When it comes to shopping for your perfect wedding dress it can pay to
be aware of the potential pitfalls you may encounter. To help you with
such a big decision here are 12 tips which should make you dress
shopping experience easier & more enjoyable.
1. Set a price limit on how much you’re willing to spend on a a gown.
Wedding dresses come in a broad range of prices, from just a few
hundred to a few thousand dollars. So it is always a good idea to set a
budget before you start looking. When you first approach bridal
boutiques, quote them a figure around 10-20% less than your intended
budget. Sounds crazy, but sales personnel will often try to tempt you
with more expensive gowns at prices slightly higher than the figure you
have given them.
2. Know your figure shape.
When you look through bridal magazines you are presented with images of
glamorous, ultra slim models who look amazing in anything. Remember
that in the real world we can’t all look fabulous in every style of
wedding dress. Take some time to research your body shape & the
styles that will suit you. A good bridal boutique should be able to
guide you, but it is always a good idea to know yourself which shapes
will flatter you & which ones won’t.
3. Ask for bridal shop recommendations.
Word of mouth is vital to any business & people will talk about
good & bad experiences they have had with vendors. If you know
someone who has recently got married, talk to them about the bridal
boutiques they visited & the service they encountered. Another
optionis to do some research online. There are a lot of websites out
there that will offer consumers the chance to rate businesses they have
used & wedding forums maybe able to gleam you some information
about certain vendors in your area.
4. Shop during the week.
If you can choose a weekday to go shopping for your gown. Weekends are
always busy & you could find it impossible to get an appointment
when you want one. Having the full attention of the sales assistant for
as long as you need it is important. Another choice would be an evening
appointment as some bridal stores will stay open later on some days.
5. Fib about your wedding date.
At some point you will be asked when your wedding date is. It is a good
idea to lie & give a date about 4 weeks prior to your real wedding
day. This will give you some time to ensure the gown arrives & all
alterations can be completed satisfactorily.
6. Bring a buddy with you.
Taking a friend or family member with you is always a good idea. They
can give you their opinion on what suits you best & stop you from
blowing the entire wedding budget on a deisgner couture dress. It is
all too easy to get carried away or be coerced by the sales assitant
into spending more than you have or into buying a dress which is simply
hideous on you. Make sure whoever you take has a cool sensible head on
them!
7. Take your time when choosing a gown.
Your wedding dress is a vital purchase. Every time you look back at
your wedding photographs & video your will see it. Each time you do
you should be as blown away by it as you were the first time you saw it
in the shop. With this in mind it is important not to rush into a
purchase but take your time & make sure you pick the right gown.
Remember the dresses in the shop are samples & the one you choose
will be made especially for you to your size. So unless you are buying
a sample sale, you will not miss out because someone else got there
first. Try to narrow your choices to 2 or 3 gowns & then take some
time to review your notes & even compare them online. When you
think you are ready, go back & try them on again.
8. Ask the store lots of questions.
Bridal stores can have many hidden fees & policies that you may not
be aware of until it comes to purchasing a gown. Make sure you ask lots
of questions about how they operate & how you will get the gown of
your choice. Here are some important things to find out:
* 1. Who’s the manufacturer of the dress?
* 2. How long will it take to get the dress in?
* 3. What kind of payment policies does the shop have?
* 4. How much of deposit is required? Can you pay by credit card?
* 5. What is the store’s refund & cancellation policy? (get it in writing!)
* 6. What are the costs of alterations? (get a written estimate)
* 7. Are there extra shipping fees? Size fees for extra large sizes or petites?
* 8. Are their rush order fees? (if you have to have your gown sooner)
9. Bring a vinyl tape measure with you.
You will need to be measured at the bridal store & you should
check that they measure you with a vinyl tape not a cloth one. Cloth
tape measures will stretch giving inaccurate measurements. Take a vinyl
tape in your bag just in case. The measurements they should take will
be your bust, waist, hips & from the hollow of your throat to
hemline (for length).
10. Don’t base your choice on dress size.
Clothing manufacturers vary in their sizes, as there is no standard
for dress sizes to be uniformly the same. You may already find that you
have to buy clothing from one store in a size larger than clothing from
a store down the road. The same is true with bridal gowns, that is why
it is important to get a gown made up to your exact measurements to
ensure a perfect fit.
11. Don’t put your gown on a layaway plan.
Be careful of paying for a gown in installments when you haven’t
yet received it. The manufacturer could go out of business or
discontinue that particular design.
12. Make your own headpiece.
Bridal headpieces, tiaras & combs can cost your anything from $70
to $200 dollars in a bridal store. But if you are creative you can make
your own for under $30. There are lots of books available with designs
to copy or which can help you get started. Visit online craft &
bead retailers for all the equipment & supplies you will need. An
alternative option is to rent one from a resale or consignment store.
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