The wedding dress shopping process has drastically changed in post-pandemic America and we have adapted to reduce the stress it caused. What happened and what changed?
Wedding date changes, shipping delays, and fabric shortages presented challenges across the industry, and in the time since, many stores and designers have changed the way they operate. While many of these challenges have been rectified, the changes we adopted are permanent and forward thinking, and will allow us to continue offering the type of service we are known for.
With venues still booked solid from dates being pushed back and couples choosing faster timelines, it can make the ordering process stressful and complicated. At Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo, we decided to adapt to accommodate couples of all timelines, budgets, and circumstances!
Prior to the Covid-19 shutdown
The majority of our brides who were wedding dress shopping opted to try on our in-store sample gown and order one new. A bride may choose to order a new gown for a variety of reasons including sizing, color way options, and customizations. Ordering a gown new can take up to 5-6 months to arrive in the store, and alterations typically take about 6-8 weeks to complete.
After Covid
We began to find that many brides did not have the time to wait that long for a dress. We also found that many brides who were forced to postpone their wedding (or had a small ceremony during Covid and a reception after) either wanted or needed a new dress, but did not want to spend as much as they had on their first gown. To adapt to this need, we decided to begin offering the majority of our gowns as options to purchase off-the-rack!
The Sample Closet
We began displaying many of our off-the-rack dresses on our website in a new section called “The Sample Closet”. Brides are able to scroll through the ‘closet’ to see a huge selection of gowns are available to be purchased and taken home that very day!
We also have many gowns that are available off-the-rack that are in-store exclusive. Of our almost 300 bridal gowns, there are only about 10 that cannot be purchased off-the-rack. Of course we can still order any active gown in other sizes and colors, but this offers more flexibility to brides who are wedding dress shopping on a stricter timeline.
Off The Rack Gowns
Another benefit of our off-the-rack gown program is that these gowns are discounted! Some of our newer styles may only be discounted by 10% while styles that are a little older or more loved may be marked as low as $500. We offer gowns in all shapes, sizes, and colors, most in like-new condition, so brides are bound to find dresses they love at prices that will work for them.
Purchasing one of our sample gowns has been an amazing option for brides of all budgets! We have even sold gowns to multiple brides with weddings the very next day. We have plenty to work with!
Keeping in mind the issue of timing, we began focusing on designers who began offering quick ship options and a healthy stock of inventory. One designer that has been wonderful for brides on a strict timeline is Morilee. They began keeping a large inventory on hand of many styles for brides who need a dress quickly. Casablanca offers an 8 week quick ship on a handful of their best styles, and ramped up their in-house stock of gowns for even faster wear dates. Sophia Tolli is a new designer of ours with a large number of gowns in stock, and with a warehouse just over the bridge in New Jersey, we can have in-stock gowns within 3 business days!
If your wedding is coming up and you are stressing about wedding dress shopping, whether it’s finding a gown in time, sizing concerns, or you have a budget that you are worried about limiting you, have no fear. Book an appointment at Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo and let our friendly, expert staff help you find exactly what you are looking for!