Wedding dress shopping should be an exciting, memorable, and magical time! However, sometimes a bad in-store experience can put a damper on your special day. Between pushy consultants and hidden costs, there are a lot of factors that can add stress to what’s supposed to be a fun experience. Knowing what bridal store scams to watch out for can save you tons of stress during your wedding planning! Since wedding dress shopping is often a once in a lifetime experience, there’s no way you’d know what bridal store scams to look out for. After all, it’s not like you make a weekly trip to the bridal salon like you do the grocery store! There are a few red flags to be aware of when visiting a bridal shop. If you do your research and know what to avoid and be aware of when shopping, you’ll walk out feeling confident and accomplished - as you should! Common Bridal Store Scams A bridal salon’s job is to find you your perfect dress. Your consultant should make you feel special and taken care of. Don’t settle for anything less. Take a look at these common bridal store scams before hitting the racks with your “I do crew”! Scam #1: Not Really Telling You the Cost of the Wedding Dress Before booking an appointment at a bridal shop, look at their website to get an idea of what their wedding dresses cost. Many stores claim to have gowns within a certain price range, yet only carry a handful within the lower end of that price range. Call ahead to be sure that you’ll have plenty of dress options to try on that fit your budget. Watch Out for Bridal Consultant Scams! On top of unforthcoming websites, some stores don’t even list prices on their sample dresses! Always be clear about how much you are willing to spend so you can avoid trying on an out-of-budget dress. Your consultant should know your budget, and should never put you in a gown that is out of your budget. Check the tags when trying on dresses. If a shop does not include price tags on their sample dresses, be sure to ask before trying anything on. If a shop is not transparent about pricing and is unwilling to answer questions, they're probably trying to catch you in a bridal store scam! Scam #2: Not Being Transparent About Additional Costs Before committing to the perfect wedding dress, ask about additional fees. Bridal stores can easily scam you if you don't ask questions. For example, how much does shipping cost? Are you required to get alterations at the same shop? What is this store’s return policy (if they even have one)? Read the Fine Print of Your Contract Make sure you aren’t tied to any additional purchases with the shop, such as bridesmaid dresses or tuxedos. If you are, make sure that you’re ok with it. Many bridal salons provide you with a contract to sign at the time of your purchase. Review this agreement so that you know what to expect when it comes to shipping, sizing, and alterations. Your consultant should go over any contracts with you, but take time to read the fine print so you can watch out for hidden bridal store scams! A wedding dress is a big purchase. Scam #3: Improperly Taking Measurements When you say, “yes!” to the dress, your consultant will measure you and instruct you to order a specific size based on the dress designer. This goes for all special order wedding dresses (not the ones “off the rack”). Your consultant should measure your bust, waist, and hips to determine your correct size. It’s common for an individual to measure in between sizes, and that's why alterations are important! Find an Experienced Bridal Consultant While your consultant is only responsible for taking three measurements, it's important that they're properly trained. Although taking your measurements improperly may not be a scam, it's a common mistake that consultants can make! Here are some tricks to make sure you're working with an experienced consultant: Your bust measurement should be taken from where your bra sits on your back and then straight across your breasts. Your consultant should NOT measure your ribcage or above the fullest part of your breast. If they do, this is a red flag. Your waist measurement should be taken around your natural waist. The easiest way to find this is to bend to the side and measure where you would bend. If your consultant measures any higher or lower, this is a red flag. Hips differ for everyone - some sit lower, some higher. No matter what your hip shape, your consultant should measure the widest part of your hips. It's very common to order a few sizes up, as bridal sizing runs smaller than American street sizing. However, if you feel like you’ve been measured incorrectly, speak up! Pushy consultants and unaccommodating shops are clear warning signs of bridal store scams. Scam #4: Sizing Incorrectly to Force You into Unnecessary Alterations Almost every wedding dress requires alterations - that's normal! Taking a dress in a few inches or adjusting a strap is common in the bridal world. Some shops offer alterations in-house. However, these shops may take advantage of customers, sizing you incorrectly so you have to pay more in alteration costs. However... If you need to re-make a dress or take extreme measures to get it to fit, you've been caught in a bridal store scam! Watch out if a bridal shop's in-house seamstress or consultant pushes you to order a size that's WAY off. They're likely coercing you into alterations that are much more expensive than normal. Be wary of pushy seamstresses and consultants, as they're often associated with bridal store scams! Scam #5: Not Providing Vendor Referrals Whether a bridal shop offers alterations or not, they should give you insight on what you may need done. They should brainstorm customizations with you, such as adding sleeves to a dress. At the very least, a bridal shop should connect you with a good seamstress if they are unable to provide alterations or customizations. A good bridal shop employee answers questions with, "while I don't know everything about that, I can connect you with someone who can answer your question in more detail," when they aren't able to provide you with the information you need. If they don’t have recommendations or are unable to answer your questions, find a shop that will walk you through the whole process. This is exactly why the Wedding Shoppe offers pick up and try on appointments; we can help you determine any conversations you should have with your seamstress and connect you with an awesome alterations professional! Your Bridal Shop Should be an Expert in the Wedding Industry On top of suggesting great seamstresses, bridal shops should refer you to other vendors, such as florists and photographers. In terms of non-apparel vendors, stores should be connected enough to provide some word-of-mouth recommendations! This shows that they listen to other brides and take time to learn about their weddings. Wedding professionals should be well-connected to the wedding community. If not, they may not be as experienced as you think! Scam #6: Not Caring for Sample Sale Gowns Shopping sample sales is a great way to save money and stretch your wedding budget. Plus, you get to bring your dress home with you the very same day! While this is a good way to get a designer gown at a fraction of the sticker price, there's a few things to take note of before bargain hunting. How Sample Gowns Are Treated Says A Lot About the Shop Pay attention to how the sample gowns are displayed in-store and how employees handle the gowns. Are the dresses in bags to prevent beading and lace from being damaged, or are they haphazardly hung on the rack in no particular order? Do the consultants handle the gowns with care, or do they fling them on hangers hurriedly? Sample gowns should be cared for so that they can eventually be marked down and sold directly to customers with a time crunch or tight budget. If a shop doesn’t take care of its dresses, they probably don’t take good care of their customers. It’s also a good idea to ask your consultant if the shop will clean the sample gown for you and mend any minor runs or rips. If not, they should at least provide you with a referral to a trusted vendor who can assist with these things. Don't Settle for Less Just Because You're Buying a Sample Gown When shopping for a sample dress, be sure it can be altered to fit you. A good bridal consultant will never put you in a dress that can’t be altered to your size when you’re shopping off the rack. On average, a bridal gown can be altered down at least two sizes. However, if a dress is falling off of you, or you’re unable to zip it up, you may want to keep looking. Great bridal shops will be able to find you a sample gown that fits your body and your budget! Scam #7: Unprofessional or Pushy Bridal Consultants Bridal consultants have an extremely important job: to find you your dream wedding dress! A good consultant is passionate, knowledgeable, and personable. They should be able to answer your questions, or find the answer by consulting a manger, manufacturer, or other professional. Be totally open about your wedding vision, budget, and any questions or concerns you have. A fantastic bridal consultant should be excited to hear your ideas and to get to know your style! It’s unlikely that you’ll fall in love with every dress you try on, but your consultants suggestions should match your taste. If your appointment isn’t going well, let your consultant know! Be honest about how you feel about every dress. With that being said, don’t be scared to try on something out of your comfort zone. You never know what you’ll fall in love with! Don't Let Consultants Pressure You If your consultant isn’t listening to you or seems pushy, they’re probably more interested in earning commission than helping you. This is an unfortunately common bridal store scam, as consultants may have quotas they need to meet. A consultant’s main goal should be helping brides find the perfect dress. Don’t settle for anything less! Let's Chat! Wedding dress shopping should be enjoyable and memorable. A bridal shop's job is to provide you with that! The bridal store scams mentioned here are some of the most common ways that stores can take away from your special day. Now that you know what to look out for, you'll be able to fully enjoy your wedding dress shopping experience and feel confident when trying on bridal gowns! Have any other tips for brides searching for their dream dress? Leave us a comment! You May Also Like... 2021 Wedding Color Guide >>
Before you say yes to a dress, check out these wedding dress shopping tips to ensure the perfect shopping experience.
As of the date this post gets published, there are 263 days until my sister says "I DO!" I am so excited for her! Jordan is a great guy and my kids adore him. You can tell a lot about a person by how they treat the people around them. Uncle Jordan has been pretty great since day one and Austin loves hanging out with him when we're all together. When he popped the question a couple of years ago it was not a huge surprise but a really exciting moment none the less. I immediately went into planning mode and sent my sister a planner, several magazines and a few other little things the day after she called to tell me the news. She, understandably wanted to focus on graduating from University first. I mean I get it...it's just...priorities...planners gotta plan! In May of this year my sister graduated with her Pharmacy degree. We all flew to St. John's to be part of the exciting event. And to make it even better we went DRESS SHOPPING!!!! While we found a few contenders, we didn't find the dress. Halloween weekend my sister flew to Halifax and we hit the bridal shops. I meticulously planned out the appointments, accounting for travel time and hockey games. Since the days were going to be jam packed- we only had 3 days to find the dress- I decided to make a Wedding Dress survival kit for her. The happy bride to be with her Starbucks and Bag at our first stop I found a great tutorial on Style me Pretty and it includes the image. I somehow managed to muck up the transfer because in barely showed on the bag. What's a girl to do? Grab a gold Sharpie and go over the image! I have to say I was thrilled with how it came out. I added a few useful items and gave it to her the morning of our first appointment. She loved it and we used everything in it so I consider this a successful DIY Pinterest project. Bride to Be Wedding Dress Shopping survival kit: Materials 1 Canvas Bag (I got mine at Michael's Craft Store) Iron on transfer paper Bride to Be image Gold Sharpie Survival Gear of choice. I included: Elastic headband Hair elastics Hand cream Ibuprofen Lip gloss Manicure Kit Pen Protein bar Small note book Tic Tacs Tissues Water bottle Follow the directions to print the image on the transfer paper. Trim the access paper around the image. Follow directions to transfer image to canvas bag. If you like it the way it is great, For a little extra something, trace the image over in gold sharpie, fill with goodies and give it to your bride to be! Oh and in case you are wondering- we found a dress on Day 2!! Janice is going to be one GORGEOUS bride. We also knocked out colours and bridesmaids dresses. I love me some wedding planning!
Be prepared and savor your special day! Here's all you need to bring when wedding dress shopping, including what undergarments to wear for your appointment.
You're gonna find more than one dress that feels like "the one," sorry!
Everything you need to know about what to wear wedding dress shopping as a guest! You wantto be comfortable enough to help the bride-to-be!
Shopping for your wedding dress is one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning. Can you picture how your wedding dress will look? Have you imagined it since you were a little girl? Maybe you’ve watched every episode of ‘Say Yes To The Dress’ or even started looking for your wedding dress before you …
This is one of the most exciting things about the wedding planning process. Most of you have probably dreamed about what your wedding dress would look like since you were a little girl. Make the most of your experience with this list of 7 things to know before you go. This post will help you prepare for the best wedding dress shopping experience.
Shopping for your wedding dress is one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning. Can you picture how your wedding dress will look? Have you imagined it since you were a little girl? Maybe you’ve watched every episode of ‘Say Yes To The Dress’ or even started looking for your wedding dress before you …
The past year has had a profound impact on us all. The global pandemic pushed us with blunt force into a space where we’ve had to examine and evaluate our lives and lifestyle choices. How many of us have sat and worked out how to save money in this crisis and reflect on how much ...
Shopping for your dream dress can be an amazing experience. We do want you to be comfortable and well prepared while shopping to make the process a lot smoother. From the proper shoes to makeup and undergarments, here are some of our tips for what to wear wedding dress
Who to invite with you to your wedding dress shopping appointments
You're gonna find more than one dress that feels like "the one," sorry!
- What I wish I had known before shopping for THE dress: wedding dress shopping tips you need to know before your first appointment...
10 Tips for the Perfect Wedding Dress Shopping Day; Ivory Loft; Metro Detroit Bridal Boutique; Detroit Michigan Bridal Boutique
Shopping for your wedding dress is one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning. Can you picture how your wedding dress will look? Have you imagined it since you were a little girl? Maybe you’ve watched every episode of ‘Say Yes To The Dress’ or even started looking for your wedding dress before you …
Get all your expert wedding dress shopping tips and ideas from this post. Style, inspiration, tips, and mistakes, we've got you covered.
What to Wear Wedding Dress Shopping: Things to Bring + Everything I Wish I Knew! This past weekend we went wedding dress shopping in Milwaukee and.. I said YES to the dress! It was such a fun experience and definitely made everything start to feel more real. We're still 14 months out from the big
Shopping for your wedding dress is one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning. Can you picture how your wedding dress will look? Have you imagined it since you were a little girl? Maybe you’ve watched every episode of ‘Say Yes To The Dress’ or even started looking for your wedding dress before you …
The most iconic part of the wedding process is wedding dress shopping. What could be a gruesome process of watching the bride to be trying on countless
Getting a perfect wedding dress can be quite challenging and a longer process compared to buying an outfit for work or any other occasion that a unique outfit. For most of us, it’s probably the first
Wedding dress shopping is one of the biggest parts of the wedding planning process, but it sure isn't the easiest! Read for my tips on making it go smoothly
Let me start by saying, I tried on 50+ wedding dresses and made appointments at multiple boutiques. I even considered making a special trip out to NYC with my
Buying the dress just got easier.
Shopping for your wedding dress can bring out a whole range of emotions - happiness, stress, excitement. The Wedding Shoppe wants to make your experience as memorable as possible for your special day! Whether you already have a style in mind or have no idea what kind of dress
What to Wear Wedding Dress Shopping: Things to Bring + Everything I Wish I Knew! This past weekend we went wedding dress shopping in Milwaukee and.. I said YES to the dress! It was such a fun experience and definitely made everything start to feel more real. We're still 14 months out from the big
A fashion stylist shares the three items you should bring wedding shopping and other wedding dress shopping tips.
Shopping for my wedding dress was seriously so much fun – below you’ll find some of my fave dresses, as well as a video of my shopping experience 🤍 check…
Wedding dress shopping can be something to look forward to or dread. These wedding dress shopping tips can help make shopping a wonderful experience.
You're gonna find more than one dress that feels like "the one," sorry!
You're gonna find more than one dress that feels like "the one," sorry!
Flats for brides is a wonderful and the most comfy alternative to the high-heeled shoe.There is some of a cute wedding flats variant.
Wedding dress shopping was one of the most exciting experiences! My mom and I went and my aunt and cousin surprised me at the store. It was just such a fun and surreal day. It’s almost overwh…
Celestial themed wedding dresses for your galaxy inspired wedding. Featuring designer Suzanne Harwards 'Star and Moon' gown, that's out of this world!
You're gonna find more than one dress that feels like "the one," sorry!
bride take dress shopping... and who to NOT bring with you when trying on bridal gowns! We'll explain why it matters when wedding planning...
You'll be saying yes to the dress with a bag full of goodies in tow!
This is one of the most exciting things about the wedding planning process. Most of you have probably dreamed about what your wedding dress would look like since you were a little girl. Make the most of your experience with this list of 7 things to know before you go. This post will help you prepare for the best wedding dress shopping experience.
Gather your bride tribe, because I have the world's easiest and, dare I say, most fun, wedding DIY project to share with you! This is a free download for you to make your own wedding dress shopping voting signs for when you and your bridesmaids go shopping! Now, they can give their opinion with these super cute, Instagram-worthy signs and all you have to is download and print them out! So exciting, I know! Have you ever seen those pictures on Instagram and on wedding blogs of brides shopping with their bridesmaids and their family, and the entire tribe has these cute little signs where everyone can vote on the dresses that they love and don't love? How about those fun and super adorable "I said yes to the dress" signs that brides hold up when they finally find "the one"? Where do they get these signs? Well, I've got the ultimate hook up! You can have those fun and funny votings signs for your dress shopping outings as a free download right here! Think it as my little gift to you and your tribe! I just want ot make wedding dress shopping fun for everyone! I designed six different signs that you can download right here and print at home for free. There are signs for your bridesmaids and there is one sign for you when you finally find the wedding dress of your dreams! The voting signs say: Hell to the no! Thats' the one! OMG Yes! Love, love, love it! Total yikes! Hmmmm maybe! Hard pass! I said yes to the dress! These dress voting signs are for your mom, your aunt, your friend, and/or your bridesmaids to cast their vote on the dresses as you try them on. They don't even have to say it, they can just hold up a vote sign! And, the last sign, that one's for you, the bride, for when you've found the wedding dress that you are going to wear on your big day! Click here to have the voting signs emailed right to you. Below are some instructions, but, really all you have to do is sign up, get the email, open the download and print. Even if you aren't the crafty type, I pinky promise that this is the easiest DIY project on the planet! HOW TO MAKE WEDDING DRESS SHOPPING VOTING SIGNS: You'll Need: Computer Printer 4 Pieces 8.5 X 11 card stock Scissors or paper cutter Tape or glue 8 Craft sticks Directions: 1. Download the Free Wedding Dress Shopping Voting Signs for free right here. Helpful Hints: This is a PDF document that will be emailed to you. So, once you sign up, go check your email. Once you click "download," you will find it wherever your downloads are stored on your computer. 2. Print the document you just downloaded Helpful Hints: Make sure that your printer is set to "landscape" to ensure that the document prints properly. The heavier the stock or thickness of your paper, the better. You can certainly print the signs on plain printer paper and have your bridesmaids or family hold the paper signs up to cast their vote. You do not need to use the craft sticks to make signs! But, if you do want to use the craft sticks to make the signs like I did in the pictures on this blog post, you will need paper that is thicker than regular printer paper, called "card stock," so that the signs don't flop. These voting signs are designed with three different colors (gray, black and blue). If you want to save printer ink, be sure to check "black & white only" on your printer settings. If you don't want to print out the first page of instructions, make sure to set your printer to only print pages 2 - 4. 3. Cut out each sign design Helpful Hints: There are five pieces of paper in the download. The first page is instructions, which you don't need to print out (see hint above). Each page after the first page has two separate voting signs that you will need to cut apart. Cut down the middle and along the gray edges to form a border for your signs. 4. Secure your signs to craft sticks Helpful Hints: This is where you can get creative! But, you don't have to, since this is a DIY project for the non-crafty type! To turn your printed voting cards into handheld signs for your bride tribe to vote, you'll need to attach each card to a craft stick. You may use popsicle sticks, straws, tongue depressors, paint stirrer sticks, and more. For our photos, we used jumbo craft sticks with rounded edges found on Amazon. We taped the sticks to the back of each sign using clear packaging tape. And that's it! So super simple! Just download the signs right here, print and pass them out when you go wedding dress shopping with your bride tribe! ****** Will you promise to send me pictures ([email protected]) of you and your bridesmaids and family with the signs!? Better yet, you can tag me on Instagram @gartergirl or use my hashtag #tooprettytotoss! I can't wait to see you using the voting signs! And, I can't wait to see you with your "I said yes to the dress" sign because that means that you found the most amazing wedding dress! Remember, you can shop for blue, vintage, classic and modern garter heirlooms anytime in my garter shop or get in touch with me at [email protected] for information on custom designing a garter just for you! If you have any more garter questions, check out my garter 101 blog series or find all of my wedding planning advice here on my blog.
Shopping for wedding dresses can be such an exciting bridal experience! This post dives into 5 Helpful People you want to Bring Wedding Dress Shopping to your dress appointment.
Beginning to look at wedding dresses and aren't sure What to bring wedding dress shopping? This post dives into 4 things to bring with you wedding dress shopping!
Tips for wedding dress shopping from an Austin wedding planner and former bridal stylist. As a bridal stylist, I often heard brides talk about how nervous or overwhelmed they were for dress shopping.
