You have visualised it in your head, devoured the bridal magazines and collected screenshots of your dream dress from Pinterest. Now it is time to hit the stores! Finding the dress for your wedding day can be an overwhelming task. So to make sure you do not miss anything we are here to arm you with our list of questions and tips.
1. Do I need to make an appointment?
Every bridal shop works differently and that’s why a quick call to ask for an appointment can save you a lot of time later. At Leah S Designs, yes you will need to make an appointment especially on the weekends. Either book on our home page, by email or by giving us a call. You can set all your appointments on the same weekend, so it will be easier to have your pick with all the designs fresh in your mind.
2. Who do I bring with me?
Check with the bridal salon about how many people they allow and get there with your bride tribe. Make sure your friends understand you, what you are looking for, and are supportive of your choice. It’s easy for your day to go pear shape when you invite to many people with you all wanting you to try on what they like and needing more attention from you, when the day is about you!
3. Do you have something that will match my style?
When you visit us, we get you to fill out an information form so we can help you better. Choosing from the styles you like and your price point. Sometimes, a consultant can retrieve a gem of a piece that might be perfect for you. After all, they are the ones who know the best about the gowns in their shop. You can ask them for some recommendations as it will only make your job easier.
4. Does the store offer customizations? (And its ok to ask how much.)
You will always need some kind of alteration for your dress and not every bridal house has an option of on-site alterations. By the way, yes we offer alterations. If you want a touch of exclusivity and tweak some details of the wedding gown, it is important to ask your stylist this question. Take it a bit further and once you find your dream dress, ask how much it will cost be to shortened, and if any other alterations are needed.
5. Does the store charge extra for alterations?
Alteration charges are one of the costs of bridal stores you may not think about, so it is important to ask about it and get that out of the way in advance.
6. How long does it take to order a wedding dress?
Some bridal stores can take months to prepare your dress and this is why many women start the hunt 8 to 9 months ahead of the wedding. We offer a 12 week delivery and then allow 5 weeks before the wedding date for fittings and alterations.
7. How much is the deposit and what is the cancellation policy?
A wedding dress is a big purchase so the deposit is 30% with a 12 to 16 week laybuy. We also go over the terms to be agreed by both of us with a contract. So be mindful of contingencies like postponement or cancellations and ask about the policies and deposit.
8. Do not be afraid to say what your budget is, and ask to stay within it.
You must have set a number for the gown, so let the stylist know about it. This will also help in narrowing down your options later. Then its up to you if you want to explore more expensive options.
9. Remember to ask if you can take pictures
Not every store is ok with photos, we are actually one of those store and prefer it if you don’t take photos until you have purchased a dress. If you would like to know all the reasons why we do this read here.
Trying different dresses can create confusion and we understand that you may want to take photo’s
We hope this can make things a little easier for you. Now get, set, shopping!
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