EVERYTHING You Need To Know Before Scheduling Your Bridal Appointment
When I first began working as a bridal stylist, I couldn’t WAIT to get into one of those beautiful gowns hanging on the racks. I spent weeks (impatiently) awaiting my turn to dress myself up and get a peek into what it feels like to be a bride. But when it actually happened, I would describe the feeling as…underwhelming. And do you know why? It’s because I was not, in fact, a bride. And this was not my bridal appointment! In reality I was doing my job, which was to try on dresses so I could better sell them to actual brides. I was there to learn, and boy oh boy did I learn a lot. But what’s the use of having all this information if not to share it with the people who need it most?
Welcome to the first installment of Everything You Need to Know. This will be a limited series documenting all of the tips and tricks you should know when it comes to shopping for your wedding dress. I’m going to walk you through the bridal appointment process from beginning to end, so that you know EXACTLY what to expect. From underwear, to guests, to money, we’re gonna cover it all. Step one? Scheduling the appointment.
Scheduling Your Appointment
First thing’s first: You need to know where you’re going to shop for your wedding dress. Google is your friend. Your #1 resource. Here is what you should be looking for in the shops you choose to go:
1) Are they in your budget?
It sounds obvious to take a look at a website beforehand to see if a shop will fit into your price point. And while that’s a good starting point, I suggest taking it a step further and calling as well. Sometimes, shops may not have their price ranges listed online. Other times, they may not be updated to reflect the current reality of what they have in their stores. Given that Bridal Fashion Week occurs twice a year, new dresses are constantly flowing in. And with that means, new designers may be added or previous ones may be dropped. For brides, this could mean a bridal shop lists online that their range goes up to $7,000, when in reality their current selection only goes up to $5,000. For the most up to date information, always call ahead!
2) Do they carry designers you’re interested in?
Pinterest, Pinterest, Pinterest. It’s incredibly helpful for your stylist to know what kind of style you think* you want. When making your board, take note as to what designers stick out to you. Then, it’s a great idea to go over to their website and take a look at their stockists near you. If you happen to fall in love with a designer that’s way out of your budget, don’t freak out! Give another call to your preferred bridal shop and ask them what designers they carry that may be comparable. Many shops carry brands that act as “dupes” for a lot of high-end designers that aren’t affordable to the masses. Trust that your stylist is going to lead you in the right direction. And if you have no clue about your wedding dress style at all, take our super fun quiz to help point you in the right direction!
3) Will they have enough room to accommodate your guests?
Many bridal shops are rather small and have limited seating. Usually, there may be only one dressing room that has the space to fit a large posse. As a guideline, I highly suggest NOT bringing more than a maximum of 3 guests with you to your bridal appointment. I’ll go into further detail about this in a future blog post to explain my rationale. But for now, no matter how many people you plan on bringing, always make sure to call ahead and ask how many people fit in their space.
4) Is this shop reputable/well reviewed?
This is without a doubt the most important piece to consider when scheduling your bridal appointment. There is no quicker way to have the wedding dress shopping experience tainted than by shopping at a bad store. You want a staff that is friendly, trustworthy, and that isn’t going to push you towards buying a dress that goes against your best interest. ALWAYS do your research and read reviews before scheduling an appointment. Google Reviews are an awesome start, and The Knot has a feature that is an excellent resource as well. They also recognize top-tier bridal shops with “Best Of” awards yearly, so you can know who to trust. Be sure to read reviews on all platforms, so you can get the most current and well-rounded information.
5) How many shops is too many? Is there such a thing as trying on too many dresses?
Yes, it’s possible to visit too many stores. And yes, it’s possible to try on too many dresses. Ideally, you should be able to find your dress within 2 stores. Two stores at four dresses a piece would make a total of 8 dresses. This will vary from person to person, but generally speaking, 8 should be the maximum number of dresses a bride tries on before making her final decision. Anything above this amount will almost always make it way harder for a bride to choose because all dresses start to feel the same. This is why it is SO important to pick and choose your bridal shops wisely. It’ll save you tons of time and keep the experience exciting and fresh.
When it comes to finding your wedding dress, your priority should be to enjoy the experience. This is a special moment! Remember to enjoy it, because it might be done quicker than you think.
Next week we’re going to talk about the day of your appointment. How do bridal stylists help you pick your dress? How does the purchasing process work? We’re going to cover it all! If you have any questions you want covered in the next post, feel free to leave it in the comments down below. You can find Part 2 of Everything You Need to Know right here!
Featured image and all photographs in this post courtesy of Katie Harmsworth @katie_harmsworth
