Shopping for a wedding dress may seem like a stressful undertaking within the process of your wedding planning, but it doesn’t have to be. If you’ve found our blog, you’re already on the right track! At our salon we live and breath bridal, so take it from our experience that the trick to a smooth and painless wedding dress shopping trip for the first-timer is as simple as knowing the right questions to ask.
Whether or not you already have your own questions, taking a look at our list will ensure that you enter and exit you first bridal consultation with the confidence of knowing that you’ve left no stone unturned!
Pre-Consultation : Questions to Ask While Booking your Appointment
How does your boutique differ from other bridal salons?
Each bridal salon has their specific way of doing things and it’s nice to know what to expect for your own dress shopping experience. For example, at Miosa we send you a “lookbook” of our gown selections for you to review after you’ve scheduled your appointment so that you can “favorite” styles you like and add notes about features of gowns that speak to your style. This will help your stylist to get to know your bridal style before you even meet!
What’s your size range?
If you’re looking for a specific size, asking this question before your first consultation can save you a headache or two. It’s important to nip any possibly discouraging situations in the bud so that you can focus on finding the dress!
How do normal dress sizes compare to wedding dress sizes?
An important question, since wedding dress sizing is quite different from normal dress sizing. Don’t be alarmed if your size on the wedding dress scale is different from your usual dress size - just trust the matter to your consultants.
I plan on losing weight - should I still try on dresses now?
In general, it’s a good idea to get your dress ordered and fitted as early as possible, no matter your size. By asking this question, you can learn about what your salon offers in terms of tailoring closer to the wedding date.
Which designers are available at your salon?
Sometimes this information is available on your salon’s website, but it’s a good question to ask in case you want to know about the specific trends they’re carrying. It’s also helpful to know what you like about a certain designer so your stylist can help you determine the best gown for you during your appointment! Experienced stylists will know which designers have similar styles to those you prefer and can pull dresses from designers you didn’t even know you liked!
Do you accommodate urgent/last minute orders?
Let us emphasis that you should NEVER, EVER put yourself in a position of rushing your wedding dress process!! However, we know not everything goes as planned and if you do find yourself in this situation, ask your salon right off the bat if they can handle a last-minute order (at Miosa, we’ve got you; but again, a rushed request should only ever be a last resort!)
How does the payment process work? What payment plans do you offer?
Prices and payment plans are usually listed on your salon’s website, but just in case they’re not you you’re interested in the details, it’s a good question to ask before a consultation so you can be prepared when it’s time to say “yes”.
Is there anything specific that I should bring to a first consultation.
Most salons will say that you should always bring underwear and/or shapewear that you plan on wearing on your wedding day (or something similar), as well as high heels for height. Still ask this question, because if you’ve done some research some salons are also interested in your notes/photo clippings of dress features that you like to pick out samples for you.
What to ask during your consultation:
How long do I have to decide on, order and receive my dress?
The wedding dress process can take anywhere from several weeks to several months depending on a number of factors, so ask your salon about their timing specifics, and be sure to mention your wedding date as early as you can in the scheduling process!
What silhouettes and styles would you recommend for my body type?
Remember that your consultants are the experts, and they’ve accumulated enough experience and know how over the years to develop a good sense of judgement. Who knows, maybe your perfect dress will turn out to be a suggestion that you never would have considered!
What styles and color ranges do you offer?
For brides who know that they want something not on the usual white/ivory color scale, or a specific style that’s less common, this is a great question to ask.
Can I try on a selection of veils?
Most bridal salons have a selection of veils that you can try on with each dress for comparison and your stylist will have suggestions for which style of veil compliments the dress style you lean towards.
What accessories do you offer?
Similarly, salons sometimes have samples of other accessories besides veils to compare with dresses you try on. Sometimes a belt or a sash can completely change your look in a dress for the better!
Do you offer customizations and alterations to this dress?
If you’ve found the perfect dress and it just needs to be taken in a bit, or there are more drastic changes you’d like to make to make it fit your style more closely, it’s good to know whether you need to find a separate seamstress or if your salon offers in-house alterations. The last thing you want to find out when you come for your final fitting is that you’re stuck with a dress that doesn’t fit correctly because the salon can’t do alterations in-house.
At Miosa, the consistency and efficiency of completing every step of the dress process in-house is important to us, so we offer both fittings and alterations and customizations. Schedule an appointment with us today to start the process of finding your dream dress!