In the bridal world, a “sample” is the dress that brides try on in the store. Many of our brides try on the sample gown and then order in a new one for various reasons (size, color preference, customs, etc).
A sample sale is when a store is selling the sample dresses off the rack, usually for a discount!
First things first – why would a store sell their sample dresses? Well, stores order new dresses about twice a year when designers release their new collections. One reason is that we simply need to make room for the new collections and the best way to do that is to sell some of the gowns already in the store.
Another reason is that dresses are discontinued by the designer. And, there is also the risk of holding onto a dress for so long that it becomes unwearable from the wear and tear.
Our favorite reason to sell them, however, is to make the bride’s vision work in light of any limitations there may be.
There are many reasons that a bride may opt to purchase a sample gown. One of the most common reasons is when the bride is on a strict timeline and does not have time to order.
Our designers ship dates run about 4-6 months to order in a new dress, and sometimes their rush dates cannot accommodate the bride’s schedule. This is a convenient option for brides because they get to take the dress home with them that day! We have had brides come in as late as the DAY BEFORE her wedding and purchase a sample. If we can make it work, we will!
Other times, the dress is discontinued before the right bride could find her, and we cannot reorder it for her. That is where the sample comes into play! Given that the gown is around the size needed and that the appropriate alterations can be done to make the dress work, the bride would take the dress and keep her safe until it was time to begin alterations.
Sample sales are a great option for brides on a budget! These sales usually have a very decent selection of gowns available, and they can be marked down pretty significantly! The marked down price is often determined by the condition of the gown being offered off the rack. Slight wear and tear is common on these, but seamstresses are fully equipped to make your dress look as good as new!
This also goes for brides who purchase an off the rack dress that does not quite fit yet. We have personally seen a bride fall in love with the discontinued dress of her dreams that was a few sizes too small. She then worked with a seamstress to redesign the back and it was as good as new! We have also seen a size 12 taken down to a size 0 that looked absolutely perfect (** please note that this is NOT recommended and will NOT work with every dress. There is typically a hefty cost associated with altering a dress that much).
Stores across the country typically offer sample sales a few times a year, but one unique aspect of Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo is that ours goes all year round! We feature them in our online Sample Closet that is updated continuously because it changes continuously!
Interested in the dress of your dreams? Find it HERE in our Sample Closet – click on the photo for the dress designer, name, color, size, original price, and sale price! To make an appointment to try them on, click HERE and tell us which ones you want to try!