Modest Brides Trunk Show

Once your phone number is posted on the internet it's impossible to remove it. Seven years later we still get calls from brides in Knoxville wanting to shop for MODEST weddings gowns. For most of them the drive is just a little too far for their busy schedule.

We are excited to announce our first Modest Brides Trunk Show in Knoxville, TN on November 7 & 8. 

Experience a private showing of our Best Selling styles with your closest family and friends.

Schedule your gown consultation by October 11 for 10% off your gown purchase at the show. Only 8 appointments are available!

For this special show we do require a $25 consultation fee to confirm your appointment. This will be applied to any purchase and is refundable if cancelled 5 business days prior to your appointment.

We have reserved a lovely suite at the Homewood Suites. Conveniently located in the Turkey Creek shopping area; it's close to the I-75 and I-40 intersections for brides coming from all directions.

For brides planning an overnight stay ask for Darrin when booking your room. Mention the Simply Elegant Show for a special rate.

Your Shop is a Jewel

Recently, I received this gracious thank you note from Amy. She visited us before returning to England after completing her college degree.

" I want to thank you for providing such a beautiful range of modest wedding dresses and formals to chose from. I got very frustrated looking at other shops thinking about all the work and expense involved in adjusting the dresses I saw. I was very pleased with my dress and the

 bridesmaid dresses I chose."

"I appreciate how kind and helpful you were both on the phone and through e-mail. I think your shop is a jewel; I hope many more like-minded Christians will find out about you. Thank you very much."

Simply Elegant Featured Bride Charity Davidson

Why should we be using bridal company pictures for our ads when we have the most beautiful Simply Elegant brides in the world?! So the search for our featured bride began. They were sent notices inviting them to enter the Featured Bride Contest. The winner would receive a 50% refund on the cost of her dress, be used in our advertisements and on the home page of our revised website. 10 brides entered, their pictures were posted in albums on our FACEBOOK page and it was great fun to read the wonderful comments from their loyal friends! At the end of 2 weeks Charity had 11,970 points.

My Story
by Charity Davidson

"Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass" is the passage of Scripture God has so mightily used in my life. We all make "new year's resolutions" and mine for 2010 was to simply trust the Lord for more; to have such a faith in Him that it would revolutionize my life. I even took it a step further. By faith, I claimed December 11, 2010, as the day I would marry the man of my dreams! 12.11.10. What a fun wedding date! And so the year began... All along God was leading me in His will. It wasn't that I just had to get married; no, no. It was believing the Lord and trusting that He would guide me in every aspect of life. And He absolutely did just that!

James' side of the story is that he had considered asking me on a date for quite a while, but was nervous because of my dad. Who would have guessed that a 6'6" man would intimidate anyone at all? However, he did finally muster up the courage to speak to me and invited me to go out one night with a group of friends. After that first ‘date’, I had such peace that James was the one God had saved for me. I think I even pinched myself to make sure it all was still real life! God truly exceeds our expectations!

I must admit that I was anticipating the day I could say YES to James. I thought I had to look my absolute best every single day because an engagement is a very big thing, you know! Friday morning, December 10, 2010, I woke up to the sound of the ringtone for my mom. She called at approximately 7:47 am and practically saved my life that day because for whatever reason I never heard an alarm! Fortunately, I made it to work only a few minutes late. Whew! What a long day this is going to be! James was off work so we planned to spend the afternoon Christmas shopping. I knew that was NOT the day James would propose because all that could potentially go wrong did, and the day I would get engaged would just have to be the most perfect day, so it was impossible!! So off we go making our way to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg to shop and look at the Christmas lights. We were having so much fun! Then came Primrose Walk. We stayed on that little lane for quite some time, and I was sure any minute my hands would fall off from frost bite! It was bitter cold! I asked him a few times if he was ready to start walking again, but he kept lingering looking at the lights on that little lane. We talked for a few more minutes then down on one knee he went! My first reaction was "Really? Are you serious?" Then he replied, "Uh, YEAH! Is that a yes??"

 You would think the rest of the night went perfectly, but James hadn't been to Gatlinburg before and had gotten turned around because we had walked so far! It took us some time to finally find the car, but once we did we both began to tell the world of the wonderful news that we were getting married. Oh, and may I mention that although I wasn’t exactly married on 12.11.10 as I had hoped, I did wake up that morning with a gorgeous diamond ring on my finger. To God be the glory.

Next was to find that perfect wedding dress. The dress every girl dreams of wearing on her wedding day. James only asked one thing of me, and that was that we have a wedding that those involved be dressed elegantly but modestly. There are many stores to shop, however, Simply Elegant was the only option because it is the best option. I knew there I would find a dress that not only would be absolutely beautiful but modest. Dana is so very qualified in helping select a gown that meets your standard. She will do her best to fulfill your wishes. She certainly fulfilled mine! I fell in love with the fourth dress I tried on...it was just perfect! The detail and quality were exquisite. The feeling I had in that moment is indescribable. I had found the dress. I am so grateful for Dana and Simply Elegant. I highly recommend any bride looking for a modest gown to go to none other than Simply Elegant. Thank you, Simply Elegant, for allowing brides to have the opportunity to feel beautifully modest on their wedding day.

Both James and Charity graduated from Crown College of the Bible and are currently serving in the youth ministry at their church.

Weddings 50 Years Ago

My thoughtful mother annually renews a subscription to our home town newspaper us. The town is actually too small to have a newspaper so it's the Yell County Record covering the entire county news. One my favorite articles is the 50 Years Ago, YCR Revisits the Past.
Having a bridal shop, I am always drawn to the wedding announcements. The simplistic descriptions and unique vocabulary draw such an elegant picture of what it was like. I love envisioning how she might have looked and felt on her wedding day.  The one thing that is probably the same for every bride through the years is the love she has for her groom and the dreams she has for their future together.
For those, like me, that  share the love for the days gone by, I thought I'd share a recent reprint of a wedding announcement from September 1961.

Stewart-King-Arrangements of white gladiolus and glowing white tapers against a background of coal green fern adorned the altar of the Parkway Baptist Church of Minden, LA. For the wedding of Miss Billie Jean Stewart and Bobby John King on the afternoon of Saturday, July 16.
The bride is the daughter of Mrs. Era J. Stewart and the late Mr. Stewart of Minden, LA. and the bridegroom's parents are Mr. and Mrs. John G. King of Ola, AR.
The Rev. Cornelious Uhrens of Little Rock, AR performed the ceremony. Miss Patsy Slay, organist played nuptial selections as the candles were lit by Frances Simpson and Miss Peggy Sue James and accompanied Miss Rita Barron as she sang "Because."
Mrs. G.D. Shores attended her sister as matron of honor and the bridesmaids were Miss Gloria Ann Hill and Miss Frances Stewart.
Roger O'Neil of Little Rock, AR served as best man and the groomsmen were Jerry Strickland, Dicky Simpson and Tom Freeman.
The bride entering the church with her uncle, Marvin Stewart, who gave her in marriage, was lovely in a ballerina length gown of white embroidered organza over slipper satin. The basque bodice designed with a boat neckline edged in embroidered scallops and elbow length sleeves extended to a point in back and accented by a large flat bow of organza. The bouffant skirt terminated in embroidery scallops. Her tiered short veil of misty illusion was held in place by a crown. She wore white satin slippers, short white gloves and a single strand of pearls. The bridal bouquet was a cascade of snowy white stephanotis.
Mr. and Mrs. King are residing in Minden, LA.

Happy 50th Anniversary, Mr. & Mrs. King. I hope you have lived happily ever after.

Market Fun

Mannequin displays are always a fun attraction.

I so adore the pleated dresses

with flowers.

Never enough jewelry and accessories!

The Royal Collection

The Royal Wedding was such a treat this year. There were hints and look alikes of Kate's gown in almost every showroom at market in Atlanta last week. I was thrilled to find a replica headpiece and earrings.

Our newest accessory vendor, Richard Designs, is located in the UK and gave us some interesting information on the pieces.

The Royal Tiara

The tiara was, as expected, from the royal collection. Catherine's 'Something Borrowed' was on loan from the Queen's private collection, made by Cartier in 1936, and a present for the late Queen Mother. Traditional yet discreet, the tiara sat high enough to lift the soft draped veil from her face.

The Royal Jewelry

As a wedding present from her parents for her 'something new' these diamond set drops were made to compliment the Cartier tiara that she wore on that day. Delicate and perfectly portioned they were designed to echo the elements within the Middleton Family newly appointed Coat of Arms. These loverly jewels were made up of a stylised oak leaf with a pear shaped-diamond set drop and suspended pave set acorn at the center.

Trunk Show

Tomorrow begins our first trunk show in our lovely, new location. A trunk show offers a bride the opportunity to view samples of the newest gowns available by a particular manufacturer. The Bliss gowns by Bonny are currently the best selling modest line on the market today!

There are still a few appointments times available. Call 803-548-3900 for your private showing.