Some women, legend has it, start searching for the perfect wedding gown long before they settle on the groom. But for too many brides with groom-in-hand, the journey toward the wedding dress of their dreams is littered not with rose petals, but with stress, pain and tears.
1. Don’t let the dress break your bank: The bride is the centerpiece, not the dress. Determine your wedding budget and allocate only a fraction of it to your dress.
2. Don’t disrespect the salesperson: You’ll get better customer service if you are upfront with your sales associate about your budget, rather than wasting time trying on dresses you can’t possibly afford and dresses that don’t fit your size or body type. Making an appointment will go along way to getting focused attention – and try to shop during the week: Saturdays are busy days for bridal shops, and attention is in short supply.
3. Don’t bring your ego: Don’t be offended if the salesperson makes you try on a size 12 when you are actually a size 4. Bridal gowns tend to run small and almost always need tailoring.
4. Don’t skip your research: You’ve read the magazines, you’ve watched the shows. Now call around and shop online to see what’s available. If you’re treated rudely on the phone, don’t expect better treatment in person. Determine store policies regarding bankruptcy, fire, and other potential factors that would force the store to shut down or your gown to be damaged, lost or unavailable. While you may find a good deal on a gown – be cautious of any bridal shop going out of business.
5. Don’t be pressured: Trying on 50 dresses in one long day of shopping will turn you into a “bridezilla.” Set aside an afternoon or two. Give yourself the time to focus. Take notes.
6. Don’t forget your shoes: Whether it’s in the shopping or alteration phase, be sure you have your wedding shoes or you won’t see the full image you need to make a decision.
7. Don’t bring an entourage: Sales people cringe when they have to battle too many bridesmaids’ opinions. Bring your mother or a trusted friend who will help facilitate a good decision, not try to force a quick one.
8. Do not pay in full: If your dress needs tailoring, put down the minimum deposit on a credit card and stretch out the rest of the payments until you can take the dress with you. Pay with a credit card, so you can file a claim dispute if necessary.
9. Don’t wait: If you’re ordering your dress, give the shop a dress delivery date that is actually 2-4 weeks earlier than your real date and be sure it’s recorded correctly in the store. Ask what happens if the dress does not come in by the projected date. Ask who pays for expedited delivery should it become necessary. After you have placed your order, call the shop every 5 weeks to make sure they are on top of things. If you’re having a dress from the rack tailored in the same shop, be sure it will be finished well before the wedding date.
10. Don’t forget about the cost of wedding dress alterations: Most wedding dresses need to be altered, and that can add a lot to the cost of your dress. Be sure your seamstress is qualified and experienced, or the gown you bought may look drastically different once altered.
No comments:
Post a Comment