Saying Yes to the perfect dress at your bridal appointment is one of the most magical experiences you will have. You are going to get married in that dress on your special day, and that’s extraordinary!
You are excited to go on the hunt no doubt. To keep that floating on air feeling, Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo offers some tips for a successful bridal appointment.
When Do I Start Looking For My Wedding Dress?
The best time to shop for and purchase your gown is 9 to 12 months before the wedding. You will see all the new arrivals and have enough time for it to arrive. You will need 4-6 weeks for your expert alterations.
How Long Does It Take For A Dress To Arrive Once Ordered?
Special orders take approximately four months. Some designers keep an inventory of gowns and therefore some are available for immediate shipping. Be careful of those high-pressure sales tactics saying you “must order this bridal gown right now or it won’t come in in time”, or that you have to pay a rush fee when you in fact do not.
Read more on this in our blog “How Long Does It Take For A Wedding Dress To Arrive”.
At Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo you can also purchase dresses off the rack at discounts all year long.
What Day Of The Week Is Best?
If you don’t mind a crowd and love high-energy, Saturdays or Sundays are the days for you at Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo! Weekend appointments are the busiest and book up in advance, so same-day appointments on weekends are difficult to get.
If you are a private or more introverted type, a weekday afternoon or evening would be perfect for you.
How Long Is A Bridal Appointment?
At Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo, bridal gown shopping is a 90 minute appointment. Your appointment time may be extended if space allows.
How Many Guests Should I Bring?
It’s up to you. We’ve had groups of 12+ and we’ve had solo appointments. At Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo we allow the bride to bring four guests, and make arrangements for additional guests, as requested.
Your wedding gown is a very big decision, so you want to have people whose opinions you value to help you choose the perfect gown. Keep in mind that more people usually means more talking and less time trying on gowns. If you feel overwhelmed, be sure to tell your stylist. She is there for you.
We also wrote a blog on guest etiquette that you may want to forward to your group prior to dress shopping.
What Should I Expect At My Bridal Appointment?
At Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo, you can expect to be welcomed and treated in a friendly manner. We welcome everyone! We also do not employ high pressure or pushy sales tactics.
You will have an expert stylist who is dedicated, professional, highly trained, kind, and fun! Many of our stylists are engaged or recently married, and know exactly where you are in the process.
Because our bridal stylists reach out prior to your appointment, we will already have introduced ourselves, obtained your Pinterest dress style boards, know your likes and dislikes, wedding aesthetic details, approximate size, and dress budget. Dresses matching your vision will be selected in advance to show you! You can then shop our dress gallery and choose additional dresses to try.
You can pick any you like (we recommend that you stick to those within your budget, though!) and during the appointment your stylist will pull a few that you would never have chosen for yourself, based on your feedback. You might be pleasantly surprised at one of those “wildcards”!
You will try on dresses in a private fitting room, and then head to the viewing areas where you and your guests can see the gowns on you. The dresses you love will be set aside, the ones not in the running will be put away. You will try the favorites on again to see which one is your dress!
When you find your dress, you can expect a big cheer with lots of hugs! You will be professionally measured to determine the correct bridal size to order, and complete the purchase transaction. Then you will have your “I Said Yes To The Dress” photos, you will sign our dress, and get a swag bag with champagne and other goodies. It is an amazing time and a memory you will never forget!
What Else Should I Know?
- You are not going to hurt your stylist’s feelings by not trying on/not liking a dress. We want to keep the wrong gowns off and the right ones on!
- It is your wedding day and your decision. Opinions are fine, but don’t say yes to someone else’s dress. Dress regret is a terrible thing.
- Bridal shoes are not necessary, but if you prefer to add a little height you can bring comfortable shoes that are easily slipped on and off.
- A strapless bra is fine to wear if you wish and can be removed if necessary to get the full effect of a backless or illusion-back gown. Gowns have built in corsets and cups so bras are not necessary.
- Do not go gown shopping on an empty stomach and bring your water bottle!
- Gowns have beautiful necklines and straps, intricate laces and beading. If you have long hair, definitely bring a hair tie so you can put it up and get the full effect.
- Your stylist will ask you if you prefer a bit of privacy in the dressing room or if you want her in with you. We want you to be comfortable.
- You can purchase your accessories at the same time, or make a separate accessory appointment after your dress arrives to complete your bridal look.
- If you are a curvy bride, make sure the stores you visit have plus size dresses in all styles for you to try on. Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo is size-inclusive with a great selection of plus size wedding dresses (to size 32).
- Designer wedding dresses run small, your bridal size will typically be 1 to 2 sizes larger than your normal size.
- Wedding dresses are final sale. They are unable to be canceled once ordered, and there are no refunds. Be sure to read any contract before signing to agree with the bridal store’s terms and conditions.
More Bridal Appointment FAQs
It is likely you will be anxious and filled with more questions…
- What if I don’t like anything? (You will!)
- What if nothing looks good on me? (Many will!)
- What if I don’t have the moment where I find the right dress? (You will, and it’s amazing!)
Here is even more information in our blog “8 Things Stylists Wish You Knew Before Your Bridal Appointment”.
Make Your Appointment At Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo!
We will make the search for your dream wedding dress fun, exciting, and a core memory to treasure. And, once you say yes to your dream dress, you can come back for suits and tuxedos, and mother of the bride and groom dresses! Our seamstress will make sure everyone looks perfect. We are a full service, one-stop shop with the best reviews on Google and the best team in the business. Visit our bridal store today and see for yourself.
About Us
Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo is owned by Franco and Wendy Salerno. We founded the store in January, 2013 with a mission of running an honest, kind, and family-oriented bridal and tuxedo business. The name is a combination of our two daughters, Daria and Deanna. Today, our business is a Bucks County staple and the go-to place for wedding attire. Our long-time employees are kind, genuine, and truly part of the family. The lasting relationships we have made with customers, vendors, and designers are something we are truly grateful for.
Our store received national recognition in July, 2025 on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. In 2024, Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo was named a Top 100 Small Business in America by the US Chamber of Commerce. We have been featured by Apple.com, ABC National News, TLC’s “Say Yes: Wedding SOS”, the Wall Street Journal, Square, and Axios. We are approaching 1,000 Google reviews with a 4.9 rating, and listed in the Knot’s “Hall of Fame”.
Locally, we are active members of the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce, the Montco Gateway Chamber of Commerce (formerly the Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce), and the Lower Bucks County Chamber of Commerce serving on committees and as board members. Franco was Treasurer, Executive Committee member and a Board member of the Lower Bucks Chamber of Commerce and their 2024 Mitchell-Conner award winner. He was also a board member of the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce for many years. Wendy is a former Chair of the Women In Business, awarded Entrepreneur of the Year in 2023, and named a 2025 Bucks County Parent Woman of Influence. Our daughter Daria is a former wish granter for the Make-A-Wish® foundation. We proudly partner with St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Angel Gowns, Wish Upon A Wedding, and donate to local schools and community band, choir, and theater programs.