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Choosing the wedding dress of your dreams is a moment brides treasure. Maybe you even thought about it when you were a little girl, picturing yourself in a beautiful and sparkly wedding dress. It will be a core memory, one you will never forget. So when it is your time, how do you go about choosing a bridal shop?
Here are 5 important things to consider when choosing a bridal shop and some additional questions to ask to help you find the best one for you!
1 – Online Reviews
This may be the most obvious, because online reviews reveal so much about bridal shops. Brides are particular in their expectations for services and experience. Some want over the top, some want just the opposite, many are in the middle. The top-rated bridal salons will have hundreds of glowing reviews.
Brides are incredibly honest in their online reviews. When they have a great experience, they will go into great detail. You can feel her excitement when reading the review. These are genuine and when there are hundreds of lovely 5-star reviews, you have found a perfect place to try. There is a very good chance that you will have that same experience.
No store is perfect, however. If they have just a few negative reviews, these brides may have been expecting something they did not receive. This may or may not be the store’s fault. Either way, there are certain common threads for stores:
Positive
- friendly and fun atmosphere
- knowledgeable and patient stylists
- good selection
- affordable prices
- excellent customer service
- clean store
Negative
- high pressure
- dishonest
- phony or impatient staff
- disorganized
- dirty store/dresses
Go for the ones with the common positive themes because there is a high likelihood you will receive that same service, and have that same experience! Avoid those with common negative review themes.
2 – The Dresses: Inventory, Sizing, Designers
Bridal stores range in size, which means they will range in the number of sample dresses they are able to carry. Large stores may have hundreds of gowns, smaller stores will have fewer.
And just because the store is large and has hundreds of gowns, that doesn’t mean they are new and up-to-date. It’s something to find out.
You will only be able to try on a certain number of gowns at your appointment, therefore, the most important things to find out are:
- what designers do they carry?
- do they have new dresses from the latest collections?
- are they aware of the latest trends?
- do they have accessory pieces you can try with your favorites?
- do they have a good selection in your style/aesthetic and fabric preference?
Have a theme or wedding aesthetic? For instance, if your theme is Princess Fairy Tale, the bridal store needs to have plenty of options in ball gown silhouettes. However, if you are going for modern minimalist vibe, you aren’t looking for a dramatic ball gown, you want simple and clean. Their websites and social channels should help you with preliminary research on their gown selections.
Are you a plus size bride? If so, make sure they have a wide variety of gowns for your body shape and size to try. Some stores simply are not size-inclusive and it makes it very difficult to have a good experience. You will not get a true idea of how different styles will look on you if nothing can be realistically tried on.
Looking for particular wedding dress designers? Find a store that carries them and make sure they have ample choice to try on. You can also ask (or check their website’s Events page) to find out about scheduled trunk shows. Trunk shows allow you to see even more dresses!
Looking for a style only at your first appointment? Be aware that you can try on so many dresses and become overwhelmed. Do keep an open mind, but choose a wedding dress boutique that has professional bridal consultants to guide you to the perfect dress for your personal style.
Note: Do you (or any of your guests) have mobility issues or a disability? If so, make sure they are ADA compliant with staff that knows the appropriate ways to assist in dressing you; and that the store is able to accommodate wheelchairs, walkers, etc.
3 – Responsiveness of the Store
We’ve all had those times when we could not get a call back or response from someone. When planning your wedding day, you absolutely must have vendors you can easily and quickly get a hold of. Your bridal boutique is one of those vendors!
Make sure the bridal store you choose has not only many ways to get hold of them, and that they respond quickly. This is an emotional and sometimes stressful time and you want your questions answered immediately. The best bridal shops have a number of ways to contact them for immediate response. The right wedding dress shop will show this very high level of customer service.
The last thing you want to hear when you need help is the response, “Someone will get back to you in 24 hours”. Do not settle for that.
4 – Price Points
Chances are good you set a dress budget. Bridal stores vary widely in price points. Make sure the wedding dress shops you choose to visit have a good selection of affordable bridal gowns at and under your budgeted price range.
Ask where the store starts price-wise to order new, and if they sell off the rack gowns at discounts. If you are a budget bride, many stores hold sample sales at different times of the year where you can find your perfect wedding dress at a substantial discount.
Do not set a bridal appointment at a store that is mostly over your price point. That will only cause anxiety.
5 – Choosing A Bridal Shop: Other Offerings and Services
Does the store offer accessories, men’s wear and other wedding party attire? A store that carries suits and tuxedos and mother of the bride/groom dresses helps keep everything organized and under one roof.
How many guests are allowed at the appointment? Some smaller boutiques do not have the space to host large groups. If you have friends and family members you’d like to bring, make sure the store can accommodate everyone.
Some stores offer alterations on site. Depending on the store, this can be helpful or simply a moneymaker. Ask about their alteration pricing and policies up front, such as “flat fees” (where you may wind up paying much more than you would at a private seamstress). If they say alterations are included in the price of the dress, research the actual MSRP of the dress because they may add hundreds more to the price to say they are “included”.
Reputable bridal stores that do not offer on-site alteration services will partner with trusted and vetted small businesses. These bridal and dress-making seamstresses will be skilled in customization options if you wish to add or change something on your dress. You will have a private appointment where you can take your time discussing the final tweaks of your dress!
What Sets Stores Apart?
Comparing other services and benefits can help you in choosing a bridal shop. For instance do they:
- Operate on commission? (Our Philadelphia-based store does not operate on commission.)
- Have a reputation of being high pressure?
- Reach out prior to your visit to get to know you and your unique style, wedding details, and preferences?
- Offer high-quality, affordable wedding dresses in your budget?
- Practice size inclusivity?
- Introduce their staff members on the website to make you comfortable before you arrive?
- Have a chat and/or text service for immediate contact?
- Have an active social media presence on all platforms?
- Offer an engaging and modern website that is easy to navigate?
- Have an engaging and credible blog with useful topics?
- Have many positive reviews on different platforms, and respond in a professional and kind manner? It is important to see how they handle the negative reviews/difficult situations.
- Charge for the appointment or require a credit card to charge you if you cannot make it? If so, how are they securely storing your information?
- Have convenient operating hours?
- Meet ADA requirements?
- Offer easy parking areas?
We hope this helps you in choosing a bridal shop that will be the best fit for you, because you want to have the best wedding dress shopping experience(s) possible!
Final Advice
We suggest visiting 1-3 stores maximum. By the third store you are going to start getting confused. How many dresses you have to try on until you find the right dress? That is a decision you will make, however we have seen brides who have gone to five or more stores and by the time they get to us they are discouraged and frustrated. What started as fun and exciting has turned into a confusing chore.
We suggest:
- do your research using the guidelines above
- make a list of potential bridal salons you would like to visit
- make a Pinterest board to help your stylist pull the wedding dress styles closest to the style of gown you pinned
Your dream wedding dress is out there. You will know when you find it. If you fall in love with your perfect gown on your first time out, feel confident in saying yes to the dress. Once you do, you can move on to other aspects of wedding planning.
If you need additional wedding dress shopping advice, contact us on our website or text us at 215-491-8500, our knowledgeable staff will be happy to advise! Need to know what to consider when choosing your tuxedo shop? Read this helpful blog here to find the best one for you!
About the Author: Wendy Salerno is a co-founder and co-owner of multi-award winning Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo. Now in their 12th year of business, she and her husband, Franco have built a community staple bridal and tuxedo store in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Under her leadership, the business expanded significantly and is renowned for its customer-centric approach, including a no pressure, honest, and friendly environment. Her company was named one of America’s top 100 small businesses by the US Chamber of Commerce, and Wendy was named the 2023 Entrepreneur of the Year by the Lower Bucks County Chamber of Commerce. She is a mother of two daughters, Daria and Deanna, and is dedicated to charitable causes, including St. Jude’s, Angel Gowns, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She and Franco reside in Warrington, PA, enjoy international travel, and are members of Chaîne des Rôtisseurs.