bridechilla, and Meghan Ely of OFD Consulting. I'm your host, Leah Haslage. Until next time, Chillas!

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