KJLA Grand Opening! →

After hours and hours of hard work, blood, sweat and tears, Kinsley James Los Angeles is officially open for business! To celebrate the launch of our new location, we held a Grand Opening Party! The setup was beautiful thanks to the many vendors that worked with us to make this event so special.

All signage done by Maria Pereira with A Touch of Grace Events

All photos taken by the talented Joe Kim Studio

---

Hosted by designer Anne Barge and President Shawne Jacobs, we had several gorgeous models donning Anne's beautiful designs.

Designer Anne barge (left) and Anne Barge Owner and President (right)

Model - Jasmine Kraus

Model - Edna Ramirez

Model - Priyanka Samra

Model - Amy Flander

---

We also had the super talented and inspirational author, blogger, and stylist Anne Sage in the building (pictured in white)!

From the left: KJ Owner Amber Silva, Author Anne Sage, Designer Anne Barge, President & Owner Shawne Jacobs, and KJ Owner Dawn Silva Rigney

---

Sweet E's Bakeshop's beautiful cake was the perfect showstopper for our Grand Opening. Just look at the detail! They also provided delicious treats for our dessert table!

---

Bouquets on bouquets! These amazing flowers were done by Posh Peony and looked excellent with the color scheme of the whole party.

---

The mouth-watering appetizers were done by Jonathan Pimentel Catering. 

• Braised beef with mustard aioli au jus, garnished with dill, and served with a dehydrated potato chip
• Jerk chicken confit served on top of a plantain chip, and garnished with pickled onion
• Shrimp ceviche with garlic, onions, mini bell pepper trio, lemon, lime, tomato, and served on top of cucumber

---

Talented LA bartenders Nick Estep and Suzy Franco served beautifully prepared drinks garnished with edible flowers. The drinks were a huge hit!

Signature Cocktails:

The Classy Anne - gin, lemon, maraschino liquer, and creme de violet

Kinsley's Main Squeeze - vodka, lemon, curcao, and grenadine

The James - bourbon, maraschino liquer, orange, and angostura bitters

---

#KJ Girls! The Kinsley James Teams from Walnut Creek and Los Angeles are all a huge part of the business and help make Kinsley James a success one bride at a time!

Special thanks to Amanda Tonkin with A Touch of Grace for helping plan this event and coordinating such a special night for Kinsley James! We couldn't have done it without you!

---

KJ Owners Amber Silva and Dawn Silva Rigney

Amber Silva (on left) & Dawn Silva Rigney (on right)

Special thanks to everyone who took part in our Opening Party and made celebrating our new location such a blast!

• Anne Barge and Shawne Jacobs
• Anne Sage
• A Touch of Grace Events - Amanda Tonkin & Maria Pereira
• Jonathan Pimental Catering
• Sweet E's Bakery
• Posh Peony
• Creative DNA
• Petite Pomme Design
• Ruby Press
• Credo Beauty
• Joe Kim Studio
• Paper Productions
• Spoke & Weal
• Signature Party Rentals
• Found Vintage Rentals
• Bartenders Suzy Franco & Nick Estep
• Our models
• Our Family and Friends

We are so excited to work with our Southern California brides and can't wait to make some #KJbrides in West Hollywood!

Make an appointment at our new location by calling (323) 337-4305 or emailing us at la@kinsleyjames.com

New Liz Martinez Gowns!

We have some beautiful new Liz Martinez gowns that arrived at our Walnut Creek store! These four sought after gowns are now available for you to try on! Scroll down to view these dresses or just click HERE to make an appointment, because who can resist!?

Colette

Lucia

Graciella

Sofia

Top Inspirational Wedding Blogs

Coming up with wedding ideas and creating visions of your big day can be such a headache! We've compiled a list of our FAVORITE and most inspirational wedding blogs that will help steer you down the right path when you get stuck.

 

1. 100 Layer Cake

100 Layer Cake captures not only weddings, but other celebratory events like birthdays, baby showers, and more! They collaborate with talented creatives and supply their readers with DIY projects, wedding ideas, and showcase real, beautiful brides on their magical wedding days. 

"Our uniquely curated content resonates deeply with our loyal audience of brides, industry professionals, and women who love a well-styled life."

Real Bride Marianne

 

2. Style Me Pretty

Style Me Pretty has become one of the main wedding blogs in recent years, featuring real brides, inspirational wedding themes, and even an advice section to help you plan through the details of your wedding. Abby Larson, editor and founder of Style Me Pretty, has a creative eye for spotting the most chic and style centric wedding inspirations. For all things wedding related, Style Me Pretty offers many resources for the bride-to-be, whether you're just starting out or you're finishing your last touches.

3 Common Wedding Fears and How to Beat Them

3. Green Wedding Shoes

Green Wedding Shoes focuses on showcasing all different types and styles of weddings. "Whether you’re dreaming of an intimate wedding on a farm, a weekend camping adventure or a handmade wedding in a loft, we love them all!" The main goal of GWS is to showcase love--the foundation of the GWS blog itself. Jen and Jason founded GWS after they got married themselves and spotted a gap in the wedding blog industry. It is from this base that GWS is able to generate inspiration and insight on how to bring your dream wedding to life!

Lauren and Brenden's Wedding

 

4. Grey Likes Weddings

Grey Likes Weddings is an inspirational wedding platform that will guide you through every step of the wedding planning process. From the beginning of your engagement to your honeymoon, Grey Likes has an abundance of tips, inspiration, and advice on how to create that image in your head! Lady Grey, stylist extraordinaire Summer Watkins has an eye for classic, sophisticated and timeless weddings that she compiles and blogs for the well-styled bride.

"In a world of muted tones and watercolor, the Grey Likes brand is a refreshing, fun, and unexpected approach to wedding inspiration!"

Sam and Zach's Wedding

5. ruffled blog

Ruffled Blog is a must-see for the always-on-trend bride. Ruffled Blog showcases daily inspirations, wedding hacks, and a complete list of vendors by location. They blog many great ideas for throwing all your different wedding parties--engagement parties, bridal showers (see below), bachelor(ette) parties and more! Ruffled Blog also started their own wedding recycling program, Recycle Your Wedding, which allows newlyweds to buy and sell gently loved wedding decor right online!

Bridal Shower Brunch Ideas - Mimosa Bar!

6. The Bridal Theory

Saving the best for last, The Bridal Theory offers inspiration in all areas of the bridal industry--beauty, fashion, boudoir, florals, and much more! For DIY projects, creative engagement shoots, or inspiration boards, head on over to The Bridal Theory to gain a clear concept on all things wedding related.

"Our goal for couples is a beautiful and joyous experience planning their special day,  surrounded by top notch vendors and experts in the wedding industry."

---

Written by Samantha Townsend

5 Tips to Reduce Wedding Stress

We get it, wedding planning is STRESSFUL! Saying yes to the dress is just a minute detail in the whole grand scheme of planning your wedding. To make the best out of planning your big day, we've covered 5 tips to reduce stress during all the wedding madness!

Real KJ bride Courtney | Photo by Danielle Poff

1. Define specific times for wedding planning

As with anything stressful in life, you must be able to put aside your worries and concerns and take a breather. Set a defined time each week or each day dedicated to planning your wedding. This will allow you to completely focus on planning your special day. When that time is up, put everything aside and allow yourself to relax on all the bridal business and tend to other aspects of your life. Practicing this will help to compartmentalize the stresses of your planning yet still keep the ball rolling on all the wedding preparation.

Real KJ bride | Photo by Vivian Sachs

2. Have a separate calendar

Having a whole separate planner/schedule solely for your wedding planning is an absolute must to keep organized during all the mess. Preparing ahead and planning out dates, making to do lists, and checking things off will help to keep your head on your shoulders and your stress levels down. The more you plan out in advance, the more relaxed you will be closer to the big date!

Click here to purchase this Kate Spade wedding planner!

3. Don't be afraid to delegate

A lot of wedding stress comes from the bride feeling overwhelmed with ALL the different hats she has to wear during the process. There are so many aspects that make up a wedding, and to relieve some of these stressors, it's crucial that you delegate some of these tasks. Of course you want to be apart of every little detail, but to relieve stress, you can't possibly do it all. Delegate tasks like picking up items, ordering materials online, or dealing with unexpected problems with vendors. This will lift a lot off your plate, so you can focus on the big ticket decisions. 

Real KJ bride Stephanie | Photo by Aimi Duong

4. Remember, nothing and no one is perfect

It's easy to get wrapped up in all the details of the wedding, but you have to remember to keep realistic expectations. Nothing is perfect, and it's important to continuously step back from all the madness to keep things in perspective. When you're feeling overwhelmed or not everything is turning out how you envisioned it, take a break. Do something you love to do. Read a book. Go on a walk. Do anything else that will allow you to look at your wedding day from a different lens. Everything will come together in the end, and it's important to realize that not everything will turn out exactly how you envisioned--but usually better.

Real KJ bride Julie | Photo by Ultraspective

5. Stay positive!

Every step of planning your wedding should be thought of positively. Be thankful for even the hectic and crazy times. When you look back, you'll realize that all those little moments, good and bad, are what made your wedding YOURS! In the end, it's about your future husband, your family and friends, and your future family. Keep a positive mindset throughout all the planning and enjoy even the little things that don't turn out so perfectly. Keeping a healthy attitude throughout the planning is what will make everything so special and memorable on your wedding day!

Real KJ bride Shari | Photo by Ana & Jerome

-Written by Samantha Townsend

Popping the Question to your Bride Tribe

Bridesmaids are a huge part of your wedding. They help you plan, celebrate, and stay calm throughout all the wedding stress! More and more, we're seeing new and creative ways to pop the question to your clan of bridesmaids. Whether you do it big or keep in minimal, it's important to make this a special and personal moment. Here are some ideas to get you started!

---

1. Customized champagne bottles

DigiBuddhaShop offers such unique gifts to offer your bridesmaids. What's better than a customized champagne bottle for your friends to enjoy over a girl's night?! There are many label options the website offers, starting at only $12 per bottle!

DigiBuddha-- Click here to view all their wonderful patterns!

---

2. Robes

This is the perfect time to give your bridesmaids a cute, satin robe to wear during the pre-wedding hair and makeup session! Pictures in your robes together will be a highlight of your wedding. Plus, how CUTE are these?!

 Click here to view the other patterns!

---

3. Compact Mirrors

These customized compact mirrors are perfect for your girls! This is something they can hold onto forever and be reminded of your friendship for years to come.

You can find the Etsy link here, where you can buy 6 customized compacts for $57!

---

4. Jewelry

What girl doesn't love a nice pair of earrings?! Especially ones that could go with their future bridesmaid dress! ForTheMaids has different colors, styles, and types of jewelry, all geared toward gifts to your loved ones throughout all your wedding festivities. They even have jewelry for your mother and soon-to-be mother-in-law!

Find this pair, along with many other options and sayings, on Etsy by clicking here.

---

5. Proposal Time!

It's finally time to ask your tribe if they accept your proposal of being your bridesmaid! After putting all your gifts into a gift box, a thoughtful card, like this one from Zazzle, is a nice (and darling) gesture that hardly anybody can say no to!

Find these adorable cards here, with other color options and customizable sayings on the backside!

---

By Samantha Townsend

Spring 2018 Bridal Trends

After a busy week in New York City attending Bridal Fashion Week, owners and bridal extraordinaires, Amber and Dawn share their views on what's new in the bridal world. Blown away from the Spring 2018 collections that were released, they noticed many unique trends on the runway for the season.

Sparkle, Sparkle, Sparkle!

The Spring 2018 bridal collections took everyone by surprise this year in NYC. "Thinking the trends were going to go entirely simple, clean and classic this market, bridal designers stunned everyone with SPARKLE! It was a tug of war between clean and sparkle like you've never seen before," says Amber.

Galia Lahav - Photo via The Knot

Galia Lahav - Photo via Brides Magazine

---

Victorian Influences

Designers like Galia Lahav and Idan Cohen embraced styles from the timeless and distinctive Victorian era. Everything from "ruffles, high collars and dramatic shoulders were seen on the runway this week," says Dawn. Not surprisingly, this daring twist turned many heads this past week in NYC.

Galia Lahav - Photo via The Knot

Galia Lahav - Photo via The Knot

Idan Cohen - Photo via Brides Magazine

Marchesa - Photo via Vogue Magazine

---

Sleeves are here to stay

Sleeves have not left the bridal world yet and were seen all over NYC this past weekend! Often paired with a high neck, playing off the Victorian trend as shown above, we're excited to see a beautiful new twist on the long sleeved wedding gown this season.

Idan Cohen - Photo via Brides Magazine

Idan Cohen - Photo via Brides Magazine

Marchesa - Photo via Vogue Magazine

Galia Lahav - Photo via Brides Magazine

---

Sixties Influences

A trend that was very prominent this collection was a very 60's influenced style. Models donned the runway with "beehive buns and long white gloves paired with a more classic styled gown," says Amber. Designers Anne Barge and Anna Maier both displayed these 60's inspired styles that embody an Audrey Hepburn-esque feel.

Anne Barge - Photo via Brides Magazine

Anne Barge - Photo via Vogue Magazine

Anne Barge - Photo via Vogue Magazine

Anna Maier - Photo via WWD Magazine

Anna Maier - Photo via WWD Magazine

---

a touch of Black

Black is the new white! Accents of black were all over the runways this season in NYC! From belts to jewelry to the trimming of the gown, black is a color no one was expecting to see this much of. "Marchesa incorporated a subtle, but consistent amount of black accessories throughout their Spring 2018 collection," says Dawn. Needless to say, it's a bold, but very edgy move!

Marchesa - Photo via Vogue Magazine

Marchesa - Photo via Vogue Magazine

Romona Keveza - Photo via The Knot

Justin Alexander - Photo via Brides Magazine

---

Bows, Bows, and More Bows!

Rivini, Marchesa, Anna Maier, and Blue Willow all complemented their gowns with BOWS--ranging from huge eloquent bows to smaller accent bows. A one-of-a-kind look that we're happy to see this time around!

Marchesa - Photo via Amber Silva

Marchesa - Photo via Amber SIlva

Marchesa - Photos via Vogue Magazine

Oscar de la Renta - Photo via Brides Magazine

Rivini by Rita Vinieris - Photo via Brides Magazine

---

By Samantha Townsend

Pop Up Sample Sale in Los Angeles March 12th!

To keep our inventory fresh and make room for new gowns, we are having a HUGE sample sale with 60+ gowns and accessories marked down as low as 70% off! Dresses will be priced from $800 - $7,500! 

Doors open at 10am, there will be no appointments. Brides will be seen on a first come, first served basis so plan to get here early. We will have a limited seating area inside.

The sale will take place from 10 am until 2 pm at a pop up location on March 12th.  The address for the pop up is 1288 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA.  

Each bride will be limited to 40 minutes. You will have an experienced consultant with you that will help you figure out what you are looking for and help pull gowns for you to try. The rooms will be limited to 3 gowns at a time.

Only sample sale gowns will be on display. To try on full price gowns please set an appointment for a different date.

We recommend only bringing 1-2 guests, the ones that will help you make your decision.

Gowns are sold as is and alterations are not included. We will give you information on local seamstresses to help.

Sample sale gowns are floor models that range in size from a bridal size 4 to 18. We do not offer holds on these gowns so being early for the sale is recommended.

Payments will be made in full at time of purchase and the gown will be yours to take home that day! We will only be accepting cash or credit card.  

Sample sales are for experienced shoppers, if you are still trying to figure out the shape and style you would like for your dress, we recommend trying on gowns before you come to the sale.

Come ready to buy! This is the only time to get a steal of a deal on our gowns and we can’t wait to make you a #kjbride!

Also! Stay tuned for the Grand Opening of our second location at 8231 West 3rd Street in West Hollywood at the end of March!  

For any questions, please email us at la@kinsleyjames.com or call us at 323-337-4305. 

Los Angeles, we are coming for you!

We are so excited to be opening our second location on beautiful West 3rd St. in West Hollywood!  We can't wait to help the Los Angeles brides shop for their wedding dress!  For any inquiries, please email LA@kinsleyjames.com.  We plan to open by March.  See you soon! 

KJ Bride - Kristine

Sebastian and Kristine's wedding at Calamigos Ranch in the heart of Malibu Wine Country has everything we love about weddings - elegance, classic touches and top-notch style! Kristine wore KJ Designer, Angel Rivera, for her flawless event. This trumpet lace gown with a horsehair trim skirt captures this bride's exquisite taste. Through the lens of Heather East Photography, let's take a glimpse into Kristine's perfect day!

Dress | Angel Rivera from Kinsley James Couture Bridal

Photography | Heather East Photography

Venue | Calamigos Ranch

Hair & Makeup | Marissa Garcia from Bliss Bridal Beauty

Floral Design | Tiana Scharf from The Exotic Green Garden

Coordination |  Angela Mitchell from Love & Elegance

Liz Martinez Haute Couture

Liz Martinez Haute Couture

We are beyond excited to have the stunning gowns by Israeli designer, Liz Martinez, at Kinsley James for one weekend only! The use of unexpected materials, unconventional cuts, strict attention to details and ability to flow with current trends, have placed Liz Martinez as one of the most significant, fresh, and innovative designers in Israel.
 
Brides will have the opportunity to try on and shop the Liz Martinez collection October 30 - November 1 as well as receive 10% off. Appointment times are very limited due to the high demand! 
 

To book an appointment
Call 925.330.9228 or
Email info@KinsleyJames.com

 

To see more of the collection, visit our Pinterest.

KJ BRIDE - Chelsea

Chelsea was married September 13, 2015 on the lakeside of beautiful Tahoe at West Shore Cafe in Alyne by Rita Vinieres. It was the first dress she tried on during a Rivini trunk show and she fell in love instantly! After 15 other dresses, nothing compared! 

We asked her if she could share some wedding tips with our brides. Here are some of the tips she had that made her day special!

Make sure to take the time to thank people throughout the process (parents, bridesmaids, groomsmen, etc.). They are your support system, they invest a lot of time and money to make your day special. Make sure they know you're grateful! 

---

Entertain the idea of doing a first look. Not only was this such a special moment between Anthony and I, but it allowed us to spend more time dancing and mingling later in the evening.

---

Write your own vows if you feel it is right for you. Anthony insisted on it and the ceremony ended up being one of the most special parts of the night. Hearing each other's words was incredible. 

---

Take 10 minutes alone as a newly married couple to take it all in. Anthony and I went out to the pier and just took in the whole experience from the first look, the ceremony, the decor, the guests, our family, the dancing and each other - it goes by so fast. 

---

DANCE YOUR BOOTY OFF! 

I keep telling people there really truly isn’t anything I would change about our wedding day. The most important part of the day was that I was marrying my best friend. Although I couldn’t have been more ecstatic about how the décor came together, my most favorite parts of our day were because of the amazing people surrounding us.

Dress & Veil | Alyne by Rivini from Kinsley James Couture Bridal

Photography | Mag B Photography

Venue | West Shore Cafe

Hair & Makeup | Greco Rose Beauty / Kari Addison Beautiful

Floral Design | Art in Bloom

Rentals | Classic Party Rentals

We're Hiring!

We are looking for a new addition to our wedding-loving team! Our consultants work directly with the brides, from helping to find their dream dress all the way up to the wedding day. We want to make sure each bride has the Kinsley James experience and leaves here happier than when they came in. The ideal consultant is upbeat, passionate, team player, hard working, tech savvy, personable and self motivated. 

We are looking to fill this position asap! Our consultants must have sales experience, love leopard (haha) and knowledge of the bridal industry is a plus. Weekends are required especially during trunk shows which are very common August - April. 

To apply please send a resume and cover letter to info@kinsleyjames.com with the following included...

1. Why do you want this job, what interests you about bridal?

2. Share a customer service experience and how you think that will help in this position. 

3. What are your salary expectations? 

4. What skill or quality can you bring to add to our team? 

KJ BRIDE - Kim

Kim knew what she wanted as soon as she walked through Kinsley James doors. Inka by Tulle New York was exactly what she envisioned for her rustic summer wedding at Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate. The warm ivory tone of the Chantilly lace paired perfectly with the yellow and gray color palette of her wedding. 

Photographer - Esmeralda Franco

Build-A-Bride by Heidi Elnora

We are SO excited to announce the newest designer to Kinsley James Couture Bridal is the lovely Heidi Elnora! Build-A-Bride by Heidi Elnora is a fun way to create a personalized look for your wedding day! Bride's start with a basic silhouette and from their can build up their gown with a wide range of accessories. The Build-A-Bride collection has it all from keyhole backs, tulle skirts, beaded belts to lace peplums, brides truly can create a one of a kind look with this collection. This video shows the Coco Marie gown transformed into eleven different looks! 

Heidi also has a new show on TLC, Bride By Design, which shows off her Build-A-Bride collection from her flagship store in Alabama ! The show aires Friday nights, so stay tuned! To learn more about Heidi's show, Bride by Design on TLC check out this interview she did with The Knot! 

---

Heidi Elnora and the complete Build-A-Bride Collection will be at Kinsley James Couture Bridal May 15 - 17! Heidi will be here all weekend to help style brides and is offering 10% off!  Call 925-330-9228 for an appointment time! 

#KJTurnsTwo

This past weekend we celebrate our 2nd birthday with a party celebrating all the brides, vendors, friends and family who have helped us get this far. We are so thankful for each bride that walks through our door and every vendor who recommends us. The big day could not have come together with out the help of these talented people....

Our feature designer, Rivini, shot by Olivia Smartt Photography! 

A special MAJOR thank you to

Petite Pomme Design for design & coordination!

And to all the vendors who helped make tonight possible:

The Lighthouse at Glen Cove

Olivia Smartt Photography

Red Door Catering

Angel’s Petals

Pigment & Parchment

I Do Dry Style

Makeup By Adele

Nottingham Cellars

Giggle & Riot FunBooth

Kitty Wong Pastry Shop

Treble Maker Entertainment

Classic Party Rentals, Napa

Pretty Please Bake Shop

Apres Soleil Tanning

Sweet Puff Candy

Candy Crush Linens

Lola’s Confetti Shop

A Touch of Grace

Sweet & Crafty

In-Store Goodies: 

KayCakes Bakery

Enchantment Floral

Thank you to the gorgeous models wearing Rivini gowns & Untamed Petals accessories.

Lastly, thank you to our family and friends for their help and support, especially Donald & Martha Silva! 

Taylor's Galia Lahav Appointment

Meet Taylor, a recent #KJbride who fell head over heels for a stunning Galia Lahav  gown from their most recent collection, Tales of Jazz Age! Taylor brought along her photographer, Tony Chu,  so she can always relive the moment of finding her dream dress along side her closest friends and family. 

From Taylor - "What I learned from trying on was best described by this 'It's nice to have people around you that you love when trying on the gowns! Take their advice and listen to them, but ultimately the decision is yours. Whatever you feel best about is the choice you should make.' 

A lot of people have told me they ended up choosing the first dress they tried on. I didn't quite believe it that until the same thing happened to me!  And a small side note. The moment [looking for THE dress] is bigger and more important than you could ever imagine and hiring a professional photographer to capture it has been the best decision I've made so far!"

The moment Taylor knew it is was 'The One'.

Lisa #KJvip Bride!

A few months ago a bride-to-be came to us with an idea of having the store to herself to try on gowns for a more intimate shopping experience. We naturally loved the idea but of course wanted to put our own spin on the event- and that is how the #KJvip appointment service was created! Meet Lisa, our very first #KJvip bride, and also an A Touch of Grace bride; she is sharing some tips from her swanky shopping experience and details every bride-to-be should do before heading into their dress appointments!  

Every girl dreams of the day she gets to try on wedding dresses, and Kinsley James made this a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. Out of all the fun aspects of wedding-planning, this was the thing I was looking forward to the most. Before my VIP appointment, I made sure to check out the Kinsley James website to find out which designers they carry. Then I went to each individual designer’s website to view their collections. I highly recommend every bride-to-be do this. I knew I wanted lace and I found that they carry Sareh Nouri, who makes some gorgeous lace dresses. While looking at the Kinsley James website I found out they would actually be having a Sareh Nouri trunk show in October where they would be bringing in additional dresses that they don’t normally carry. I made sure to make my VIP appointment for the weekend of the trunk show so that I would get to try on these special dresses as well as get some expertise from the designers rep who would also be there that weekend.

I arrived at Kinsley James and was immediately whisked away to get my hair done. I got a beautiful up-do and almost felt like this was my wedding day! I invited my mom and my Matron of Honor to share this special experience with me. I kept my group small because I didn’t want too many different opinions to cloud my judgment or steer me away from any dress I really loved. I was a little nervous that they might be pretty opinionated and not like some of my choices, but everyone was so complimentary, even when I came out in a lavender ball gown! The rep gave me some great information and even gave me suggestions of what accessories to wear. Katie made me feel so comfortable and helped me pick out so many great options to try. As soon as I slipped into “The One”, I knew I had found my wedding dress. We paired it with a custom veil and I could not have been any more excited. And the best part was, my photographer captured the whole thing so I will have these photos to cherish for years to come. I highly recommend any bride to book the VIP appointment at Kinsley James for the most unique and one-of-a-kind wedding dress experience that you will never forget.

Photography - Courtney Yee, Photoflood Studio

Hair - Taylor Cercone, I Do Dry Style

Custom Desserts - Kitty Wong Pastry Shop

Cake Pops - Pops by Lisa (the bride is also an amazing baker!)

Flowers - Angel's Petals 

For more information on pricing & booking your own #KJvip appointment, email us info@kinsleyjames.com

January #KJsale

To keep our inventory fresh and make room for new gowns, we are having a HUGE sample sale with 60+ gowns and accessories marked down as low as 70% off! Dresses will be priced from $300 - $3,500! 

Doors open at 10am, there will be no appointments. Brides will be seen on a first come, first served basis so plan to get here early. We will have a seating area so you don’t have to wait in the cold.

Each bride will be limited to 40 minutes. You will have an experienced consultant with you that will figure out what you are looking for and help pull gowns for you to try. The rooms will be limited to 3 gowns at a time.

Only sample sale gowns will be on display. To try on full price gowns please set an appointment for a different date.

We recommend only bringing 1-2 guests, the ones that will help you make your decision.

Gowns are sold as is and alterations are not included. We will give you information on local seamstresses to help.

Sample sale gowns are floor models that range in size from a bridal size 4 to 18. We do not offer holds on these gowns so being early for the sale is recommended.

Payments will be made in full at time of purchase and the gown will be yours to take home that day. We will only be accepting cash or credit card.  

Sample sales are for experienced shoppers, if you are still trying to figure out the shape and style you would like for your dress, please set up a regular appointment by calling 925-330-9228.

If you are unable to attend the sample sale, we can do phone orders and will ship for an additional fee.

Come ready to buy! This is the only time to get a steal of a deal on our gowns and we can’t wait to make you a #KJbride! 

Galia Lahav - Tales of Jazz Age Party!

Being one of few stores to carry the coveted Galia Lahav Haute Couture collection we know we have to really impress not only our brides but Galia with how we showcase the gowns. Before we went to New York for Bridal Fashion Week in October we had already begun the planning for our party with an art deco vibe, so when the collection was debuted we were thrilled that it is based of the Jazz Era! Not to mention Petite Pomme Design had already set our holiday window install with metallics to play up the gold details for the big event! Everything was falling together perfectly! 

A little bit of the window display created by Petite Pomme Design especially for us! 

We were lucky enough to have Brian MacStay shoot the event. His work has a dark, sexy edge to it that fits well with Galia's collections. For store decor we love to go all out, so we partnered with A Touch of Grace , our sister wedding coordinating company, to finalize details. They created gorgeous gold art deco invitations that were mailed to some of our closest friends in the industry! Between Enchantment Florals berry arrangements, A Touch of Graces attention to detail and Petite Pomme's metallic fringe throughout the store, we were ready for a great night! Champagne from Nottingham Cellars and custom cocktails were poured along with delicious sweets from Kitty Wong Pastry Shop, who is basically a culinary artist! 

Models were posed on our runway all night, the guests loved every minute of taking in the beauty! The two looks that stole the night were Katharina (the dress is named after Sharon; the lead designers muse & model) which has geometric placed beading that fully embodies the Jazz Era and Marilyn from the Moonstuck evening wear collection! The black gown was a complete show stopper! 

We could not have asked for a better turn out, many of our brides who had appointments for the trunk show loved being able to see the gown they had purchased modeled in person! We cannont wait for our next event or to see what Galia comes up with next! 

The next Galia Lahav Haute Couture trunk show is January 9-11! Please call us (925-330-9228) today to set up an appointment to try on the gowns from Tales of Jazz Age as well as past favorites! 

A huge THANK YOU to the team behind the party....

Dresses - Galia Lahav Haute Couture 

Photography - Brian MacStay Photography

Holiday Decor - Petite Pomme Design 

Hair - Taylor from I Do Dry Style 

Linens - Napa Valley Linens 

Makeup - Adele Nader

Desserts - Kitty Wong Pastry Shop 

Invites - A Touch of Grace

KJ Bride - Emily

Meet Emily, a fun loving blonde and recent newlywed; she was married this past September in Amahlia by Rivini which fit her outdoor ceremony with blush details perfectly. Emily is sharing some of her top tips with future KJ brides, and trust me, they are good! 

1.       Hire people that are not only talented and completely understand your aesthetic but that also have positive energy!! You are with them all day and you want to not only enjoy them as a person but have fun as well. Ex Hair and makeup, especially photographer. I literally cried when my photographer arrived when I was getting ready b/c we had bonded so much and she just made the experience even more special for both Brant and I and all of our wedding guests.

2.       Don’t just assume people know how you want everything set up, be VERY VERY specific if it matters to you.

3.       Stop and pause several moments throughout the big day to soak it all in!!! It goes SO fast.

4.       Create a playlist for when you and all your girlfriends are getting ready! Setting the vibe is so important, and having someone set up a beverage and food station with different hydrating fruits and healthy snacks was a huge help.

5.       Have your MOH handle your cellphone for the majority of the time leading up to the wedding, so many people call for directions or very random things and it can be kinda stressful. Have her take the stress off of your shoulders.

6.       As far as dress shopping, don’t try on too many dresses!! And find a place ( Kinsley James ) that has a welcoming, elegant, and fun atmosphere. Its not often you get to try on beautiful gowns that make you feel like you have never felt with all your most favorite friends and family surrounding you with love and admiration.

7.       Don’t go to Pinterest crazy! I think keeping things classic and simple with little fun touches of ideas from Pinterest is the way to go. Try to make it your own, and original!!!

Emily added this gorgeous pale pink David Yurman ring to her wedding attire. We were beyond obsessed! It is shown with the earrings she also wore and her grandmother's hankie that was gifted her for the big day. 

Dress - Amahlia by Rivini

Photographer - Stacey Pentland 

For more photos check our Kinsley James Bride Pinterest!