It’s time to go shopping for your wedding dress – YES! This is the moment your wedding planning becomes really real. You take your best friends or bridesmaids or family members to a bridal salon. Next you try on dresses that make you dream of walking down the aisle. But wait, hault that dream, because before you go to your first bridal gown appointment, you should ask a few essential questions.
Essential Questions For Your Bridal Gown Appointment
We spoke with the owner of Theory Bridal House in Orlando, FL to gather advice on how a bride should prepare for her bridal gown appointment. The owner, Brie, a recent bride herself, shared her expert advice as part of our series on How To Find Your Wedding Planning Dream Team.
We suggest you prepare a list of questions each time you speak with a vendor, to ensure you are hiring the best fit for your wedding. For a wedding dress appointment, it’s important to know a few things before you arrive. Like what questions to ask the salon and how to properly prepare for the appointment.
Questions To Ask About The Salon
First ask, “How long do the gowns take to arrive and if I need alterations, how long will the alterations take?” Then review your timeline and see if this fits within your availability.
Second, “What is the price point of your gowns?”
Third, “What kind of experience can I expect?” Brie says, “At Theory Bridal House, our bridal gown appointments are anything but average. We prepare a luxurious private bridal suite for you and your guests to enjoy the experience. Your personal stylist will guide you through the process of finding your perfect dress. Then, once you have said ‘Yes’ to the dress, we all celebrate with bubbly and pictures by our Instagram worthy ‘she said yes’ wall.”
Next, “What makes this bridal shop different from others?” “When you book your appointment with Theory Bridal House you can choose your experience. From the Theory Bridal House Experience, to the Luxe Bridal Experience. Or schedule an Exclusive Styling Appointment. Either way, we believe in a highly personalized private shopping experience offering unique options that are centered around your wants and desires.”
Last, “Does the bridal shop have an in-house seamstress” The answer is YES. Theory Bridal House partners with The Bride Perfect Fit bringing over 30 years of expertise. For your convenience, the seamstress will meet with you in our shop.
How To Prepare For Your Appointment
The who, is as important as the how much, when it comes to your bridal gown appointment. By that we mean know who is going to pay for the dress and what they are comfortable spending. Then choose a bridal shop that is within your desired price point. For instance, if you have a maximum spending budget of $3,000, you may want to stay away from shops whose starting prices are $3,000 and up.
Further, carefully consider who you bring with you to your appointment. This is a super exciting time and everyone will likely want to be a part of your gown shopping experience. However, we recommend bringing only those who’s opinions you truly value and with whom you absolutely can’t imagine saying yes to the dress without.
Another important reminder, have a clear vision. This includes pictures of dresses that catch your eye to show to your stylist. Know that your vision may evolve and change after trying dresses on, and that is ok, but you need a place to begin when you arrive for your appointment.
Advice From Bridal Salon Owner
We asked Brie to share her best advice for brides shopping for their dream wedding dress and she says…
“Do not over complicate it. Dress shopping should be fun and not stressful. You do not have to see what every store has for fear of ‘missing out’. When you find a dress that makes you feel beautiful, happy and confident and it ‘checks all the boxes’, then that is your dress. Remember, your dress is the ONLY decision you make for yourself, stay true to your personal style. Fun Fact: I saw a photo of the dress I said yes to and just knew it was my dress. It was the only one I tried on!”
We believe Brie’s advice is an excellent way to approach your bridal gown appointment. Remember to prepare in advance, stay true to you, and most importantly. Have fun.
More Wedding Planning Advice
We are incredibly thankful for the questions, tips and advice provided by Theory Bridal House in this collaborative blog. To further assist you in planning the wedding of your dreams, check out our other blogs:
Questions to Ask Your Photographer
Helpful Questions To Ask Your Wedding DJ
What To Know When Hiring An Event Rental Company
10 Important Questions To Ask Your Wedding Florist
Expert Tips for Creating Beautiful Wedding Stationery
If this is all feeling a big overwhelming, don’t stress, contact our Owner, Stephanie, and allow her to walk you through the benefits of hiring a wedding planner.
