Frequently Asked Questions 

What Should my BRIDAL STORE PLAN be?

1.      Get recommendations from friends and family.  It’s best to learn from others’ experience and if they recommend a bridal store, go there.

2.      Is the shop clean and organized?

3.      Choosing your gown should be one of the best parts of planning your wedding.  Start looking as soon as you get engaged, because it can take up to 3 or 4 months to get your dress if it is not in stock and has to be made. You then have to allow time for fittings. 

4.      Spend time looking through bridal magazines and get a feel for the styles you like.  Take these pictures with you to the bridal shop, it will help the bridal consultant help you!

5.      Try on different styles.  The dresses look different on you than on the hangers.  You just may end up loving a style you thought you wouldn’t.

6.      What is your budget?  Keep in mind the veil, headpiece, shoes, jewelry, etc.

7.      Don’t order a smaller size in hopes of loosing weight.  A seamstress can bring in a dress in to fit you, and it is better to be safe than sorry. 

8.      If possible take the bra you will be wearing with the dress as well as a pair of shoes with the correct height.

9.      Go with your hair and make up done.  You will feel different in the dresses and it will overall be a better use of your time because of it.

10.   If there happens to be a special piece of jewelry you will be wearing that day don’t forget to take it along.

11.   Don’t take too many people with you.  If it is possible take your mom, this is a special time for the two of you.  I would recommend that you don’t deprive her of sharing this experience with you.  If you need to take someone else along, choose someone who will truly help find what is best for you, not what they like for themselves.

12.   Don’t go shopping hungry.

13.   Plan on 1 ½ hours to try on dresses.

14.   Make sure your dress is appropriate for any religious restrictions where the ceremony will be taking place.

15.   Some fabrics are more appropriate than others depending on the time of year.

16.   White is traditional but ivory and pastel colors are becoming more popular and are a nice option in choosing what is most flattering to your skin color.

17.   It’s fine if you fall in love with a dress at the first store you go to.  So often brides continue looking and just waste time because they compare all other dresses to the first one they fell in love with.  The wedding truly isn’t about the dress.  It’s about the marriage vows.  Don’t get overly stressed choosing the dress, keep it a happy experience.

18.   There are two emotions you are looking for when you have found the right dress.  First off, do you feel like a bride in it?  Second, do you not want to keep looking at it in the mirror and not want to take it off?  If you are experiencing both of these feelings you most likely have found your wedding dress. 

19.   Find out the payment options and if the dress needs to be ordered find out the store’s policies in doing this for you.  A deposit is almost always needed and find out how long you have to pay it off.  Once a store orders and dress they have to purchase it from their vendor.  This is why a deposit is needed.  Also, find out how long the shop will store the dress for you. 

20.   What other amenities do they offer?  Such as pressing and cleaning the dress after bridal portraits or prior to the wedding.

21.   Do they have a seamstress in house or names for recommendations?

22.   It is customary to put down a 50% deposit.  This is often non-refundable since the bridal shop will immediately place your order for the dress and they cannot cancel it once it is ordered.  Once that money is put down the dress is yours!

23.   Alterations are generally not included in the price of the gown.

24.   If the dress is ordered in for you, go and try it on as soon as you can once they call and tell you it has arrived.  This would be a fun time to take photos since many bridal shops don’t allow photos to be taken until you purchase the dress.