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PRACTICAL TIPS FOR A PLEASANT BRIDAL GOWN SHOPPING EXPERIENCE There has never been a greater array of choices in wedding dresses than you’ll find available at One Enchanted Evening today. You’re certain to find a dress that makes you feel and look fabulous! Here are some tips that will make shopping for your dress a pleasant experience. SHOP EARLY Think ahead and shop well in advance. Most designers require five to six months, some designers are taking as long as eight months to produce a gown so you should be shopping at least nine to ten months in advance. It is not uncommon for brides to purchase their gowns as much as 18 months before the big day. Shopping early will give you the best range of choices. You will get the widest range of choices at an independent bridal salon like One Enchanted Evening that can do special orders from designers with distinctive styles, rather than mass market chain stores. DESIGNER NAMES Don’t be too dazzled by a big designer name. You can expect top quality from a top designer, but judge the dress, not the label. Your mission is to find the dress that will take the groom’s breath away as he sees you come down the aisle. The right dress will make your friends and family think, ‘What a beautiful bride!’ first, and ‘What a beautiful dress!’ sometime later. APPOINTMENTS We suggest that you make an appointment for your bridal consultation at One Enchanted Evening. That way we can be sure to have a consultant and a room ready for you. If you make an appointment but need to cancel, please call us and let us know in plenty of time to allow another bride to have your time slot.
TRY-ON FEES One Enchanted Evening does not charge a service fee for trying on dresses (up to three appointments). Although, it is a growing trend for bridal stores to charge a consulting fee which will be credited to the price when you order your dress. In the near future we will offer a truly special opportunity for Bride’s on Sundays, please check back or call the store if you are interested in this new service.
BRING ONE TO TWO PEOPLE, PLEASE We suggest that you bring one or two people with you at the most when you come to try-on wedding gowns. This is YOUR decision, and you need to be able to listen to your own instincts about what dress makes you feel great. It’s easier to hear what your heart says if you don’t have a crowd with you. Besides that the Aaaaaah factor is diminished at your ceremony if everyone has already seen your gown.
BABYSITTTERS, PLEASE We suggest that if you or your friends who shop with you have children, arrange for a sitter. This is once when it should be all about the Bride; and children automatically want it to be all about them. You do not want to be distracted and stressed when you shop for your wedding gown you want it to be a great experience.
GROOMING Many Brides say to us that they did not think about their personal grooming before coming in to try-on gowns and they are somewhat embarrassed. In order to not let that happen to you, make sure you are freshly bathed and scrubbed, and wear nice undies (no thongs, please). Wear little or no makeup. That protects the gowns, and it also lets you see more accurately which colors will be most flattering to your true skin tones. Avoid hairspray or perfume, and don’t apply hand or body logion unless it will have at least an hour to be absorbed. It’s even more important to avoid tanning solutions. They can ruin a gown if the color smears. Please leave food and drink outside the store.
STICK TO YOUR Decide on your budget before you come shopping for your gown, and resist the temptation to try on more expensive samples “just for fun”. Falling in love with a dress that’s out of your price range will either break your budget or break your heart. Try on dresses within the price range that’s realistic for you. BRIDAL STORE STAFF Our bridal store staff will wait on you more closely than you’re used to when shopping for other clothes. It’d their job to help you find the dress of your dreams. COMPARING If you end up comparing dresses from One Enchanted Evening and another bridal salon, make sure you have a clear understanding of what services will or won’t be included in your purchase price. Consider all related costs so you’re comparing true totals. COMMITMENT: FINAL Be sure you understand that when you order your wedding dress it is a final sale. (Bridesmaid dresses too.) Buying a wedding dress is not like buying a mass-market T-shirt that you can return if you change your mind. But don’t let it scare you. If you can commit to a man, you can commit to a dress!
GUARANTEES AND SERVICE Be aware that many designers only guarantee their gowns if they are purchased through an authorized full-service bridal store like One Enchanted Evening. There are many fakes and knock-offs in circulation for them to take any other approach. Something else to remember, the majority of local bridal stores are independently owned, and each store’s first responsibility is to their own customers. Purchasing online is never a good idea no matter what the price savings. First off, you may never receive the gown (this has happened to numerous brides and bridal parties). It may not be the designer gown you thought you were getting but a cheap facsimile thereof. Also, it is extremely difficult to find a seamstress at all today let alone one experienced in bridal alterations as they are busy with their customers that have purchased from the bridal stores they work with.
ALTERATIONS Wedding and formal dresses are more closely fitted than ordinary garments. Dresses are made to standard sizes (which can vary from one designer to the next), so unless you are having a couture dress designed especially for you (and paying couture prices!), expect the fit of your dress to be close but not exact when it arrives. It’s normal that your wedding dress will need to be altered to achieve the perfect fit for your unique contours. Allow for alterations in both your budgeting and your time planning. One Enchanted Evening has their own experienced seamstress. Altering a bridal gown is skilled and delicate work, and the seamstress is one of your most important partners. Note that it is the complexity of the alterations that will determine the price, not the amount that a seam has to be taken in. Whether the seamstress takes it in a half inch or three inches the price will be the same. Be aware that many manufacturers charge for larger sizes in certain styles. Be sure to ask about that so you know all costs to expect. BE REALISTIC ABOUT SIZE. If you have major diet or exercise plans we suggest that you buy your wedding gown at your largest size. All gowns can be made smaller, but the opposite is more difficult, more expensive and rarely looks perfect. Sometimes, it’s not even possible to make the gown bigger as there’s just not enough fabric to work with unless fabric is ordered and panels are inserted into the gown. With all the stress of planning a wedding, weight loss plans often fall short of the goal. You don’t need the added stress of a dress that is too small and can’t be made to fit. ENJOY YOUR CHOICE! Once you’ve decided which dress is THE ONE, stop looking at other dresses and don’t try to second-guess yourself! Have faith in your own judgment, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes from having one of your most special decisions looked after by all of our staff at One Enchanted Evening.
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