Okay… you’re engaged! It’s time to shop for your dress! I bet you have lots of questions about wedding dress shopping. The team at The Bridal Finery shared their best tips for wedding dress shopping below!
Wedding dress shopping is an incredibly personal experience and you want to make sure the bridal shop you visit is the best fit for you. Being as prepared as possible will provide ease and comfort going into one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning.
Here are the top 7 questions for wedding dress shopping to find the best one for you.
1 – What sizes do you carry?
Before you jump into finding the perfect bridal shop, understanding how wedding dress sizing is an important first step. The difference between bridal sizing and street sizing is anywhere between a 2-3 size difference. For example, if you are a street size 4-6 more than likely your bridal size will be closer to an 8-10 in bridal.
Size is just a number and should never discourage how you feel or damper your excitement about finding your perfect dress. Communicating in advance with your bridal stylist about the size variation they carry in the bridal shop will help to ensure a successful appointment.
2 – What is the price point of your store?
Be sure to ask about the price range of the bridal shop. This will help you narrow down which stores will be the best fit for you based on your desired price point. The website is a great place to start when searching for price information.
If the pricing cannot be found on their website, call the bridal shop, and speak with their stylist. Having a conversation with the bridal stylist on the phone is a great way to begin building the relationship.
If you have found a bridal shop that you have your heart set on but are finding their price point to be out of your range, make sure to ask if they offer an off the rack option or ever have sample sales.
3 – Other than the wedding dress, do you carry anything else in your store?
When searching for the perfect dress there are other components to your wedding day look that you might not have considered yet. Every bridal shop is going to carry different things. Some will focus solely on the dress while others will have accessories and undergarments in the store as well.
Seeing your entire look put together from the dress to the veil to the jewelry is so important when saying yes. Knowing what exactly the bridal shop your planning to visit has in their store will better prepare you for your appointment.
4 – How does your store handle alterations?
Every dress whether it be a special order or off the rack will need some sort of alterations in order to guarantee the perfect fit. Confirming with your bridal shop how they handle the alterations process is a must-ask question during the research stage.
Does the store handle alterations in house? If not, are they able to offer recommendations? If you are an out of town bride and won’t have the ability to do alterations in the same place you purchased your dress, can they assist with finding someone?
If the bridal shop is able to handle alterations in house, confirm whether or not a quote will be provided during your appointment based on the specifics discussed.
5 – What does the appointment process look like?
Another important piece to picking the perfect bridal shop is understanding in advance what the process of the appointment itself will look like. Definitely be aware of how much time will be allotted for your appointment in order to properly plan out your day.
Know before you go if they book more than one bride at a time or if it will be a private appointment. Find out whether or not the stylist would like you to bring any inspiration photos or if undergarments are necessary for your appointment.
6 – How many people are allowed to come to the appointment?
Be familiar with the rules and regulations of the bridal shop pertaining to how many guests are allowed to attend the appointment with you. This is extremely important in the world we are currently living in. If the bridal shop does have a limit on guests, FaceTime is a great way to include those loved ones who cannot partake.
Another personal way to incorporate those who could not attend the original appointment is to invite them into the bridal shop once your dress has arrived and try it on for them to see in person.
7 – How long will my dress take to get in?
With most bridal shops needing 6-9 months for special order dresses to be placed and arrive, be aware of the timeline in which you are shopping as it relates to your wedding date. Finding out how long their specific process takes is definitely something you should take into consideration when choosing the right store for you.
Not only knowing how long it will take for your dress to come in, knowing where it’s coming from is just as important. Is the dress being shipped internationally or in the states?
I hope this helps guide you on the questions for wedding dress shopping. Once you have all of the questions above answered you are ready to book your appointment! Enjoy the process and keep an open mind when finding the one.
About The Bridal Finery
The Bridal Finery specializes in both off the rack and made to order wedding dresses, which is a much-needed update to the older ways of wedding dress shopping. The team at The Bridal Finery is here to help style your complete bridal look from the dress to the veil to the jewelry and beautiful hairpieces. Customization and personalization are what The Bridal Finery knows best. There are many different ways to make your dress your own which is always how it should be – from adding lace appliques or pinning sleeves.
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