Happy Summer to all of our brides, tribes and vendors! We have been hard at work on a special project that we are excited to announce, plus an innovative new way to shop our annual sample sale this year. But first, we'd like to introduce you our exciting new branch of the Camille's of Wilmington family tree: The Camille's Collective!
What is the Camille's Collective?
We're so glad you asked... :) While Camille’s of Wilmington is best known for our selection of designer wedding dresses and formal attire, our heartbeat is the amazing community we share with our clients and their families, neighboring small businesses, and local industry professionals. A collaborative effort, The Camille’s Collective is a creative initiative that echoes this heartbeat, and is powered by our friends at Elite Marketing & Media. These two companies, both female-owned and operated, were first introduced while working on multiple philanthropic endeavors locally and have since supported one another in business for the better part of the last decade. Today, we are thrilled to embark on this collaborative journey in creativity that will bring our neighbors unique opportunities to support small businesses and cultivate a spirit of philanthropy throughout our community and beyond.
What is the Summer Sale & Bridal Market?
Every summer, Camille’s of Wilmington hosts a designer wedding dress sample sale in-store to make room for the next season’s assortment of dresses. On Saturday, July 8th, 2023 from 11am-3pm, The Camille’s Collective is combining our annual Summer Sale with our first ever Bridal Market at a special destination downtown – The Elia! During this event, countless designer wedding dresses will be priced at up to 75% off the original price, and select styles will be offered for as little as $99! Whether you take home a wedding dress that day or not, this is the perfect opportunity to mix and mingle with highly sought-after wedding industry professionals and get a taste of their services. Literally! We’ll have some of the area’s favorite local bites for you to enjoy, and Mister Bartender Port City will be serving up fresh libations while you shop the Bridal Market. Not to mention, Active DJ Entertainment will be spinning music live throughout the event! We’ll have several wedding industry pros set up throughout The Elia to help you check off your wedding to-do list, plus a few pop-up shops from select local retailers for a little extra fun and retail therapy! Most importantly, a portion of the proceeds from every ticket sold and every sample dress purchased that day will go to our neighbors in need at Safe Haven.
Who is Safe Haven?
Safe Haven is a 501c3 Non-Profit organization that provides food, clothing, shelter, services, and referrals to victims of domestic violence. Their purpose is to empower and teach self-sufficiency to the victims of domestic abuse and to help facilitate the restoration of a survivor’s power and control over their own lives.
Why Safe Haven?
While both men and women experience domestic violence, the majority of victims are women and young girls. According to The National Domestic Violence Hotline, 82% of all juvenile victims are female and 90% of adult rape victims are female – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. As a female-owned and operated endeavor, The Camille’s Collective has a heart for encouraging and empowering women of all ages in our community; and while we strive to apply this mindset with every woman that walks through our doors, we know there is more that can be done to help at-risk women behind closed doors, which is why we are honored to partner with Safe Haven locally for this event.
Where is The Elia?
The Elia is a wedding and special events venue located on Front Street in the heart of Downtown Wilmington, surrounded by local hotels, boutiques, cafés, restaurants, bars, and of course, the iconic and picturesque Riverwalk. Our guests will enjoy experiencing the historical architecture and fall in love with its coastal charm.
Are you as PUMPED about this as we are?!?!! To purchase your tickets, follow THIS LINK to snag yours, or visit the Camille's Collective Website for more information.
Local wedding vendors: Be sure to check out the Camille's Collective Website as well to see how you can be a part of this event! Please reach out ASAP to secure your spot, as we have limited the number of spots available per vendor category and they are going fast!
Stay tuned for more exciting boutique offerings and events via our Facebook and Instagram accounts, and as always, please feel free to contact us with any questions or ideas to make your experience the absolute best!
Until next time, friends!
XoXOxO,
Your Bridal Bestie <3