Wedding Tips and Tricks featuring Bridal Stores
Welcome to your tips and tricks with some of my favorite Bridal Shops around Massachusetts! I’m going to ask them a series of questions and provide you with their answers.
I had the pleasure of interviewing the following ladies for this series. To set up appointments for their shops, please see their information at the bottom of the blog!
Deryn– Penny Jane Bridal
Meg– ThistleRose Bridal
Since choosing a wedding dress is such a personal decision and lots of factors come into play, there really isn’t any particular reasoning as it relates to photography for these questions. Unlike the prior blogs where I added in the photography aspect, this truly is a tips and tricks from these two amazing bridal shop owners.
Whatever dress you feel beautiful in, will make for amazing images on your wedding day! If you love a certain feature(s) of the dress, be sure to gush about it to your photographer, so they know to capture those details!
Enjoy the tips and tricks! – Maureen
1. How should a bride go about choosing what bridal shop they should set up appointments with?
Deryn: Great question!! This is so important! Each bridal shop has its own little vibe, so knowing what kind of experience you want to have will help you narrow down where to go. Every bride is different and so is every bridal shop. Reading reviews, getting referrals and checking out websites will help you narrow down the best options for you. For example, if you are a shy person you might feel more comfortable at a private appointment in a boutique rather than being on stage at a chain store.
Meg: When choosing your bridal shop there are a lot of factors to consider. Some of my top suggestions are;
-Choose a shop that makes you feel comfortable. Being comfortable can look different to all of us. For some brides it maybe about finding a shop that has gowns in plus sizes. For others it may be finding a shop that has personal one on one shopping. No matter what your reason, do your research and find a place for you. And remember its ok to not “vibe” with a certain shop.
– Budget is another major factor. There are thousands of bridal designers and what seems like millions of bridal gowns so finding a shop that has your style and budget is key. There is no reason to waste time or money shopping in a boutique that is out of your budget. You don’t want to fall in love with a $4000 gown if you max budget is $2000. While shops are not allowed to post prices on their website for made to order gowns, you can call and ask the shop for their average gown costs.
–Styles or designers; Pinterest is a great tool for inspiration. Make sure you’ve looked up some of your top designers and see if your local shop carries their lines. Each bridal boutique tends to be a reflection of the owner and staff so its key to find a shop that shares your style, designers and overall aesthetic.
For us at ThistleRose we are by appointment only. We do this so that each bride feels comfortable, confident and happy! We also stock our shop higher in sizes. The average bridal shops in store sample is 12. While our average is 16. Remember bridal runs small so most brides usually wear 2-3 larger in a bridal gown than in normal clothes. ThistleRose’s vibe is lacey, classic, modern, vintage, romantic and soft. Our prices for our made to order collection range $950-$2000. All of these are excellent questions to ask when chatting with your local shop.
2. What’s the biggest advantage of buying a dress from a bridal shop versus online?
Deryn: OMG…there are sooo many! The biggest difference to me is the security of it. When you order a dress on line there are so many things that could go wrong. The dress could be lesser quality, have sizing issues, shipping problems, you could hate it on yourself, I could go on and on. There is no real accountability for any of these things with an online company. When you work with a bridal shop all of these issues are resolved because you are seeing the dress and know you love it, you get to feel the actual fabrics and quality, and we can handle anything else that could go wrong (except a pandemic- none of us saw that one coming). You might save a couple of bucks but you might have bigger headaches.
Meg: Where do I even start with this! I think the biggest advantage is US! The thing about bridal is that it fits like nothing else. You may think you like one style, but many brides are shocked when different silhouettes or styles look good. This is what we do this is what we love! We are bridal fit experts. We see these gorgeous gowns on so many brides that we understand how they wear. With online shopping you may have missed a silhouette that is more flattering then you expected.
Of course, the other downside to shopping online is the whole bridal shopping experience. Being surrounded by family & friends, drinking champagne, having that wonderland YES moment when you walk out of the fitting room and see yourself in the mirror in THE dress. These are all things that you miss when you buy online.
3. Is it beneficial for a brides to compile looks ahead of time and see if you have similar gowns or for them to browse options and see if they fall in love with a style?
Deryn: Absolutely!! We love when girls pull up their pics to show us what they envision. Brides will typically have a vision of how they want to feel on their big day by the time they are ready to get their dress. Our job is to try to find the dress that fulfills that image for them. We always suggest trying on different silhouttes because we find many times brides will think they wouldn’t be able to wear a particular cut of dress when in actuality, that might be the best shape for their frame. Wedding dresses are different than any other dress you have ever worn because of the structure that is built into them. You have to try one of everything before you know what you feel best in.
Meg: Yes, definitely! Gathering ideas from Pinterest, magazines and other sources is so important. These things help us to see your vision. Sometimes things can be hard to describe so the images are super helpful. With this said, still keep an open mind as you may surprise yourself with what you really love.
4. When should you start looking for wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses, due to possible alterations and shipping?
Deryn: So for bridal gowns, every designer is different. I would say in general, you should plan to order your dress 6-12 months before the wedding. If you have less time there are designers that can deliver a dress in shorter time frames as well as off the rack options so that would be something to discuss with the bridal shop before the appointment. Bridesmaid dresses can take anywhere from 8-16 weeks for delivery, again depending on the designer. I always recommend getting dresses when you are ready to get them, meaning if you still have two years until the big day but want to get your dress now, do it! There’s never a problem having it early, but late is not good. Our alteration process typically begins 6 weeks before the wedding.
Meg: Bridal gown timeline 18-12 months before your wedding. Most gowns take about 6 months to come from the designer. You definitely need to have your gown ordered 9 months before your wedding. You will need 2-3 months for alterations. Now things can be rushed but it’s just extra stress you don’t need.
Bridesmaids is a shorter timeframe. They should be ordered 6-8 months before the wedding.
5. What should they bring to their appointment, if they are trying on dresses?
Deryn: This one is easy…whatever they want! We do recommend wearing undergarments that are not distracting (like neon sports bras). Some girls elect to bring shoes and shape wear and some don’t. We recommend bringing along anything you think you may be wearing on your big day to give you the closest feeling in the dress as you can get!
Meg: An open mind and excitement! As for actual things to bring; If you plan to wear a slimmer on your wedding day that is a great item to bring for your try on. A strapless bra is always a good idea even if we don’t use one and a comfortable pair of underwear. Special wedding shoes are totally your choice. The gowns are so long usually brides who wear shoes don’t make a difference.
6. When brides and bridesmaid are in the shop, do you walk them through the different types of fabric and ways they are most flattering? Second part, is there a fabric that’s flattering on any body type?
Deryn: Fabrics are a great place to start for bridesmaid parties! Each bridesmaids dress will have different color palette availability based on the fabric of the dress. Because right now the trend leans more towards a mix and match look, having similar fabrics is key to keeping the wedding party cohesive. For bridesmaids, chiffon is the most common due to its flowy feeling and forgiving nature. When we work with our brides we are constantly educating them about the fabrics, laces and beading options they see on the dress. It really helps them narrow down what they like and how it feels.
Meg: Yes, we definitely walk all brides/maids through the many different options. We speak a lot to different body shapes, what fabric looks good on what and much more. Even with all the knowledge in the world sometimes body shapes surprise us and that is why its key to keep an open mind and try on different things!
7. Is there any advantage to waiting until a trunk show where they might offer discounts or an off the rack sale?
Deryn: I mean, who doesn’t love to save some money, right? There are pros and cons to both though. Trunk show discounts are usually 10% off the regular retail price so they can definitely save some money. The downsize is that they are typically only good for during the trunk show timeframe so you have to be ready to commit to the dress to get the savings. Off the rack sales will typically save you more than a trunk show, sometimes up to 70% off. The drawback to off the rack is that you will be buying that particular dress so you can’t change the color or size (other than alterations) and sometimes they can have imperfections from being tried on. If you are a bargain bride, I would recommend keeping an eye out for these!
Meg: It depends on the wedding date, budget and desired experience. A trunk show can be a few things but the most common is when a designer is showcasing the newest gowns from the upcoming season. Sometimes they offer a price reduction so that can be helpful but not always.
Most shops have such a beautiful selection already so I don’t feel like all brides need to attend a show, it’s just a bonus!
8. Is there an ideal amount of people that a bride should bring with her, to try on dresses? Or any tips on who she should bring?
Deryn: For sure! We always recommend bringing people that will be able to give you feedback based on what YOU want as a bride. It can be a hard decision to make, so having people with you that can be on the same page as you is critical. As for a number, that is up to the bride. Some feel most comfortable alone and some can’t imagine getting their dress without all of their besties and family there. Unfortunately, with the current state of the pandemic and social distancing guidelines, many shops will be limiting the number of guests that can attend the appointment to be able to stay within the operating restrictions. I foresee the experience will shift to include just the closest people to the bride until the pandemic is done.
Meg: The short answer is; bring the ones who you trust the most and tend to share your vision or taste! Bridal is so individual! Most brides are shocked by what they really love so don’t bring someone who you feel will override your vision or opinion. I know it can be hard cause can be some of our closest friends can fit this mold but we unfortunately we see it to many times when the bride sways from her vision to please her family/friends. The bride plus 2-3 guests is the perfect and most comfortable amount we recommend.
9. What’s your biggest tip for a bride looking for her dream dress?
Deryn: I LOVE this question! I ALWAYS tell brides to relax, have fun, enjoy the experience and KEEP AN OPEN MIND! Going to a bridal shop is a lot like having a stylist dress you for the Red Carpet. The stylist knows what works best on all different shapes and sizes, it’s our job so be flexible with what is suggested especially if it’s your first time trying on dresses.
Meg: I think I’ve said it a lot all ready but keep an open mind! You will be surprised at what you love. Bridal fits like nothing else we wear. Bringing inspiration pictures or showing your Pinterest board is so helpful but allow yourself to step out!
Also shop that way you want to shop! You will not vibe with all bridal shops and that’s ok. Due your research about the shops to determine which shops fits your bridal shopping goals. Follow their social media, check out their websites and most important look up their reviews!
10. Last, what do you suggest a photographer keep in their bag, so we can help with the dress throughout the rest of the day?
Deryn: This can be a lifesaver on the wedding day, thank you for being prepared for your brides! I recommend strong safety pins in case a strap breaks loose or the bustle is ripped. Another good thing to have is make up remover wipes, they work great to remove smudges that may happen when putting the dress on or snuggling their spouse for pictures.
Meg: A small sewing kit is always helpful, lots of fashion tape and a small steamer.
Thank you so much to the ladies at these bridal shops that joined in on the conversation! These are such great tips from each of them! If you’re looking for an amazing experience while shopping for your dream dress, please check out these amazing ladies; there information is below!
I hope you enjoyed this week’s series. Head back to the blog to check out some more tips and tricks for your wedding day!
Deryn- Penny Jane Bridal
Website: pjbridal.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pjbridal/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/pennyjanebride/
Meg- ThistleRose Bridal
Website: thistlerosebridal.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thistlerosebridal/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/thistlerosebridal/