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With the amount of love you’ve all shown us for our Super Sample Sale, we’ve extended it through December 20th to give your schedules more time to shop out sale!!

If you love a deal as much as you love good quality, beautiful wedding dresses then our Super Sample Sale is the perfect event for you!

What is a sample sale?
A sample sale is focused on our dresses that can be purchased off the rack and taken with you that day!  Our special order dresses will also be available to look at and try on if you would like to look at both sample gowns and special order gowns.

What’s the difference between your Super Sample Sale and just purchasing a sample dress?
This is where it gets fun!  We have wedding dresses available for purchase off the rack throughout the year but during our Super Sample Sale, there will be further discounts available on these dresses that aren’t available during the rest of the year.

What can I expect during my Super Sample Sale appointment?
Our sample sales are very similar to our regular bridal appointments. The only difference is you’ll be shopping our sample sale selection! You’ll still get to work one-on-one with one of our amazing consultants, and they’ll help you find your perfect dress!

What are the details?
When you say yes to your Super Sample Sale dress, you’ll take it home with you that day!  The dress will need to be paid for in full (cash or credit card – no checks) and will be sent home with you in one of our breathable bridal bags! Because you are purchasing an off the rack dress at a deep discount, the dresses are sold in as-is condition.  There could be a button missing, some dust on the train or some loose beads. We do go through and repair and hand clean any spots but wear and tear is to be expected. Imperfections may be present!  That’s the tradeoff for getting such a good discount!

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at 260-483-8000 or email info@onefinedaybridal.com.  Appointments are highly recommended for this popular event and to make an appointment, fill out the form on our Contact Us page and put that you’re interested in the sample sale in the notes, call us or email us!  We look forward to helping you find your dream dress at a dream price!

We’ve been invited to host a Essense of Australia Designer Preview Show! To find out more details about the event, read on below, but the main points is you get to see and try on dresses from not-yet-released Essense of Australia collection and you’ll be able to make one of these dresses yours a year before any other bride in the country!  Talk about being in front of the bridal trends!!

Make your appointment for Friday, September 12th & Saturday, September 13th!

What is a Preview Show?
Essense will send us around 30 wedding dresses that won’t be in stores till early Summer 2026 and won’t be worn by brides until the end of 2026!  This means you get to try on and purchase a wedding dress before any other bride in the country!  You also get a hand in shaping the newest collection – your feedback and comments help Essense tailor the collection to their brides (like you!) 🙂

What’s the benefit of finding my dress during the event?
Because this is not the final collection, the designs are constantly changing.  The dress you fall in love with could get cut the following week which means you get a one of a kind wedding dress (and how cool is that?!). It’s also possible the design slightly changes through the process. One of our former stylists bought her dress during an Essense Preview Show and her dress had lace on the train which the dress in the final collection did not!

What’s the price range?
Similar to our permanent Essense of Australia collection, these wedding dresses will range from $1,800 – $2,500.  You only need 1/2 down to get your dress ordered during this event! These dresses do take a solid 6 months to come in so they are on a slightly longer time frame than our normal stock!

What’s the size range?
The preview show dresses will be sent to us in bridal size 10s (similar to a 6/8 in street clothes) but our entire boutique will be open for our brides to try on.

Do I need an appointment?
Yes, you do!  This is always a popular event and we will book up so go ahead and schedule your appointment now!  Email us at info@onefinedaybridalandgown.com, fill out the contact us page here or call us at (260) 483-8000.

 

This is an amazing event where you get to see, try on and purchase a wedding dress that almost no other bride in the country has even seen!  There are only 2 “rules” during this event #1) Your wedding date needs to be after May 1st, 2026 and #2) no pictures of the preview show dresses are allowed during this event.  In order to respect the integrity of the designs, the designers have asked that no pictures be taken.  If you purchase a preview show dress during the event, you are welcome to take a picture of that dress!  But no worries, either way, you will be celebrated!

I helped a bride this past weekend and as we were talking about her venue she pulled up the Barn on Nye Manor and when I tell you I gasped…..it is a stunning venue and it’s in Hicksville, Ohio which is only about 45 minutes East of Fort Wayne. With outdoor areas for your ceremony and the possibility of an outdoor dance floor, the Barn on Nye Manor can house 300 guests which is incredible.

While we think you can wear any type of dress at any location, here are some of our gowns that we think would be especially beautiful at this venue!

D4080 from Essense of Australia features the most delicate gold thread weaving throughout the fabric which lends just a hint of color!

D4038 from Essense of Australia features these amazon, removeable long sleeves which create the most dramatic and romantic look!

D4007 from Essense of Australia is a great ballgown with that deep neckline plunge that, we feel, makes it very modern looking!

Alton is from our Lily Rose Collection and she’s a silky fitted stunner with a slit and waist ruching. This dress is very lightweight which would be perfect for a Summer, outdoor wedding!

One of our favorites is 1713 from Martina Liana because she is such a romantic and detailed dress. She has 3D florals throughout with a bustier style cup and she’s just all sorts of fabulous!

One of our newest dresses is D4341 from Essense of Australia and this detail…gah! It’s hard to capture all the sparkle and details in the picture but she is a showstopping look!

Lastly is this classic beauty D4265, also from our Essense of Australia collection. We love dresses that feature a combination of fabrics and this lace + mikado combination is our favorite. It keeps the dress feeling modern and fresh but still is utterly classic!

Today, we’re traveling over to Findlay, Ohio which is just 1.5 hours from Fort Wayne! Because of our location near the Ohio border, we get many Buckeye Brides come and find their wedding dress with us! Ohio has so many beautiful venues and many of our brides chose a venue in Ohio for that reason!

Scarlet Oaks Estate is a family owned venue with a barn on the property that was built in the 1860s and I am a complete sucker for old barns and bridal businesses that are family owned and operated! The barn can hold around 150 guests which makes this the perfect intimate setting for our brides who love the feel of a beautiful barn and plenty of outdoor space. Their website also states that you can have a tent on the grounds that holds around 250 guests!

I’m picturing lace and fitted shapes in this space (although you all already know we are true believers in wearing what you love regardless of the season or location). Here are some of our dress that I think would be stunning at Scarlet Oaks Estate!

 

7849 from our Stella York collection is the most beautiful and elegant soft ballgown dress. We have her both in ivory and almond coloring in our store!

From our All Who Wander Collection is Dune who is a new arrival! She’s mostly chiffon with some beautiful lace godets through the skirt and drapey sleeves (that are removable) which also feature a little lace!

1891 from our Martina Liana Collection features 3-D petals, a subtle basque waist and detail throughout the entire dress! This is a show stopper dress that will make your guest’s jaws drop!

Lastly, we have D4258 from our Essense of Australia Collection. Shown here in an ivory and rum color (we have both in our store!). She’s got some sexy details like the wider side cut outs and higher slit but her lace keeps this dress feeling relaxed and comfortable!

I love this trend because it is truly a point in the “nothing in fashion is new” column. Basque waists have been around since the Victorian Era, popping up in fashion through the Decades. The last time we saw basque waist wedding dresses be in fashion was in the late 80s and early 90s. They were generally accompanied by loads of detail and poof at the shoulders

(via Pinterest)

 

While the poofed shoulders haven’t made there way back around, yet, the basque waists have! This is a lovely trend that features a beautiful shape so many of our brides love on their figures. Let’s take a look at some of our newest basque waist dresses!

Our Stacia dress from our in-house Lily Rose Collection is a fitted crepe style with boning detail and a slight basque waist.

Elouise, also from our in-house Lily Rose Collection, is a satin strapless gown with ruched scoop neckline, boning detail and subtle basque waist!

D4149 from Essense of Australia features a jacquard overskirt, boning detail and a slight basque waist (I’m making the argument for a Bridal Trends – boning detail post!)

D4098 from our Essense of Australia collection features beautiful delicate lace and sparkle throughout with the most perfect soft ballgown skirt!

Also from our Essense of Australia Collection is D4110 which is an all over mikado dress with off the shoulder sleeves and pockets!

 

Lastly, we have D4158 from our Essense of Australia Collection and this is a lightweight ballgown with a jacquard print and tie up back detail

In store, we have many more basque waists in different shapes and fabrics! But tell me, what are your thoughts on this trend?

The classic wedding dress look has been “in” for wedding dresses for a few years now, but what we’re seeing is a trend towards classic dresses that feature something just a little extra. Whether that be through color, fabric or a design element! It’s so fun to see small shifts around a bigger trend for bridal gowns. Classic dresses are classic for a reason – they are styles and looks that will move through time beautifully and while we 100% believe you should wear the look that you are most confident and comfortable in today, many of our brides are drawn towards dresses that stand the test of time.

Our Thompson gown from our in-house Lily Rose Collection is a classic, mikado trumpet shaped dress with a beautiful mikado overskirt and detachable bow at the back. She brings the drama for your ceremony and then becomes and easy, comfortable reception dress!

From our Stella York Collection is 7817 which is also exclusive to our plus-size collection. It’s hard to tell from the photo but she features a glitter tulle which gives this dress the most fabulous sparkle! Tiered horsehair skirts have been around 10 or so years and at this point, they are a classic shape but the edition of the glitter tulle and bustier bodice make this dress classic with a little something extra.

7755 is from our Stella York Collection and is also exclusive to our plus size collection. She comes in a beautiful ivory, but there is something so striking about this dress in the black satin. The shape, neckline and skirt are quintessential bridal gown but the color lends itself to today’s modern bride who has embraced color!

Kenedy is from our All Who Wander Collection which by it’s nature is designed to be for the modern, creative bride and doesn’t always play by any bridal “rules”. This deep, wide set neckline and wide belt detail are perfect for our confident brides. She’s also constructed out of a beautiful taffeta which keep this dress super lightweight but with a nod toward wedding dresses of the past!

From our Essense of Australia collection is this beautiful Cinderella blue ballgown, style D4109. As with any of our wedding dresses shown in a color, they always come in a more traditional ivory but this blue is so subtle and so lovely. We paired it with our colored floral lace veil and we love the Springtime vibes this look gives!

 

Share your thoughts on what you think about these classic plus a little something extra dresses!

 

Researching venues in Northwest Ohio for our series of blog posts pairing our wedding dresses with beautiful NW Ohio venues has been so fun! Because Fort Wayne is only 45 minutes to the Ohio border, the Midwest is our oyster when it comes to beautiful venues within easy driving distance. This week, I fell in love with Crystal Fountain Park, in Sherwood, Ohio just north of Paulding in Defiance County and 45 minutes Northeast of Fort Wayne. There are structures on the property to support a wedding of 300 people and also to host smaller events such as your bridal shower! The Wentworth building was completed in 1911 and the entire property has a fascinating history which I encourge you read about here!

The surrounding property is lovely with trees, a pond and plenty of outdoor areas to host your wedding. Whenever I see a historical building, my mind goes to wedding dresses with a splash of drama but because this venue is situated on a beautiful property, I also think it lends itself to lace and soft ballgowns. So, let’s take a look at some wedding dresses that would be beautiful at Crystal Fountain Park!

I love the idea of this Stella York, 7531, which features a classic crepe bottom but with a beautifully detailed bodice. The scoop neckline is stunning and the back, while you can’t see it here, is sheer with some beaded detailing!

Martina Liana 1821 is one of my favorite dresses and would be stunning literally anywhere but I love the idea of this detailed gown with a classic and simple shape in front of this historical building. I love the juxtaposition of the modern dress and older building!

This full, pleated skirt ballgown from Essense of Australia features the most beautiful jacquard fabric where you can see the sheen, even in the pictures! The jacquard gives the dress texture and dimension while still looking classic from further away! This is style D4187

D4148 from our Essense of Australia collection is a new dress with a drop waist, flirty slit and 3D details throughout the bodice

A dress we have in both our straight and plus size collections is D4007 from Essense of Australia. You’ll find lace and sparkle throughout this dress which is a very classic bridal look but the wide and deep neckline feel very modern which plays into both the history of the Wentworth building and the renovations that the owners completed!

We’re starting a new series on our blog where we take a look at area wedding venues and show you some of our dresses we think would be beautiful at that venue!

Today, we’re headed over to Napolean, Ohio only 1 hour Northwest of Fort Wayne. We have a lot of Northwest Ohio brides shop with us and Ohio has some stunning venues all within easy driving distance! We’re starting with a wedding venue called Shady Brook Acres Hitching Post which was opened in 2016. If you’re a bride looking for a relaxed, comfortable venue with a slight rustic vibe, this is worth looking at!

A couple years ago, I attended my cousin’s wedding at a venue in Anderson and Shady Brook Acres Hitching Post is giving me the exact same feeling. Her wedding was on a beautiful Summer day and was such a relaxed and beautiful time! I can envision a hog roast for dinner and how much fun would a live band be under that pavilion??

Okay, so here are the wedding dresses that I could immediately see here!

Stella York 7492 was the very first dress that popped in my head because it has a layer of glitter tulle that would sparkle so beautifully and subtly in the sun and is a great level of fullness where you get that “princess” feel but don’t have the weight of a true ballgown wedding dress. We have this dress in a blush tone called Biscotti as well as in an Ivory!

The next dress is for a bride who likes unique elements in a dress but also wants to be comfortable and a little bit sexy. This is our Franki Dress from our All Who Wander Collection and this collection is described as being made “For the ethereal dreamer in pursuit of lifelong love.” So if you’re a dreamer at heart and love to romanticize your life, this dress is worth taking a look at.

The next dress comes from our Stella York Collection and it is style 7491. It is a lace trumpet style dress with sparkle throughout. It has a very cool back and is part of our plus size collection! She comes in several colors and is shown here in blush.

The next dress is such a cool shape! It’s our Desiree dress from our Lily Rose Collection and features a fitted under skirt with a tulle over skirt which is fun because you get the best of both worlds! Especially if you do your ceremony outside and you’re back lit…..ooooo!

The last dress I thought of was 7868 from our Stella York Collection. It is a fitted crepe dress with an unlined bodice that features a beautiful matte lace pattern! We paired it with one of our cathedral lace veils and I’m just obsessed with this look! The crepe skirt has a lot of stretch to it and we call it “bridal yoga pant fabric” because it has a similar compression feel that yoga pants can have but is stretchy so allows you to sit, walk and dance the night away without feeling restricted.

 

Are you or have you gotten married at Shady Brook Acres Hitching Post? What style of dress did you wear?

Wedding dresses are unlike ready to wear in that they really don’t have seasons. We don’t buy a Winter or Summer collection and new styles aren’t released according to a season. But, here are some of our dresses that we feel say “Spring”!

With her light blush color and dainty floral lace, Stella York 8017 would be a beautiful dress for a Spring Wedding!

 

Stella York 8041 features a beautiful matte floral lace with a soft ballgown style and flirty slit (even though you can’t see it in this picture)!

We added a romantic off the shoulder strap onto this strapless Martina Liana and the 3-D florals just scream Spring to us!

Spring weather in Indiana is not predictable and this long sleeve dress from our Lily Rose Collection with it’s delicate floral and viney lace would be perfect!

Another matte lace ballgown dress that would be beautiful for late Spring and Summer is Martina Liana 1467!

 

Which “Spring” dress is your favorite?

Have you all seen those TikToks where someone talks about being “chalant”? Like, I want nothing to do with anything or anyone “non-chalant”….give me all the chalant! If this sounds for you, this roundup of wedding dresses is meant for your perusal!

If, like us, you’re a chalant bride, then you understand we don’t want our wedding to be small and easy. We want a day filled with wow-moments, utter delight from our guests and while we won’t demand our fiance’s jaw drop and/or tears, we would absolutely prefer them.

We want long trains, exquisite detail and wedding dresses that highlight all our beautiful parts. Maybe we’re a classic bride, maybe we’re more modern but either way we want to make a statement and leave our guests and, most importantly, our fiance speechless!