EÉ & THE BIG APPLE, take 2

by Lourdes

View of Manhattan from Brooklyn via train

A year ago we were green fashion designers taking the "big plunge" by exhibiting at our first bridal market...in New York City, no less.  What a learning experience that was!  With 17 new dresses making their debut this year, along with the 10 dresses that continued on from our 2016 collection, one thing was for sure: it was time that this independent bridal designer got a booth upgrade!  Gone were the days of a cramped 10' x 10' space.  But before we could even start to work on our booth, we had to get there.

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DAY 1:
G (like last year) drove in with her mom, Linnea, the gowns, and other smaller supplies we would need to decorate our booth.  If you didn't see her Instagram post of the packed car, here it is.  I, on the other hand, was coming from the Groton/New London area, so I took the train.  Our plan was to arrive Thursday before the show started so that we could use that first day to run around Manhattan getting the last few things we needed, as well as, drop off our stuff for the booth at Pier 94.  Since I got in a couple of hours earlier than G, I did some erranding on my own...and some sightseeing along the way.  I mean, it's not every day I'm in NYC. As our meeting time at The Piers was drawing near, I headed back to Penn Station to get the bags I'd checked while I ran around.

Looking down 6th Ave towards One WTC

I got my things, hopped in a cab (not before getting yelled at by the taxi line attendant...oops), and headed to Pier 94. Perfect timing! G and her mom were just getting out of the car as I was pulling up. But now it was whirlwind time: we got our badges, unloaded the car, ran to Target for some last-minute supplies, made another drop at Pier 94, and finally battled our way north in NYC traffic for 120 blocks to our Airbnb. OH! I forgot to mention, this was our THIRD Airbnb after our first two cancelled on us the week of the show. No stress, no, none whatsoever....rrrright. The stars were aligned that evening though because we found an overnight parking spot directly in front of our host's building. Woohoo!  It was time to relax with dinner and drinks at Coogan's Restaurant.  If you decide to go, bring your appetite - the portions are filling but delicious!

DAY 2:
​Friday was prep day 2.  We got up early to find a parking space for the car and then get straight to setting up our booth.  Five hours later, dresses were steamed, marketing materials were in place, and our mini-boutique was ready for buyers.  Late in the afternoon we had an appointment with a fabric rep to look at all things pretty and sparkly for our 2018 collection; so, off we three went.  By the time we were done, all we wanted to do was head back up to Washington Heights. We headed for the subway with a tiny detour through Time Square.

Our booth before

DAYS 3-5:
Saturday was the first day of market at The Piers.  And boy, did it start with some excitement even before we got downtown. We had an unexpected guest staying with us: Mr. Mousie Bro.

​Don't worry, we let him go outside.  I did dance and squeal as he ran past me to make his escape.  We'll miss you Mousie Bro! ...maybe.

​Bridal market was open from 9am - 6pm except for Monday, which ended an hour earlier. Those were some long days on our feet.  Thank goodness for ibuprofen and our friendors (aka friends that are vendors).

Mr. Mousie Bro

Welcome to the EÉ boutique!

Sunday night, G, my husband (who made his first trip to NYC), Linnea, and our fave gals from Pure Magnolia, Patty & Krys, got together for some post-show cocktails at Tanner Smith's.  Delicious!!!

After drinks, the EÉ party headed to Guantanamera for some scrum-diddly-umptious Cuban food and entertainment!  As the food coma set in, we headed back up to our place.

We LOVED the champagne cart!

Inside Tanner Smith's

#girlbosses from Edith Élan & Pure Magnolia

I call it: "Portrait of a Tired Designer"

It's over!

Monday at 5 pm was bittersweet.  This year was another great learning and networking experience, but at the same time, it was a year's worth of work over and done in the blink of an eye.  BUT, boy were our feet happy it was over!  By 6 pm, the EÉ dream team got the booth broken down and the car packed.  BOOM!

We said our goodbyes since my husband and I were headed to Penn Station for the train ride home while G and Linnea started the drive back to Chicago.  We won't be seeing NYC again for another year, but who knows where EÉ will go in the meantime. London, maybe? What I do know is that this Navy wife is gearing up for another move in less than two weeks.

See you next October, NYC!

Read about our first time at NY Bridal Market Week here.

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