Should I order my wedding gown to fit my largest or smallest feature?

You should order your wedding gown to fit your largest figure. However, some manufacturers will offer a custom cut measure. This means that if your body is very unproportionated, they can offer you that option. You pay an up charge for that, but sometimes it will save you money in the long run when you are doing alterations.

How much is a typical wedding gown deposit?

A typical wedding gown deposit will be at least 50% of the gown. Now, what that means is, that there is no strict rule. However, most stores will ask for at least a 50% deposit, and then the balance of your gown is due when the gown comes into the store, and about the time you usually pay your sales tax also. However, some stores will take about 60% in order to cover the sales tax cost before the gown actually comes into the store.

Is my wedding gown deposit refundable?

Typically, your wedding gown deposit is non refundable. Be very careful when you are ordering your gown that it is actually your gown. Only in very rare circumstances will your deposit be refundable. Typically, if there is some fault by the manufacturer where the bridal store cannot supply the gown of your choice, for instance if the gown becomes discontinued between the time of ordering and the time that the order is placed, then your deposit can be refunded.

Should I use a credit card instead of cash for my wedding gown deposit?

Do some bridal salons have wedding gown contracts?

Most bridal stores have a contract that they will ask you to read through carefully and to sign in the appropriate places. The better the contract is, the better you, as a customer, are protected. You should sign to make sure that the size that you’re ordering is the agreed size, that the color is the correct color, the style number is correct, and you will also probably be asked to initial or sign where the contract explains to you how long it takes the gown to be ordered and also, of course, how much it costs.

What should I ask for on my receipt when I order my wedding gown?

When you purchase a wedding gown, you should have a properly detailed receipt. In most stores you’ll receive what is called a contract that you sign and that is gone over carefully with you by the bridal consultant so you know exactly what the process is and what to expect of the whole process. This contract will act also as your receipt. When you place the order for your wedding gown, on your receipt, you should make sure that you have a style number, the colour that you’ve ordered, the size that you’ve ordered, and any special changes. That may be a neckline change, or pattern modification as it’s known, or it could be the addition of a shawl or other accessory to go with the gown and you should also obviously get a receipt for how much money you have deposited for that dress.

What things should I ask about when finalizing my wedding gown sale?

The important thing to ask when you are finalizing your wedding gown sale is what extra costs might you incur, and what extra services does the bridal salon offer. For instance, a good salon should give you an estimated cost of the alterations. They would tell you whether or not they will do the alterations for you or whether you have to seek your own tailor elsewhere. They would also give you an approximate ship date. And bear in mind that this is an approximate ship date. Once your gown has been ordered, then they would be able to give you a better idea exactly when the gown should be on the store. They should also give you an estimate of pressing charges. Typically this is an extra charge because it can take anything up to two hours to press a bridal gown properly. And , it has to be done by a skilled personnel.

How can full-price bridal retailers compete with discounters?

Full-price bridal retailers can compete with discounters, but really only if you are not requiring a full service salon experience. By that, we mean you are paying typically for our expertise, our time, our genteel surroundings, the expertise that we can give to you all the way through the whole process. When you purchase a gown here at Belle Bridal, you are buying us for the whole year.

Do I schedule my first fitting when I purchase my wedding gown?

Occasionally, it is necessary to schedule your first fitting when you order your gown. For instance, if you live out of state and you need to make arrangements for travel, or if your parents live out of state and it is important for them to be there for your first fitting, then it’s a good idea to keep in touch with the bridal salon and get an estimated shipping date or an update on that shipping date as time progresses, so that you can book your flights. Typically, you do not schedule your first fitting until the bridal gown comes into the store and you receive a phone call from the consultant asking you to set up your first fitting time.

Does it matter what type of undergarments I wear when trying on wedding gowns?

It is important which undergarments you’re wearing when trying on wedding gowns. It is a very good idea to wear a properly constructed strapless bra and the correct size petticoat for the gown that you’re choosing.

Does it matter how I wear my hair when trying on wedding gowns?

It is helpful when you try on wedding gowns to have some idea in your mind of what style your hair will be on the day. If you’re thinking of an updo, it’s a good idea to take a band or a clip to put your hair up or at least have clean and tidy hair when you go to try on your gowns.

Does it matter if I wear makeup and lipstick when trying on wedding gowns?

A good salon will usually be able to accommodate you if you’re wearing full makeup when you try on gowns. Sometimes they may ask you to put on a mask to cover your face while you’re putting the gown over your head, so as not to damage the gown. It is much more polite not to wear makeup when you’re trying on wedding gowns, as they damage and stain easily.

Are wedding gowns sized differently than my regular clothing?

Wedding gowns are sized very differently to your regular clothing, and each manufacturer differs slightly. When the consultant helps you choose the correct size for your wedding gown, he or she will refer to the manufacturer’s size chart for that particular gown. But typically, bridal gowns are going to be one or two sizes larger than the clothing that you normally buy off the rack.

How should I be measured for my wedding gown?

It is important that when you’re measured for your wedding gown that the consultant you’re working with is professionally trained at measuring your body. You’ll need a bust, waist and hip measurement, and in some cases you may need what’s called a hollow to hem measurement in order to ensure that your gown is cut at the correct length. A hollow to hem measurement is an extremely difficult measurement to take, and a good consultant will take four measurements in order to get that measurement correct. It’s important that the measuring tape that the bridal salon is using, is a newer tape, because tapes can stretch with age.

What is a ‘hollow to hem’ measurement?

A “hollow to hem” measurement is taken from this point between your bones and your neck here (see video for specific areas). You should be standing in the correct high heel that you wish to wear on your wedding day. They don’t have to be the actual shoes but an approximate heel height that’s comfortable for you. Then the consultant will tie a ribbon around your waste, and she will measure from your hollow to your waist, waist to hem, hollow to hem, and so the two former numbers should equal the latter number. Then she will quite often take a gown-only measurement, if it’s a strapless gown, and that is from the top of the neckline of the gown to the hem of the dress.

Is my bust size my bra size?

Your bust size is only part of your bra size. When being measured for a bra, you’re also measured under the bust and around your rib cage. This difference between the points of the bust, the fullest part of the bust, and your under bust measurement gives you the cup size. It’s very important that you wear the correct fitting bra when you’re wearing your wedding gown.

Why is better to order a wedding gown that is too big rather than too small?

It is better to order your wedding gown a little larger than smaller because typically it is much easier to take a gown in rather than let it out. Sometimes if you have to let out the gown you may see stitch lines from where the silks were expanded or let out.

How will I know what size gown to order if I plan to loose weight before my wedding?

It’s extremely difficult to calculate which size gown you should order if you’re on a weight loss program, but typically if you have an experienced consultant they would work with you and try to calculate what size you should order. Typically five to ten pounds in weight equals one dress size. So, therefore if you’re planning a weight loss of approximately 30 pounds from what you are weighing presently, you may need a dress three sizes smaller than the gown you are measuring for right now. A good consultant will advise you on this and also will probably advise you to go a little larger than too small, because it’s again much easier to order a dress in than let it out.

How many people should I bring with me to shop for my wedding gown?

How many bridal salons should I visit in one day?

There obviously are no limits on how many bridal salons you may visit when you’re shopping for a gown. However, when you are shopping for your bridal gown you are concentrating extremely hard and if you visit too many shops, especially if you’re visiting them all in one day you can become overwhelmed. It’s very easy to get what I call gowned out or white blindness; a little bit like smelling too many perfumes.

Is there a proper etiquette for wedding gown shopping?

It’s a good idea to attend to some etiquette matters when you’re about to visit a bridal salon. Typically what is the most upsetting thing for both the bride and the consultant helping her is if the friends and family of the bride are unruly within the store. By this I mean either they’re not concentrating on what the bride is doing, they’re being too noisy, or sometimes they’re not paying the bride enough attention by taking cell phone calls and listening to each other’s chat and gossip. You have to remember when you visit a bridal store, that the bride is the most important person there, and you should be concentrating on her and what she’s doing.