12
Tips To Follow When Shopping for a Bridal Gown
by
Rose Smith
There
can be a lot of pitfalls that brides fall into when shopping for that
perfect dress for their special day. To help you make a more informed
purchase here are12 tips to make your shopping experience smoother
and more enjoyable.
1.
Set a price limit on how much you're willing to spend on a gown.
Gowns
range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. You
need to have a good idea on what you're willing to spend. Then when
you visit bridal shops, fib and give them a figure 10% to 20% LESS
than what you've decided on. The reason behind this is because sales
clerks will often trying to upsell you by bringing out gowns that
are slightly over your budget range hoping you'll fall in love with
the gown and buy it anyway.
2.
Know your figure shape.
When
looking through magazines, please remember these are super thin models
that make all the gowns look beautiful. In the real world, we all
come in different sizes and shapes, so what looks good in a magazine
may look horrendous on your figure. You need to focus on styles that
will flatter your figure type. The Wedding Channel has an online program
that you can use to find gowns that flatter your shape. It's a good
site to check out before you head out gown hunting. http://wedding.weddingchannel.com/fashion/fashionindex.asp
3.
Ask for bridal shop recommendations.
Talk
with everyone you know who has just recently been married to find
out what their experiences have been with various bridal shops. Remember,
customer service is just as important as the gown you choose.
4.
Shop during the week.
Don't
shop on Saturdays. Weekends are when brides are out in full force
shopping for their gowns and accessories. Instead, choose to go during
the week when it's quieter and you can receive undivided attention.
Many bridal shops stay open during the evening hours.
5.
Fib about your wedding date.
You will
be asked when your "big day" is...and it's best to fib by
"moving" your date up by about 4 weeks. This will help ensure
that your gown actually arrives in time for your wedding and gives
you some breathing room to get any alterations done. Too many times,
brides have been near tears because their wedding gown hasn't arrived
or has arrived so close to the wedding date, that they've become anxious
wrecks. You don't want to be rushed or thrown into a panic just before
your wedding day.
6.
Bring a buddy with you.
Always
bring a friend or family member with you when shopping. Obviously,
it's good to have an unbiased second opinion when trying on gowns.
Also, you're excited and maybe be coerced by a sales clerk into buying
something on the spur of the moment that you will later regret. Be
sure you have someone with you who is cool-headed and practical to
keep you grounded.
7.
Take your time when choosing a gown.
Don't
allow yourself to be rushed in to purchasing anything. Your first
shopping excursion should help you get an idea on what styles look
good on you and to find a bridal shop that you're happy with. Take
notes on various gowns you really like (make a quick sketch of the
gown too). Narrow down your gown choices to 2 or 3 gowns...then go
home! Take a few days to review your notes, perhaps compare gowns
online, and generally get a clearer perspective on what you saw. Then
go back and re-try the dresses you had decided on.
8.
Ask the store lots of questions.
There
are many hidden fees and policies that you may not be aware of when
purchasing a bridal gown. Here are some of the more important points
you should ask about:
a) Who's the manufacturer of the dress?
b) How long will it take to get the dress in?
c) What kind of payment policies does the shop have?
d) How much of a deposit is required? Can you pay by credit card?
e) What is the store's refund and cancellation policy? (get it in
writing!)
f) What are the costs of alterations? (get a written estimate)
g) Are there shipping fees? Size fees for extra large sizes or petites?
h) Are their rush fees? (if you have to have your gown sooner)
9. Bring a vinyl tape measure with you.
Make
sure the shop takes your measurements with a vinyl tape measure, not
cloth. The cloth tape measures get stretched and will give inaccurate
measurements (larger than expected). This, not surprisingly, will
result in "required alterations" when the dress arrives.
Bring your own vinyl tape with you, so that if the store doesn't have
one, you can provide your own and get an accurate measurement done.
Make sure they measure your bust, waist, hips and from the hollow
of your throat to hemline (for length).
10.
Don't base your choice on dress size.
You may
be a size 8, but manufacturer sizes vary widely when it comes to bridal
gowns. A size 8 from one manufacturer may be a size 12 from another.
Ask the clerk to see the listed manufacturer's dress size chart when
choosing a gown, so you have a better idea on what size you'll be
needing, once you're measurements are taken.
11.
Don't put your gown on a layaway plan.
While
you're busy paying down your gown (that you don't have yet), the manufacturer
may discontinue the line or go out of business. Now you're left with
no gown (and often no refund policy either). End result? You'll have
to start all over and find a new gown to purchase from that bridal
store.
12.
Make your own headpiece.
Most
bridal shops charge $150 to $300 (or more) for headpieces that cost
less than $20 to make yourself. They aren't hard to make and there
are several good books and patterns available to help you out. If
you aren't crafty, find someone who is that would make it for you
for a small fee. Another option is to rent a headpiece or buy one
from a resale/consignment store.
Rose
Smith is the owner of Wedding Themes and More, a website designed
to help you discover your perfect wedding theme. Find more great ideas,
resources and articles on our
Bride & Groom Tips page.
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