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There can be a lot of pitfalls that brides fall into
when shopping for that perfect dress for their special day. To help you make a
more informed purchase here are 12 tips to make your shopping experience
smoother and more enjoyable.
1. Set a price limit on how much you're willing
to spend on a a gown.
Gowns range from a few hundred dollars to several
thousand dollars. You need to have a good idea on what you're willing to spend.
Then when you visit bridal shops, fib and give them a figure 10% to 20% LESS
than what you've decided on. The reason behind this is because sales clerks will
often trying to upsell you by bringing out gowns that are slightly over your
budget range hoping you'll fall in love with the gown and buy it anyway.
2. Know your figure shape.
When looking through magazines, please remember these
are super thin models that make all the gowns look beautiful. In the real world,
we all come in different sizes and shapes, so what looks good in a magazine may
look horrendous on your figure. You need to focus on styles that will flatter
your figure type. Check out this article:
How To Flatter Your
Figure, to help determine your figure shape.
3. Ask for bridal shop recommendations.
Talk with everyone you know who has just recently been
married to find out what their experiences have been with various bridal shops.
Remember, customer service is just as important as the gown you choose.
4. Shop during the week.
Don't shop on Saturdays. Weekends are when brides are
out in full force shopping for their gowns and accessories. Instead, choose to
go during the week when it's quieter and you can receive undivided attention.
Many bridal shops stay open during the evening hours.
5. Fib about your wedding date.
You will be asked when your "big day" is...and it's best
to fib by "moving" your date up by about 4 weeks. This will help ensure that
your gown actually arrives in time for your wedding and gives you some breathing
room to get any alterations done. Too many times, brides have been near tears
because their wedding gown hasn't arrived or has arrived so close to the wedding
date, that they've become anxious wrecks. You don't want to be rushed or thrown
into a panic just before your wedding day.
6. Bring a buddy with you.
Always bring a friend or family member with you when
shopping. Obviously, it's good to have an unbiased second opinion when trying on
gowns. Also, you're excited and maybe be coerced by a sales clerk into buying
something on the spur of the moment that you will later regret. Be sure you have
someone with you who is cool-headed and practical to keep you grounded.
7. Take your time when choosing a gown.
Don't allow yourself to be rushed in to purchasing
anything. Your first shopping excursion should help you get an idea on what
styles look good on you and to find a bridal shop that you're happy with. Take
notes on various gowns you really like (make a quick sketch of the gown too).
Narrow down your gown choices to 2 or 3 gowns...then go home! Take a few days to
review your notes, perhaps compare gowns online, and generally get a clearer
perspective on what you saw. Then go back and re-try the dresses you had decided
on.
8. Ask the store lots of questions.
There are many hidden fees and policies that you may not
be aware of when purchasing a bridal gown. Here are some of the more important
points you should ask about:
a) Who's the manufacturer of the dress?
b) How long will it take to get the dress in?
c) What kind of payment policies does the shop have?
d) How much of a deposit is required? Can you pay by credit card?
e) What is the store's refund and cancellation policy? (get it in writing!)
f) What are the costs of alterations? (get a written estimate)
g) Are there shipping fees? Size fees for extra large sizes or petites?
h) Are their rush fees? (if you have to have your gown sooner)
9. Bring a vinyl tape measure with you.
Make sure the shop takes your measurements with a vinyl
tape measure, not cloth. The cloth tape measures get stretched and will give
inaccurate measurements (larger than expected). This, not surprisingly, will
result in "required alterations" when the dress arrives. Bring your own vinyl
tape with you, so that if the store doesn't have one, you can provide your own
and get an accurate measurement done. Make sure they measure your bust, waist,
hips and from the hollow of your throat to hemline (for length).
10. Don't base your choice on dress size.
You may be a size 8, but manufacturer sizes vary widely
when it comes to bridal gowns. A size 8 from one manufacturer may be a size 12
from another. Ask the clerk to see the listed manufacturer's dress size chart
when choosing a gown, so you have a better idea on what size you'll be needing,
once you're measurements are taken.
11. Don't put your gown on a layaway plan.
While you're busy paying down your gown (that you don't
have yet), the manufacturer may discontinue the line or go out of business. Now
you're left with no gown (and often no refund policy either). End result? You'll
have to start all over and find a new gown to purchase from that bridal store.
12. Make your own headpiece.
Most bridal shops charge $150 to $300 (or more) for
headpieces that cost less than $20 to make yourself. They aren't hard to make
and there are several good books and patterns available to help you out. If you
aren't crafty, find someone who is that would make it for you for a small fee.
Another option is to rent a headpiece or buy one from a resale/consignment
store.
This article originally
appeared .
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