News about our Store Click here for Chatfields link at CityVoter Chatfields has received the St. Louis, 2010 Best Bridal Store Award from KTVI's CityVoter. A special Thank You to all the brides that wrote such wonderful reviews of the store. Click here for Chatfields link on OneWed Chatfields has received the 2009 Best Bridal Store Award from One Wed. A special Thank You to all the brides that wrote such wonderful reviews of the store. OneWed.com featured Modest Couture in their blog, December 15th, 2009. (Click here for link to OneWed.com) A Modest Bride: Modesty has evolved over the course of American History. Showing too much ankle was once considered immodest. Over the past several decades however wedding gowns have become more revealing. In fact it’s only been the last 10-15 years that strapless wedding gowns have become the conventional bridal fashion. As a result, modest wedding dresses have become more difficult to find in bridal stores. Brides must envision what their gown could look like with costly alterations to raise necklines and add sleeves as most bridal stores don’t even carry sample dresses with sleeves, unless you count the stained 1980’s sample gowns in the back room. Many religions have modesty as the fabric of their beliefs such the Jewish Orthodox, Latter Day Saints, Pentecostal, Islamic and Conservative Christians. These brides cannot wear a strapless gown in their temple, church or mosque. A jacket is not an accepted solution. There are also many brides that don’t have religious requirements but choose modesty to cover a scar, tattoo, or are simply not comfortable showing their arms. Modesty means different things to every bride, but a bride that chooses modesty should have options to look amazing! The Epoch Collection by Modest-Couture offers classic bridal gowns without sacrificing great style and elegance. These wedding gowns feature more modest necklines and sleeves of various lengths. The Conservative Christian St. Louis News and Events Publication, Metro Voice contacted owner, Debbie Welcher upon hearing they become an all-modest bridal shop. (Click here for the story) A very special and heartfelt Thank You to Mr. Day for writing such a nice article about the shop. The full article can be read here: Christian Modesty Article Celebrating a Successful Year in Business On July 23rd, 2009 Chatfields celebrated their One Year Anniversary with an Open House event. A special note from our Owner: "I was honored to have many faiths represented and the gracious Board Members of the Kirkwood/Des Peres Chamber of Commerce. Instead of a ceremonial ribbon cutting, we chose to cut a wedding cake. (A very special thank you to Knodels Bakery for making a 2 tier wedding cake.) Our friends in attendance were; The Church of Latter Day Saints, United Pentecostal, Bosnian Muslim, Catholic, and Christians. At one point, I looked around the room, and was thrilled to see my muslim friends speaking to an LDS friend about their modesty standards. I then considered our open house a total success." Standing from Left to right: Jim Wright, President of the Kirkwood/Des Peres Chamber, my dad Jerry, my mom Vyvyan, my wonderful husband Randy and (me) Debbie Welcher (Click Pic for video) NBC Morning News Story July 20, 2009 AirTime: 5:50am, 6:40am and 10:00am CT Heidi Glaus - reporter NBC's Morning News Show reported on owner Debbie Welcher's successful business! The video can be seen here: Video on Chatfields Boutique KSDK Reporter Heidi Glaus came to visit the store and loved the story that our owner quit her corporate career to open a business that is thriving and successful. When so many bridal stores are struggling. Our owner is serving a brides that choose modesty and had few options for their ceremony. (Click Pic for link) 07.05.2009 3:57 pm Modest bridal shop plans anniversary and invites area clergy By Dana King Special to the Post-Dispatch I had a wonderful visit this week with Debbie Welcher, owner and manager of Chatfield’s Boutique, specializing in modest bridal and formal gowns. Tim Townsend reported on her shop a year ago — click here. And I blogged about it: click here. Mary Pedersen - interfaith relations coordinator for my church - and I had an appointment with Debbie to discuss her upcoming anniversary celebration on July 23rd at 11 a.m. Debbie planned to meet us when the shop was closed last Monday, but a bride-to-be from Sullivan Missouri showed up. Debbie couldn’t turn her away having driven all that distance – the shop is located on Manchester, near to Sam’s Club and Hwy 270. We were delighted to watch Anna Cord, Sullivan Missouri Bride, try on gowns. Anna said other stores in St. Louis offered nothing to her that was not strapless or spaghetti straps and plunging necklines. I took photos with Anna’s permission. Debbie, who attends St. Louis Family Church in Chesterfield, Missouri, is on a personal mission to support women like Anna Cord who is Christian, but also women of all faiths, or no faith, who are given few choices at traditional retailers. In Debbie’s open letter inviting clergy to the anniversary, she writes: “I opened Chatfield’s Bridal Boutique with the foundation of my church motto: Honor God, Help People. I own an all-modest bridal store to serve women and girls who have been ignored in their quest for modesty. The one-year anniversary ribbon-cutting ceremony is a celebration of women of many faiths who choose modesty.” Many faiths indeed. Debbie sees Muslim, Christian and Jewish brides. She knows the special needs of each. For instance, in my faith, she understands that brides who attend our Temple must be dressed all in white, so she offers to alter dresses with silver beads and replace for white beads. Debbie and Anna discuss choices for modest gowns. I asked Debbie if different faiths define modesty in different ways. She said, “those who choose modesty choose the same”. They get it, in other words, perhaps intuitively. Debbie explained that women who choose modesty opt for sleeves – at minimum the capped variety – and necklines that are at least four fingers-width from the bottom of the collar bone and skirt lengths not shorter than just above the knee cap. Debbie hopes, and I do too, that clergy will use the event as an interfaith exchange to share their efforts to promote modesty. We can learn from each success. Debbie will have a table where clergy can display pamphlets or other communication material they use in this effort and she will ask the clergy to share experiences with each other. I would ask all readers of this blog who feel passionate about modesty to please spread the word about this anniversary to like-minded people and clergy. For more information, please contact Debbie Welcher at 314-965-6565. Anniversary Celebrating Modesty and Chatfield’s Boutique One Year Anniversary. Date: July 23rd. Time: 11a.m. Place: 2149 Barrett Station Rd., Des Peres, MO 63131 (Click here for link to OneWed.com) Plus Size Female Form- Because Every Girl Deserves Her Dream Wedding Dress Jun 16th 2009 8:21am | by Azure Special to OneWed by Debbie Welcher of Chatfields Boutique Photo: bridal's Glamour Plus As full figure brides are aware, many bridal boutiques do not carry sample sizes to try on in their size. The bridal industry, as with most designers, is influenced by smaller-sized brides. It’s all a bit confusing in a nation where the typical woman is a size 14, as very few designers feature plus size models to exhibit their bridal gowns. Often, a designer will offer their stunning designs up to size 26, but don't advertise this. As a result, curvy women must conceptualize their figure into the designs of a size 2 model. That’s why we are tickled with the Plus Size only Bridal TM’s Glamour Plus line. Not only do they create gowns exclusively for plus size brides, they take it a step further and show plus size models. The size 24 model shown in the first photo is absolutely gorgeous in this off-the-shoulder gown featuring a sweetheart neckline. The gown shimmers like liquid gold and hugs her curves with a ruching bodice. There are so many beautiful wedding dresses in this exclusively-plus-size line. So embrace every curve on your body (because you know that your fiance does), and find the dress of your dreams- even if you aren't a size 2! (Click here for link to OneWed.com) Vintage-Inspired Wedding Gown: Timeless and Elegant May 7th 2009 8:58am | by Azure Special Feature from Debbie Welcher of Chatfields Bridal Boutique Whether watching the stars on the red carpet or enjoying AMC’s Hit show Mad Men, we continue to be fascinated with Old Hollywood 50’s inspired glamour and elegance. The timeless beauty of these fashions is still relevant and popular almost 60 years later. Classic beauties like Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly or Jacqueline Kennedy remind us why the 1950’s fashion is timeless. The internet is abuzz with search phrases such as; 50’s inspired wedding gown, Vintage-inspired wedding gowns and old Hollywood inspired wedding gowns. Penelope Cruz was a vision in a gown by Balmain at the 2009 Oscar Awards Ceremony. She made the top best dressed on many lists. If you’re a bride interested in a look that you won’t regret in 20 years (recall puffy sleeves of the 80’s), consider a vintage inspired dress surely to be timeless for another 60 years and beyond. Show Me St. Louis March 5, 2009 AirTime: 3:15pm CT Dana Hendrickson - reporter Show Me St. Louis aired a piece on Chatfields unique bridal lines and our owner Debbie Welcher. We are thrilled for the opportunity to reach out to St. Louis brides. The video can be seen here: KSDK Show Me St. Louis March 5, 2009 story (Click Logo for story) St. Louis Catholic Review Christian Marriage - Supplement to the St. Louis Review Friday, February 13, 2009 Jennifer Brinker, Review Staff Writer "Wedding Shoppers pleased to find store with modest dresses" When Erika Kauling went shopping for her wedding gown, she spent an entire day visiting five different store – and came away from the experience disappointed. As someone who wears a larger size, “I didn’t want strapless. And that’s what everybody has”, said the 29 year old bride-to-be, who will be married to Mark Niemann on Nov. 28 at St. Anthony’s Parish in Beckemeyer, Ill. Enter Chatfields Boutique. After learning about the Des Peres bridal shop in a local newspaper, Kauling and her mom decided to give it a try. Owner Debbie Welcher’s slogan is “an unexpected wedding store,” featuring modest and vintage inspired gowns and other hard-to-find sizes. The full article can be read here: Christian Marriage Article Saint Louis Bride Magazine (Click Logo for story) Saint Louis Bride Magazine featured a fantastic wedding gown by Chatfields - and modest wedding gown story. LDS Today Online (Click Logo for story) LDS Today featured a story about Chatfields Modest Wedding Dresses - Modesty Sells! (Click Logo for story) 2009 Y98 MEGA WEDDING Congratulations to Liz and Ryan Bolen. We've had a wonderful time working with Liz. We even attended the wedding. (Click logo to MP3 Format) January 21, 2009 at 8:30am Owner, Debbie Welcher visited the Y98 Radio station with the Morning crew (Guy, Courtney and Jen) (Takes a minute to load) Great Day In St. Louis (Click Logo for video) 2009 Y98 MegaWedding Couple, Liz and Ryan were on the Great Day in St. Louis studio and mentioned Chatfields. (Click Logo for story) WE MADE THE NEW YORK TIMES! Associated Press Release Wednesday, December 10, 2008 Betsy Taylor, Reporter "Hard-To-Find Dresses for Unconventional Brides" Chatfields, which bills itself as ''an unexpected wedding store'' features modest, plus-size, eco-friendly, maternity and other specialty gowns. Its owner, Debbie Welcher, notes that not all brides are seeking a size 6 strapless couture gown. While those with unconventional -- or very traditional -- needs may have to do a little more homework, there are places where they, too, can find the dress of their dreams. Click the New York Times Logo for the full story ABC News Etertainment (Click Logo for story) AP Story about Chatfields Boutique, Hard-to-Find Dresses for Unconventional Brides Philadelphia - Philly.com (Click Logo for story) AP Story about Chatfields Boutique, Hard-to-Find Dresses for Unconventional Brides Online Source for Apostolic News (Click Logo for story) St. Louis Bridal Store caters to "Modest" Buyers Chatfields Boutique, located in Des Peres, Missouri, opened its doors in July 2008 with the taglin “an unexpected wedding store.” The unique shop carries hard-to-find wedding attire, like gowns for pregnant brides and extremely modest dresses. Some of the gowns are classed as “Modesty Style” or “Temple Ready”, featuring high necklines and long sleeves. These bridal dresses are targeted at Jews and Christians who require brides to wear modest apparel for their wedding ceremonies. Debbie Welcher, the propietor of the shop, is a member of a St. Louis evangelical church. The store’s manager, Becky Bowers, says: “Every denomination has girls who want a church wedding and want to dress modestly. Jewish girls, Catholic girls, Pentecostal girls–in the Bible Belt, where there are lots of conservative Christian churches, we have a lot of customers.” (Click Logo for story) St. Louis Post-Dispatch Tuesday November 18, 2008 Gail Appleson, Business Reporter "Pregnant Brides find gowns at Chatfields Boutique" St. Louis Post Dispatch Business section highlights owner Debbie Welcher from IT to TLC. Welcher, who was a senior vice president and partner in Fleishman-Hillard's information technology department at the time, said she was moved by the women's anguished voices and began researching maternity bridal gowns. It didn't take long for her to realize that few, if any, stores offered bridal gowns for "plus sizes" or modest styles for religious ceremonies. "I understand frustrating situations," she said. "It's all about helping people. Whether it's computers or retail, to me it's the same thing." The full article can also be read here: ST. Louis Post Dispatch (Click Logo for story) St. Louis Post-Dispatch Saturday August 11, 2008 Tim Townsend, Religion Editor "You won't find barely-there gowns at this Bridal Shop" In the Faith section of the Post Dispatch, an article featured Chatfields Maternity, Modest and Temple Ready gowns. Welcher is catering to another underrepresented group of brides-to-be — those looking for what are called "Modesty Style" or "Temple Ready" wedding dresses. Such dresses, which often feature high necklines and long sleeves, are required for brides being married in some faiths or denominations whose houses of worship require modest dress. The full article can also be read here: ST. Louis Post Dispatch (Click Logo for Video) Bridal Boutique for Pregnant Brides On July 31, 2008 Chatfields Maternity Bridal line was featured on KTVI-St. Louis Fox Morning News program. Owner Debbie Welcher was interviewed by Randi Naughton and revealed three stunning Maternity Wedding gowns. (Click Logo for story) St. Louis Business Journal Week of July 19-24 2008 Shop Talk Article by Greg Edwards, "Finding a Niche" Debbie Welcher, who was a partner at Fleishman-Hillard, was driving to work one day when she heard a radio DJ reporting that 20 percent of all brides are pregnant when they get married. "Every line lit up with women calling in saying they had a terrible time buying a wedding dress. Some were crying," Welcher said. "I thought, 'I'm going to open a specialty store.'" And she has. Chatfields Boutique, specializing in gowns for pregnant and plus-size brides, has opened at 2149 Barrett Station Road in Des Peres. The full article can also be read here: ST. Louis Business Journal