Vow'd Part VIII

Now that you’ve gotten to know everything about her & her big day, let’s continue on the bride’s journey by looking at the VOG - Appointment & Fitting Room Experience

VOG - SERVICE IN APPOINTMENT & FITTING ROOM ● ● ● ● ● ●

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Was the furniture placed in an inviting and welcoming way in fitting room and viewing area?

Was the fitting room clean and free of debris?

Did the Stylist offer assistance in and out of dresses, while providing product knowledge on each?

Did the Stylist offer accessories to complete the look on your favorite dress/dresses?

Did the Stylist explain the benefits of obtaining measurements AND ask to obtain your measurements before exiting the fitting room?

During the appointment, did you feel that the Stylist genuinely connected with you and properly paced the appointment within 90 minutes, while creating a fun, relaxed environment?

Was your interaction with the rest of the staff positive? Please explain in the comments.

Was the Stylist effective in pinning and clipping the dress to showcase sample dress sizes?

Was the Stylist able to provide alterations advice and provide local recommendations?

Did the Stylist show you bridesmaid options for the wedding party?

Comments on Service in Appointment and Fitting Room. Tell the story of your fitting appointment and include all details of the service you received in the fitting room. Include positive comments and make sure to explain all no answers.

VOG - SERVICE IN APPOINTMENT & FITTING ROOM (Brides without an Appointment)

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Did the stylist…Guide you to a clean and welcoming fitting room and viewing area? Accommodate seating? Offer refreshments?

Was the furniture placed in an inviting and welcoming way in fitting room and viewing area?

Was the fitting room clean and free of debris?

During your visit, did you feel that the team genuinely connected with you and met your needs to the best of their abilities?

Was your interaction with the rest of the staff positive?

Comments on Service in Appointment and Fitting Room: Tell about the fitting room environment and your interaction with Stylist and other staff, include positive comments and make sure to explain all no answers.

You’ve helped your bride find the one! The DRESS!! But, it’s not fitting exactly how she would like & it’s hard for her to see the full vision. So, now what?!?

Now it’s your time to shine by saving the day!! Let’s take a deeper look at Pinning, How to Measure and what it looks like to Discuss Alterations with your Bride.

PINNING & FITTING We want brides to feel beautiful and confident while trying on dresses and part of achieving that is pinning/clipping our samples to better fit her. Pinning is an important tool that will help you show brides what a dress will look like in their size. It will also guide her in what alterations might be needed to make the dress fit exactly how she wants it to on her big day!

HOT TIP: WHILE WE DON’T OFFER SAMPLES IN EVERY SIZE (IF WE DID, OUR STORES WOULD NEED TO BE CAVERNOUS) WE DO OFFER 3-4 SIZES IN ALMOST EVERY STYLE SO WE CAN GET CLOSER TO THE RIGHT FIT! THIS IS NOT THE INDUSTRY STANDARD & HELPS SET US APART.

LET’S GET PINNING Once the bride has pulled her favorite styles and has the first dress on, offer to hop into the fitting room and pin/clip her prior to stepping out in front of her friends and family - this will help you build her confidence in you and in herself as well.

If your fitting room has mirrors, have the bride look towards the mirror while you are behind her. Look to see if the straps are too long, if there’s excess fabric at the hip or bust, look for anywhere the dress may be bunching or slacking depending on the fit.

Pull excess fabric and clip it back, asking if she likes the fit. Show her how the fit is altered with and without the clips. Example question - “Do you like the skirt out or do you like how it looks tapered in at the hip?”

HOT TIP: MAKE SURE YOU DON’T HAVE LAYERS OF THE DRESS BUNCHED INSIDE THE CLIPS. PULL ALL THE LAYERS DOWN PRIOR TO PINNING HER. YOU MIGHT NEED TO DO A LIGHT TUG AT THE BOTTOM AFTER YOU HAVE CLIPPED THE DRESS TO GUARANTEE EVERYTHING LOOKS AS SMOOTH AS POSSIBLE.

Photo 1 shows the bride without clips. You can see the dress is big in the hips, not fitted in the waist and has a straight skirt appearance.

Photo 2 is pinned back in a way that emphasizes an hourglass figure while pulling the waist hitting her at the perfect spot.

Once you’ve reassured her with the first pinning, your next step is to pay close attention to her reactions when she’s in the larger viewing space.

Actively listening to how she describes what she likes or doesn’t like will help you make pinning adjustments for future styles.

Always ask yourself: What features does she seem to enjoy showing off?

Is she liking fitted bodices with flowy skirts?

What are things she’s mentioning she would like to conceal?

Fit sessions are KEY to successful pinning, each dress has different fit points and alteration opportunities. Take the time to get to know each of our dresses so you can help guide your brides to the best possible fit.

Often, proper pinning can help seal the deal with the dress! She can fully envision herself on HER big day!

CHOOSING THE RIGHT SIZE

An important part of every bridal appointment, whether the bride is ready to say “YES” or needs more time to think, is getting her measurements. This gives you the necessary information you need to recommend the right size dress.

Because we work with a wide range of manufacturers to provide the best possible product assortment not all dresses are cut to the same size chart. As a result, we provide unique size charts for each individual dress style (available to review on their product page). It is important to compare the bride’s measurements to each size chart to make the most accurate size recommendation.

Please note the measurements provided in our style size charts are dress measurements, NOT body measurements. When choosing a size, use your best judgement and if your bride is between sizes, ask them what size they are most comfortable with.

How to Measure We recommend measuring in bra and underwear, or tighter fitting clothes. This allows for the most accurate measurement and can help avoid any bagginess.

THE 3 KEY MEASUREMENTS YOU WILL NEED TO COMPARE TO THE SIZE CHART:

Depending on the style of dress one or two of these measurements may be more important than the other(s) in determining the best size for the bride. Fitted and mermaid styles will require a comparison of all three, while a ballgown or A-line only require the bust and waist measurement to get an accurate size prediction. Use the largest measurement to compare against the size chart and determine the best fit for the bride.