Congratulations! You’ve said yes to your person and now it’s time to start thinking about what you are going to wear on the big day.
As experts with over 30 years of experience helping brides find their wedding dress, we’ve seen all the different ways that a bride may go about finding their wedding look. When it comes to saying yes to the dress there are many ways to find "the one." From special ordering with a full timeline, to taking your gown home off the rack for a discount, today’s landscape is chock-full of ways to secure your dream dress. Today on the blog we’re breaking down the three main ways to buy your dress at our Portland, OR bridal shop.
Special Order Wedding Dresses
The main way, and most common option for brides shopping for their wedding dress is to special order your gown. Most appointments at Charlotte’s end with this option. During your bridal appointment, you are paired with your dedicated bridal stylist who helps you navigate our selection of sample wedding dresses and try on gowns that fit your unique style and price point. The gowns are often not the perfect size, so your stylist will help show you the true fit of each dress by clipping you into the gowns to demonstrate what the gown will look like when it is ordered in your correct size.
When you find the dress that is perfect for you, your stylist will take your measurements and help you select what size of gown to order. Wedding dress sizing is different than standard street clothes and every designer is unique. Your bridal stylist will guide you through the size chart and advise you on selecting the size that will be the closest fit. All wedding dresses need some alterations for an absolute perfect fit, so your stylist will also walk you through what type of alterations you can expect for your gown, even once it is ordered in your selected size.
|
|
|
Special order wedding dresses are typically made from first stitch after your order is placed, meaning that until your gown is ordered there is not a finished dress in your size! This production process can take anywhere from 4-8 months depending on the designer. It is important to keep this timeline in mind when planning your wedding dress shopping. In some instances, your stylist may be able to secure you a special order wedding dress on a shorter timeline. Designers may choose to start production on a handful of styles, especially leading up to wedding season, to allow for more options for brides who shop on a shorter timeline. What this means is that if you are getting married in less than 8 months you still may be able to order a wedding dress! Your bridal stylist will work with you to show you the wedding dresses that fit your vision and price point that are already in production or in stock with the designers.
Once your special order wedding dress arrives in store, you will visit the shop once more to try on the gown with a stylist and make sure that everything is correct as ordered. After this appointment the gown is yours to take home and begin your alterations! The alterations process can take 2-3 months, depending on the needs of the gown and time of year so this is another thing to keep in mind when creating your gown shopping plans.
Off the Rack Wedding Dresses
Another way to purchase your wedding dress is to buy it off the rack! Some brides may be on a shorter timeline that won’t allow for a special order to be made, or maybe they are looking for a gown at a lower price point than our typical price range which is when shopping an off the rack selection comes in to play.
At Charlotte’s our store is stocked with sample dresses that are typically tried on and special ordered when your selection is made. Some of these sample dresses are also available to be sold off the rack and taken home with you the same day as your appointment. Our full inventory is not available for off the rack purchase so your bridal stylist will work with you to showcase the gowns that are the best fit for your vision and needs. Keep in mind that our sample dresses are usually only available in one size for each style, so not all gowns may be the right fit for you. As mentioned before, all wedding dresses will need some alterations for a perfect fit, so your stylist will still make sure to show you off the rack styles that will be the closest size for you.
|
|
|
When shopping off the rack during a standard bridal appointment, you’ll expect to receive a small discount on the wedding dress in line with the gown’s age, style, condition and popularity. Buying off the rack is a great way to save some money and time on your wedding dress since you’ll also be able to take the gown home with you the day you purchase meaning there is no wait time to worry about!
Sample Sale Wedding Dresses
The last way to say yes to the dress is to purchase your wedding dress during a Sample Sale. At Charlotte’s we host several sample sales a year to help clear our inventory and make room for new incoming styles. During Sample Sale events, the gowns on the floor are discounted heavily, sometimes up to 75% off and are the most budget friendly way to shop at Charlotte’s. The styles included in our Sample Sales are typically older or inactive styles that have been on the sales floor for a season or two. This means that they have been tried on by other brides, but never worn outside of the store. Because they are samples that have been tried on, it’s possible that some wear may be noticed on the gowns but this is minimal and always reflected in the final price of the gowns.
Sample Sale appointments are a bit different than our standard bridal shopping appointments. Sample Sales are often self-serve with shorter shopping time slots on a set day every few months. During a Sample Sale stylists are on hand to help answer any questions about sizing, fit and style and can even help you navigate the sales floor a little to find styles that would be good options for you. Often we even have a seamstress on hand to give you quick consultations on what alterations may be needed or available for the different dresses you try on. Once you find the dress you love during a Sample Sale, you’ll check out and get to take the gown home with you that same day!
|
|
|
Sample Sales are full of energy and are bustling appointments with several brides shopping at once, so keep this in mind when considering if shopping during a Sample Sale is the right option for you. The discounts may be worth the busier atmosphere but know that the experience will be less intimate than our standard bridal appointments!
Just Say Yes to the Dress
In conclusion, there is no wrong way to say yes to the dress! Whether you are looking for the full experience with the largest selection of styles by special ordering, or you are hoping for a deal with an off the rack style your dream dress is waiting for you at Charlotte's!
Ready to find yours? Book a standard bridal appointment or check out upcoming events to see if there is a Sample Sale coming up!
