Wedding Gowns

Choosing the Right Bridal Shop

Deciding what you are going to wear is a major part of the wedding

planning process. You not only need to feel comfortable with the bridal

shop that you choose, but you need to trust that they will do all that

they promise. The following are some helpful hints as you look for the

assistance from a bridal consultant at the salon.  Trained bridal 

consultants who guide you through the selection and decision process.

A shop that allows you to stay within your budget.  Alterations done on 

site by a seamstress who specializes in wedding gowns and formalwear.

Complimentary storage of your wedding gown until the week of your wedding.

No more than 50% requirement for a deposit on merchandise at the time of

ordering.  A shop that has stock merchandise; not ordering solely from a 

picture without seeing the quality of the gown or like merchandise from that

company.  No history of complaints registered with the Better Business Bureau.

Good reputation referral from past customers.  Delivery of a written contract 

with a receipt of your paid deposit, which specifies your dress size, style, 

expected time of arrival, alterations agreement and any special pre-arranged 

services and charges.

Before Your First Visit

Now that you know what to look for in a bridal salon, your experience for 

first time looking will be fairly easy with these hints... Call the companies in 

the bridal magazines and request copies of their newest catalogs (some 

companies may charge for this.)  Purchase bridal magazines and pull out 

pictures of gown styles that you may want to try.  Have an idea of the time 

of year that you would like to get married as well as some colors that you 

may like to have your bridesmaids wear.  Also have and idea of your 

bridesmaids sizes, you will want a style that will compliment all of them.

All dresses come in a variety of colors and all companies have different

shipping dates and special charge policies.  It is better to make an 

appointment at a salon to go look at dresses preferably during the week. 

Take some time off work and enjoy this overwhelming experience. Saturdays 

are the busiest day to shop, you may have to wait a while for a dressing room, 

and you may not receive the one-on-one attention that you deserve. It is more 

exciting and relaxing when you make time to be pampered while shopping!

Your first Visit

Ask as many questions as you can. Your bridal consultant will have the

answers you need. Don't be afraid to ask!!  Try on as many different styles as 

you can. You will be amazed at how something looks on you as opposed to 

on the hanger.  Have your bridal consultant bring the merchandise and catalogs 

in for you so that she may answer any questions you will need to ask.  With all 

wedding gowns, there are coordinating or matching bridesmaid dresses. 

Sometimes they are not accessible to the customers. Your consultant may also 

show you tuxedos, flower girls and mothers dresses that will go along with the 

style.  You are not expected to make a decision on your first trip out, although

some brides do, a majority of them do not.  It is best to select your wedding 

gown and grooms tuxedo before deciding on the rest of the wedding party's attire.

When trying on gowns, make sure to have the proper undergarments (bras and 

petticoats) and shoes for an accurate look at the gown (most salons supply 

these). Your consultant should also show you veils, jewelry and gloves that 

will coordinate with the look.  Try to stay within your budget. Inform the 

consultant to what your budget is. Your bridal consultant's main goal should be 

to find you the perfect dress and still remain in your budget.  After trying on all 

this merchandise, narrow the choices down to three.  Go home, think about all 

you saw and return to the shop at a later date to re-try the gowns on. You may 

find your gown on the second trip and definitely by the third trip.  When you are 

shopping, it is best to only bring two other people with you who share your same 

sense of style. If you have too many people, this experience may be chaotic and 

frustrating.  When you have ordered your gown and it arrives in the store, 

immediately go look at it and try it on to ensure it is the correct dress and nothing 

is wrong with it. A salon may correct a dress with a factory if it is done within two 

weeks of the dress being received. You will also want to set up your alterations 

appointment at this time if all is correct with your dress.  Average shipping dates 

for merchandise are:

Gowns, attendants dresses = 3-6 months

Veils = 2-3 months

Accessories = 1-2 months (shoes, jewelry, foundations, gloves)

Your planning will also be easier if you go to a one-stop shopping

salon. This is where the salon has everything that you need in

everything from dresses to guest books.

Preserving the Gown

The wedding's over, the rice and rose petals have long since been swept

away, the photos mounted and tucked away in albums. One of the things

often overlooked for several weeks, even months, after the wedding is

the wedding gown.  The bride's mom may take it home after the reception, 

hang it in a closet, and cry a little whenever she opens that particular door. 

The new bride, busy writing thank-you notes, settling into a new home, and

juggling a new schedule, is not thinking "wedding gown."  But when you 

consider all the time effort and money that went into finding the right gown, 

it should be automatic to plan for its future.  In some families, of course, the 

gown might be handed down to another member of the family, the old 

"something borrowed" routine. But no matter whether the gown was bought 

or borrowed, they all have one thing in common: the bride's sentimental 

attachment.  It's because of this attachment that gowns require special 

handling. And the older the dress, the more challenging the restoration and 

cleaning process.  The best way to preserve a wedding gown, according to 

experts, is to take it to a professional dry cleaner for cleaning and packing 

away. If you go this route, check the gown over carefully first for stains,

spills and tears before taking it to the cleaners. You can point them out for 

special attention; different types of stains require different treatments on 

delicate fabrics. Dry cleaners who specialize in such once-in-a-lifetime 

preservations will check the gown for loose pearls, threads, buttons and other 

problems. Once the dress is leaned and pressed, it is ready to be stored 

permanently. This process, called heirlooming, involves storing the gown on a 

hanger in a heavy plastic bag or wrapping it in acid-free tissue in a vacuum-

sealed archival box.  The process can cost anywhere from $115 to $150.

The dress should be stored in a cool, dry area away from fluorescent light. 

Ultraviolet light will destroy silk very fast. The dress should not be stored in 

the attic, garage or basement because of extreme temperature and humidity 

changes. Avoid storing in wooden dressers - even cedar chests - because the 

wood gives off gasses and is highly acidic, which affects the dress. The trick 

more than anything is humidity in the house. The ideal temperature is 65 

degrees with a humidity level of 48 percent. Humidity that gets over 55 percent 

for any length of time will grow mold. Even though the expense for this process 

may seem high, it will be worth it to you to some day see your daughter walking 

down the aisle in the dress you wore on your special day.