FASHION & BE AUT Y
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Shop early Take note: A designer wedding gown is custom made. It will take months of work to create and a series of alterations to fit your body perfectly. In other words, it’s not the kind of garment you can toss into an online shopping cart and have show up on your doorstep two days later—which is why you should go to a bridal salon to shop for your gown. Book your first appointment 9 to 12 months before your wedding date so you have plenty of time to order and alter your dress. (Some designers can accommodate orders in six months or less, but, even then, you’re cutting it close.) If you’re shopping closer to your wedding, you may be limited to floor samples or off-the-rack gowns. And small stores may not be able to accommodate last-minute orders.
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Do your research Before you start shopping, think about what style you want. Consider your wedding venue, vibe and body type to narrow that down. Then look through pictures of wedding dresses online and in magazines, and save the styles you like. In our (ahem) unbiased opinion, TheKnot.com is a great place to begin—you can search thousands of gowns by style and price, and if you find a few you want to try on, you can see which local salons carry your favorites.
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Hidden costs add up Your wedding gown budget includes more than the dress. Your veil or headpiece, shoes, jewelry, undergarments and alterations (and in some cases, steaming and storing your dress) will also add to your bottom line. Factor in these costs before you give the salesperson your final shopping budget.
LORELY MEZ A , SHOES: EGOSHOES.COM; MIM ARI: C ARLOALEJANDRO PHOTOGR APHY
Always book an appointment While you may get lucky and snag a salesperson just by walking in, scheduling an appointment is the only way to ensure you’ll get a full hour of undivided attention. Also, plan to play hooky to avoid crowds. Going in on a weekday will allow you to hit the stores while crowds are at a minimum, making for a less stressful experience. You’ll get much more attention from the sales staff if you shop on a slow Tuesday morning rather than a hectic Saturday afternoon.
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Make requests Just because a bridal salon carries your favorite designer doesn’t mean it will have the exact wedding dress you’ve been wanting to try on. But if you phone in advance and request a specific style, chances are a salon staffer will be able to call in a sample of that gown ahead of your appointment. >>
local love: bella bride boutique Wedding gown guru Alexandra Mimari shares her dress shopping tips. ABOUT THE EXPERT
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Alexandra Mimari is the owner of Bella Bride Boutique in San Antonio. The salon carries designers like Hayley Paige, Muse by Berta, Pronovias and Marchesa Notte.
We suggest dress shopping at least a year in advance. Your gown will take four to six months to arrive, plus another one to two months for fittings, depending on the extent of your alterations.
Do your homework before you make any dress shopping appointments. Research salons you plan to visit, and make sure they have the designers you’re interested in and dresses in your budget.
Designers may lend loaner samples if a bride wants to try on a specific dress the salon doesn’t have in stock. The bride will pay for the shipping of the gown, which is applied to any final purchases.
Don’t forget to include the cost of alterations into your dress budget. Expect to spend at least $300 for typical changes like hemming your gown, creating a bustle or taking in the side seams.
BellaBrideBoutique.com
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Bella Bride Boutique
4/9/19 2:46 PM