Bridal Shops

Full service bridal shops can assist you in every step from start to finish in your gown selection. These shops order directly from the manufacturer and receive quality merchandise. These shops also have good relationships with the represented manufacturers, so if the wrong gown is delivered, the error can be corrected, usually immediately. Bridal shop owners suggest you start shopping for your gown no later than six months before your wedding. Look through bridal magazines and mark the pages of the gowns that have the styles and features that appeal to you. Make sure you note the magazine name, issue date, page number and name of the manufacturer. Visit local stores listed in the advertisement. If you have questions on the reputation of the store, ask the store owner for references, call the Better Business Bureau to check any unresolved complaints, or call the manufacturer (their number will be listed in the advertisement), and ask them for recommendations of stores that carry their line.

Inform the bridal shop of your wedding date, the day you will need your dress, the type of wedding that you will be having (formal, semiformal, etc.), and describe styles that appeal to you. Specify your budget, and make sure you include the gown, headpiece/veil, undergarments, accessories and alterations. A money saving idea is to buy a gown off of the rack.

When you make your selection, confirm everything in writing. Make sure you include the name of the manufacturer, size, style, color, special order requirements, delivery date, total cost, and payment requirements. Be prepared to leave a fifty percent deposit when ordering. Discuss their refund and cancellation policies, and find out if pressing and alterations are additional charges. When the bridal shop calls you to tell you your gown is in, make an extra effort to try on your gown that same week.