Archive for the ‘Events’ Category
Tuesday, February 12th, 2013

Image Consulting by Stephanie
Bridal Elegance is pleased to announce that Stephanie Piller is back from maternity leave! Stephanie just had her second baby girl. She is breeding her own clan of future beauty queens! She is married to Dr. Michael Piller who also assists Stephanie and her clients with health care, nutrition and fitness advice. Together they have 2 little girls. Landry Page and Maddex Palmer.
Stephanie is arguably the most qualified pageant coach in the state of Illinois. Having held titles such as “Runway Supermodel of the Year,” Ms. World Elite, and holding both the titles of Miss Illinois Galaxy, Ms. Illinois Galaxy and the coveted title of Ms. Galaxy International. Stephanie was also a professional print and runway model in NYC modeling for various designers and nine different swimwear lines.
Stephanie is also the official pageant coach for Miss Illinois America. Since taking over, she has helped both Hannah Smith and Megan Ervin to finish with a top ten placement at Miss America!
Stephanie will be hosting pageant seminars open to all systems every 4-6 weeks at Bridal Elegance and will be available to help pick out wardrobe following the seminar. The cost of the seminar is $125. Bridal Elegance carries such designers as Mac Duggal, Tony Bowls, Lenz Collection, Sherri Hill, and Allyce King Swim.
Don’t wait girls, spots with Stephanie are limited so sign up today before she is all booked up!
What everyone is saying about Stephanie:
“If you are looking for someone to help you refine and polish your image, Stephanie is the person for the job! She always offers an honest and highly experienced opinion, and she will give you the tools and knowledge that you need to feel confident onstage!”
-Audra Ferguson
“I had the absolute best coaching experience with Stephanie. She herself has been involved in pageantry for many years so she knows what each system is looking for in a girl. That’s why I chose her when I was making the transition from one pageant system to a completely different system. She makes you feel so confident on and off stage and gives you the best encouragement and support! She truly does the best at treating you like you are not only her client, but a part of her family!”
-Rachel Barter
“Thanks to [Stephanie] I have grown so much as a young woman and a titleholder. She has given me a higher level of confidence than I ever had before. The overall training she offers has helped in more ways than just pageants. She is an expert at preparing young women to compete in all phases of competition. I have come a long way in my last 3 years of competition and she certainly deserve a great deal of the credit. When it came down to picking the right pageant coach for me, I am confident that selecting Stephanie as my coach was the right choice for me. She welcomed me into her life and after ten minutes, I felt I had known you for years. I sincerely want to thank Stephanie for all the work that sge has done for me and getting me where I am today. I am sure that every client of hers shares with me – that Stephanie Piller is the # 1 pageant coach of all time. I love you, Stephanie!”
-Jennifer Carr
“I am so glad I made the decision to go to Stephanie’s Image Consulting. My first session was very successful and really helped to boost my self confidence. I was completely new to the pageant world and Stephanie helped me with everything from how to do my hair to what shoes to wear! I was Miss Pekin 2012, competing for the title of Miss Illinois 2012. I went into the competition very confident with my wardrobe, walk and stage presence. I plan on returning to Miss Illinois 2013 and will definitely go back to Stephanie to get stronger and build more confidence in the pageant world.”
-Falynn Lannert
Did you like this? Share it with your friends!
Posted in Bridal, Events, Homecoming, News, Pageant, Prom, Special Occasion, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Thursday, October 4th, 2012
On September 22, Bridal Elegance held the Bridal Elegance Pageant Prep and welcomed Miss USA 2012, Olivia Culpo,as a featured speaker to Bridal Elegance, the Midwest’s largest pageant retailer! Olivia spoke about her experiences in preparation for Miss Rhode Island and for Miss USA, as well as her current preparations for the Miss Universe pageant which will be held in December. Olivia was a very down to
earth girl with a great personality that everyone enjoyed, and Olivia was gracious enough to take photos and sign autographs with her fans. She was in awe at the hundreds of pageant gowns Bridal Elegance has to offer and tried on a few exclusive Mac Duggal pageant dresses to get ideas for Miss Universe. We were very blessed to have her at our store and hope to work with her and the organization in the future as they were all very wonderful guests
Our other featured speakers were Don Baker on Interview, Stephanie Piller on Walking and Image, Donna Donovan on Fitness, Dr. Michael Piller on Nutrition and the Soderstrom Institute on skincare/makeup/ and Plastic surgery, Allyce King Swimwear, and MacDuggal for their trunk show and their reps. We were also so pleased that Tim Kretschmann from the Pageant Cast was here for the entire weekend. Our pageant prep featured trunk shows from MacDuggal, Sherri Hill, the Lenz Collection and Tony Bowls, and a fashion show by Bridal Elegance and our great models- all visting queens!
Bridal Elegance wanted to thank all the visiting queens and contestants that attended and hoped
everyone had a great time! We look forward to watching all of you competing!!
Did you like this? Share it with your friends!
Tags:"We Dress the Best", Allyce King Swimwear, Bridal Elegance and Pageantry, Bridal Elegance Pageant Prep Event, Bridal Elegance Style Show Theater, Don Baker, Donna Donovan, Dr. Michael Piller, Fashion, Lenz Collection, Mac Duggal, Miss U.S.A. 2012, Miss Universe, Modeling, Olivia Culpo, Pageant Accessories, Pageant Cast, Pageant Dress Choice, Pageant Services, Sherri Hill, Soderstrom Skin Institute, Stephanie Piller, Tim Kretschmann, Tony Bowls
Posted in Events, News, Pageant | No Comments »
Thursday, October 4th, 2012
I can’t believe it is that time again, but here I am in
Atlanta buying thousands of prom gowns for Prom 2013.
By the end of the week, we will have looked at over 25,000
prom gowns, trying to narrow our selection down to the best for our clients.
Mermaid and ballgown styles are the hot trends for 2013 with
lots of color and sparkle.
Bridal Elegance, the Midwest’s Largest Bridal, Prom, and
Pageant Store, carries the largest selection of gowns in the entire Midwest and
stocks gowns in sizes 00-34.
Our experienced fashion stylists will definitely help to
find your perfect gown for Prom 2013.
I promise we will start posting pictures of new prom gowns
on Facebook, so be sure to add us.
Also, follow us on Twitter!
Here’s to a great Prom 2013!
Did you like this? Share it with your friends!
Tags:2013 Prom, 2013 Prom Trends, Ballgown, Bridal Elegance and Pageantry, Fashion, Mermaid, Prom Accessories, Prom Fashion, Prom Trends
Posted in Events, News, Prom | No Comments »
Saturday, September 1st, 2012
There are limited appointments remaining during Bridal Elegance’s Pageant
Prep Event on September 23rd to have Allyce King design a swimsuit for you! If
this is something you are interested in, do not hesitate to contact Alyssa at
1-855-4YR-GOWN or by email at info@bridalelegance.us.com or alyssah@bridalelegance.us.com!
Allyce King Bio:
Allyce King is the designer for the brand of
her namesake, Allyce King Swim. She has created custom competition suits for
contestants in several national pageant systems including Miss America, Miss
USA, Mrs. America, Mrs. United States, Ms. United States, Miss Galaxy, and Miss
Hooters International. A former competitor herself, Allyce studied the cuts and
lines that flatter the figure, and started designing for the most intimidating
part of pageant competition—fitness/swim, immediately after receiving a degree
in Fashion Design and Product Development from Stephens College. Pageants were
and now still are a huge part of her life, second only to her first love–Paddy,
Allyce’s energetic and spoiled yorkie!
Allyce King Swim is designed and sewn entirely
in the USA! Allyce King Swim is a pageant swimwear company with specialty cut
one and two-piece suits available in over 100 solid colors & mesh,
holograms, and prints. This season we are introducing the AKS Custom Color
Palette System ™, mixing fabrics for a color suited just for YOU!! Along with
choice of oversized rhinestone or metal hardware and genuine hand-placed
Swarovski ® crystals, clients receive a true customized competition suit from
Allyce King Swim. You can reach Allyce at
allyce@allyceking.com and follow on facebook at
Allyce King Swim.
Did you like this? Share it with your friends!
Tags:"We Dress the Best", Allyce King Swim, Allyce King Swimwear, Bridal Elegance and Pageantry, Bridal Elegance Divisions, Bridal Elegance Pageant Prep Event, Bridal Elegance Style Show Theater, Modeling, Pageant Accessories, Pageant Services
Posted in Events, News, Pageant | No Comments »
Saturday, September 1st, 2012
Itinerary for September 22 Event with Miss USA 2012, Olivia Culpo
10:00- 10:15: Miss USA 2012, Olivia Culpo- Appearance and Opening Remarks
10:15- 10:30: Soderstrom Skin Institute
10:30- 11:30: Don Baker, Interview Coach
11:30- 1:30: Meet …
and Greet Miss USA 2012, Olivia Culpo
(Also, lunch available for purchase on premises)
1:30- 2:00:
Donna Williams Donovan, Fitness Coach
2:00- 2:30: Dr. Michael Piller, Nutrition
2:30- 3:00:
Andrea Patrick Forte, Modeling/ Talent Agency & Publisher of Gladys Magazine
3:00- 3:15:
Stephanie Piller, Image Consultant/ Pageant Coach
3:00- 3:15:
Allyce King Swim, Designer Allyce King Talks About Suits
3:15- 4:00:
Bridal Elegance Fashion Show, Featuring Swim Suits, Evening Gowns, Fashion Wear and Cocktails
Tickets are selling out fast! Be sure to order them online before they are sold out!!
Click on the link below for easy reservations/ tickets:
http://www.bridalelegance.us.com/store/comersus_listItems.asp?idCategory=1291

Miss USA 2012, Olivia Culpo
Did you like this? Share it with your friends!
Tags:"We Dress the Best", Allyce King Swim, Andrea Patrick Forte, Bridal Elegance and Pageantry, Bridal Elegance Divisions, Bridal Elegance Pageant Prep, Bridal Elegance Style Show Theater, Donna Donovan, Fashion, Mac Duggal Pageant, Miss USA 2012, Modeling, Olivia Culpo, Pageant Accessories, Pageant Dress Choice, Pageant Services, Soderstrom Skin Institute, Stephanie Piller
Posted in Events, News, Pageant | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012

We just got back to work after being with all the Miss Illinois contestants at the Miss Illinois Scholarship Organization (Miss America). We drove down to Marion, Illinois early on Thursday morning so we would be there for the Miss Illinois Outstanding Teen Pageant, as we also dress her for the national competition. We were thrilled to also watch Maddie Marzella, Miss Chicago Outstanding Preteen be selected as Miss Illinois Outstanding Preteen. Maddie sings beautifully and is gorgeous!!!
The new Miss Illinois Outstanding Teen is Grace Khachatarian of Champaign, Illinois. For those of you who follow pageants, Grace was also Miss Illinois Outstanding Preteen. Grace is a wonderful ballet dancer and performed a beautiful dance and will definitely do well at the Nationals held in Orlando this summer. We definitely look forward to dressing her for nationals and getting to know her better!

The Miss Illinois Pageant had so many great contenders this year! April Strong, 2nd Runner Up, also won overall Evening Gown competition. We are so proud to have dressed April for this competition. She looked absolutely stunning and so regal. I know April has a great future in front of her in whatever she chooses. Jen Carr, 1st runner up, is so charming and pretty, and we definitely hope Jen comes back next year! I am sure the judges had a hard decision as all the finalists were outstanding.
We are so proud of Megan Ervin- our newly crowned Miss Illinois! She is stunning, articulate and talented, though I have to admit I am extremely jealous of her abs! Truly amazing!! I met Megan’s parents at the pageant, who are so nice and truly thrilled for their daughter.
We will soon begin the design phase with Mac Duggal for her national competition evening gown for Miss America in January!!! Stephanie Piller will begin intensive training with Megan soon also! We are off to a great start!!! Let’s get another top ten/ winner for Illinois again this year!!!!

Did you like this? Share it with your friends!
Tags:"We Dress the Best", Bridal Elegance and Pageantry, Fashion, Hannah Smith, Mac Duggal Pageant, Modeling, Pageant Dress Choice, Pageant Fashion
Posted in Events, News, Pageant | No Comments »
Monday, May 14th, 2012

Laura Kaeppeler, Miss America and former Miss Wisconsin
We just arrived back at the store from the Miss Wisconsin
Pageant Prep Day in Oshkosh, Wisconsin!! Bridal Elegance is so excited to be
the new exclusive wardrobe sponsor for the Miss Wisconsin and Miss Wisconsin
Outstanding Teen! We felt so welcome by Jeanne Schmal, Executive Director of
Miss Wisconsin, and her husband, Mike.
Alyssa (our Ottawa store manager), Cierra (one of our pageant stylists), and I
drove north to Oshhosh (only a 4 hour drive) on Friday night and set up a trunk
show at 7:30 a.m. for all the contestants in a super dressing room at the West
Side High School, which has a beautiful auditorium that seats over 1400 people,
and has been home to the Miss Wisconsin Pageant for the last 50 years!!!
We were so impressed with the great contestants, as well as their directors!
The contestants had talent tech also, so we heard some great talents! Not only
are we proud to call many of them our customers, but now also our friends!
Jeanne and her team are true professionals, and great to work with for their
pageant.
Thank you again Miss Wisconsin (MAO) for including us!
-Jan
Did you like this? Share it with your friends!
Tags:Bridal Elegance and Pageantry, Fashion, Jeanne Schmal, Laura Kaeppeler, Miss America Organization, Miss Wisconsin, Miss Wisconsin Outstanding Teen, Oshkosh, Pageant Services, West Side High School, Wisconsin
Posted in Events, News, Pageant | No Comments »
Thursday, April 26th, 2012
This past week we’ve enjoyed working with the current queens
who will be competing for the title of Miss Illinois America in June. As the
official wardrobe sponsor for Miss Illinois we decided to conduct a shopping
week for all the queens.
Everyone that we’ve had the opportunity to work with has
been so amazing and beautiful and we’re honored to help them in their wardrobe
needs! We’re also very excited to meet up with all of them again during Spring
Forum in May and eventually watch them compete in June for the title of Miss
America.
For the lucky winner of Miss Illinois we will work closely
with them designing their wardrobe for the national competition of Miss
America. The 2011 Miss Illinois Hannah Smith was a Top 10 finalist at the Miss America
pageant this past January in Las Vegas and we enjoyed working with her in
regards to her wardrobe needs!
Don’t forget that we have the largest pageant selection in
the Midwest and have a gorgeous pageant room specifically designed to meet
every queen’s needs!
Did you like this? Share it with your friends!
Posted in Bridal, Events, News, Pageant | No Comments »
Thursday, April 12th, 2012
Well, it was a whirlwind weekend full of pageant frenzy last weekend. We were so glad to see all our Illinois and Wisconsin Galaxy International contestants and friends. The competition was very tough in the Miss category- but the new Miss Illinois Galaxy is Gina Melchiorri from Bloomington, Illinois, and the first runner up was Marcella Gillen. All the contestants looked gorgeous!
The Galaxy Pageant is divided into 5 categories, each worth 20%- Interview, Photo,
Swimsuit, Fashion and Evening Gown. Tim Kretschmann, of the PageantCast, was a
terrific emcee and kept the pageants moving quickly. The newly crowned Teen
Illinois Galaxy is Rachel Barter. The new Mrs. Illinois Galaxy is Christine
Fascetti. Their beautiful director and our pageant coach, Stephanie Piller, was
there but it is her last year as director.
And saying goodbye, but not farewell, to Despina Ades, Zena Malak, Scherrie Davis and Lisa Simmons was hard. Definitely some of our favorite people.
Good luck to all and we will definitely see you at Galaxy Internationals in Orlando in July and we will have a booth!!!!
Did you like this? Share it with your friends!
Tags:"We Dress the Best", Bridal Elegance and Pageantry, Bridal Elegance Style Show Theater, Christine Fascetti, Despina Ades, Fashion, Galaxy Pageants, Gina Melchiorri, Lisa Simmons, Marcella Gillen, Modeling, Pageant Dress Choice, Pageant Fashion, Pageant Services, Rachel Barter, Runway, Scherrie Davis, Stephanie Piller, Tim Kretschmann, Zena Malak
Posted in Events, News, Pageant | No Comments »
Friday, April 6th, 2012




Pageant season is upon us and we’ve been busy hosting,
preparing, and participating in them!
March 24th we were lucky enough to host the Miss
Heart of Illinois and Miss Heartland Preliminary for Miss Illinois. There were
a lot of great contestants and the judges had a difficult task picking the
winners. Miss Illinois is part of the Miss America Scholarship Organization
which is a not-for-profit that focuses on community service; specifically
Children’s Miracle Network, bullying, and Character Counters to name a few.
Contestants participated in five areas: Private Interview,
On-Stage Question, Active Wear, Evening Gown, and Talent. Although there were
many who competed ultimately only four could go home with a title. Emily
McConnell is the 2012 Miss Heart of Illinois and April Strong was crowned the
2012 Miss Heartland. The teen for Miss Heart of Illinois went to Kierstin
Thompson and preteen went to Katelyn Roberts.
There was a reoccurring theme with the contestant’s attire;
color. From swim to interview to evening wear color was everywhere! Kierstin
strolled in to interview with a gorgeous watermelon colored dress. Emily
showcased a gorgeous neon yellow evening gown that popped on stage. Katelyn
Roberts was crowned wearing a lime green evening gown.
One thing for certain, the state competition is going to be
tough!
Did you like this? Share it with your friends!
Tags:"We Dress the Best", April Strong, Bridal Elegance and Pageantry, Bridal Elegance Divisions, Bridal Elegance Style Show Theater, Emily McConnell, Fashion, Katelyn Roberts, Kierstin Thompson, Miss Heart of Illinois Pageant, Miss Heartland Pageant, Modeling, Pageant Dress Choice, Pageant Fashion, Pageant Services, Runway
Posted in Events, News, Pageant | Comments Closed