So lately I've gotten into the routine of not posting anything on
Monday's because, let's face it, everyone needs a day off. But then I
got a bright idea- I will start re-posting some of my old features from
when EB was brand new, because many of those posts went relatively
unread since I didn't have a whole lot of visitors in the beginning.
It's a win-win situation- I still keep my day off and you get a chance to catch up on what you may have missed! So, for my first Monday re-post, I bring you "21 Ways to Keep Your Sanity While Shopping for Your Gown"! Enjoy!
Before you shop:
1. Know the difference between the types of
gown retailers. There are many
different places to purchase your wedding gown, and the trick is knowing what you can expect from each
type. Always keep in mind that you get
what you pay for. Think of it in terms
of how your purchase your everyday clothes.
If you shop a little boutique, you will pay a higher price, but you will
(hopefully) get exceptional customer service because they are a small business
and their reputation is on the line. If
you shop at large chain retailers you will probably score a great deal but
won’t get a whole lot of insight from sales personnel, and if something goes
wrong they will be less likely to help you out.
Think about what is most important to you- either getting a great
bargain or getting great customer service and go from there.
2. Research boutiques in a widespread area. Just because there is a boutique five
minutes away from your house, doesn’t mean it is the right one for you. Ask around and research online for boutiques within a ten to
twenty mile radius and find ones that fit they type of store you are looking to
buy at. Trust me, it is so worth it to
travel a little farther away in order to get what you want and have a great
experience!
3. Always
always always make appointments. You
will have a better overall experience when you make an appointment, rather than
just walking in to a shop. Even if you
only call a few hours ahead of time, it will give the salon a chance to prepare
for your visit. When a salon knows you
are coming, they will have a consultant and a fitting room waiting for you.
4. When you
book the appointment, ask if you can do an hour and a half instead of only an
hour. Every place is different, but
most book a standard one hour appointment.
Usually this isn’t enough time, at least for your first time out. It can’t hurt to ask for a
longer appointment, and as long as it’s not on a super busy day they will most
likely be more than happy to oblige you.
5. Avoid weekends if possible. For obvious reasons, weekends are the busiest
days for bridal salons. Even if you make
an appointment ahead of time, you may still have to share the 3-way mirror with
other brides and that can be frustrating.
Do yourself and your sanity a favor and try to go during the week when
it’s way less chaotic and overwhelming.
Tuesdays are typically the slowest days of the week and many shops have
one or two late nights during the week to accommodate the “after work
crowd”.
6. Look at gowns ahead of time. I can’t tell you how many brides I’ve
worked with who came into their first appointment having zero idea as to what
kind of gown they wanted. I’m not saying
you need to come in knowing exactly what you want, but at least have some clue
about what type of message you want to send.
Are you going for a modern, minimalistic vibe? Something soft and romantic? Is dramatic and edgy more your style? Look through magazines and websites like The Knot and Brides and tear or print out pictures that catch your eye. Even if it’s just certain elements you are
drawn too (like a certain type of lace or an interesting neckline), it can
really help your consultant pinpoint what styles to show you.
7. Know your budget. Hopefully your consultant will ask you
what you’re looking to spend at the beginning of your appointment, but if they
forget make sure you tell them. There is
nothing worse than falling in love with a gown and then discovering that it is
way out of your price range.
8. Keep your
eyes out for trunk shows. Trunk
shows are when a gown company sends the entire current collection to a store
for a few days. Usually bridal shops (at
least small ones anyway) only purchase certain pieces from each collection, but
during trunk shows give you the opportunity to view the pieces you may not
otherwise get to see. Also, many times
shops offer a 10-20% off if you purchase your gown during the trunk show. You can find trunk show information on bridal
shop and designer’s websites.
