So, what should you really spend on a bridal gown? Part 4

Here is the fourth and final installment of your guide to getting the dress of your dreams and a memorable experience at the same time. Make sure you don't miss out! Visit parts one, two, and three.

There are several scenarios brides go through when shopping for a gown. Of course, there are the hundreds of bridal magazines, websites, blogs and television shows but you will never know it’s the one till you put it on! From there, the bride progresses to choosing which salons or stores she would like to visit. Advertising is great but the real determinate should be word of mouth and reviews. Please girls, read the reviews before making an appointment. It can save you a lot of time!

So you choose a store, one of those chain stores, and schedule an appointment. They greet you, take your information and assign you a “consultant”. She hands you some undergarments (how many people have worn these?) and shows you to a room. More than likely you have looked at some pictures and she brings you these gowns and you and whomever you are with start trying them on. Did she train you in how to get into the gown or better yet, offer to assist you? You get the first gown on, head out to the mirrors and see what you think. The process repeats till you find a gown or leave frustrated and confused. Perhaps you have determined what silhouette you do or do not like and subconsciously been trained that you need multiple undergarments and move on to the next store.

The next store on your list is a boutique that your mom or friends have shopped at. Surely this must be better. When you arrive for your appointment you are greeted, they get your information; show you to your dressing room and where the gowns are located. What’s with all the plastic bags? How do you know what’s in your price range? You choose some gowns, your friends/family choose some gowns and you start the process over again, undergarments and all. They may or may not help you, bring you some suggestions or be there to answer any questions you may have. There are other brides and families close by to offer their opinions and you watch as they try on gowns, just as they are watching you. The store has some nice gowns, ones that are seen in all the magazines and some others. A better selection than the last place for sure. Perhaps you find the one, perhaps you don’t. If not, you move on to the next appointment.

The third store looks a little different. They have a strict policy on appointments so you are a little daunted that they might be a bit stuffy, but you go anyway. When you walk in, it looks nothing like a bridal store. They greet you and start asking you about your wedding. (note: they did not ask for your information). They ask that your friends/family sit and relax, look at magazines and albums while you are off to gown selection! Then, your consultant walks you through each gown in the store (within budget, of course), one by one, and gets to know you and your style. You are taken into a spacious dressing room and helped into each and every gown. There is not mention of additional undergarments and come to find out, you don’t need them! These gowns have all of that built in! (read: savings) During the appointment, your consultant has not left your side and helped you to narrow down your initial selections to the overall front runner. This is how an appointment should be! No pomp and circumstance. Who really needs to be paraded in front of people you don’t know? An intimate setting and customer service makes this so much easier! You are so relieved, you found the one and gained a friend to boot!

The above scenarios are merely representations of how different appointments can be and in no way depict any particular store. Emphasis should always be on customer service and the bride. Just because your budget is not ten thousand dollars does not mean that you should have to forgo attention to detail. This goes for size too! Just because you are not a runway model does not mean that you should only have one option for trying on gowns! (don’t worry – a full blog on this coming soon!) This experience should be fun and memorable! Don’t settle for anything less!

So, what should you really spend on a bridal gown? Part 3

The third installment of a four part series. Be sure to catch up on Part 1 and Part 2!

Customer service can make or break the gown. You may love the gown but if you don’t love the person helping you, the entire experience will be an uphill battle. Look for someone that pays attention to you and your thoughts, not what they want to put on you or worse, sell you. Your consultant is hopefully going to be there from day one until your wedding day. They should be someone you can trust to help you along in this unchartered territory.

A good consultant will ask you questions about your wedding, timeline, what you are drawn to or away from as far as styles and details. They will want to get to know your personality in an intimate, one on one, setting to ensure that your gown reflects your style. During the appointment, they should pay attention to what you like and what you dislike and offer guidance and suggestions based on this information. They should know their stock, what changes (if any) can be made to the gown or be able to pull a dress that has everything you are looking for. Once you have found the gown, stop looking! In the words of Randy Fenoli “you found the guy, are you still looking for something better? No. Commit and stop looking”. Once you do this, the rest of the wedding will fall into place.

Another key thing is to look for stores that have been in business for a while and have great reviews online. Remember that they cannot make everyone happy but overall, the feeling should be a good one. Ask your friends and family for suggestions as this is not paid advertisement and will speak more about the store than a fancy ad. Bridal Shows are a great way to meet with stores for a face to face “mini interview” before making an appointment. If they mesh well with your personality, book an appointment. If you do not get the feeling that they know what they are doing or that you are on the same page, you have just saved yourself valuable time and avoided an uncomfortable appointment.

Location, Location, Location! The location of a store can be just as telling as the reviews. If a store is in an area that is “fading” or not central to the heart of the city, they may not have an ear on the newest trends and fashion. Although you may have to drive to find the gown of your dreams, pay attention to where you are driving to. With most bridal salons, they are destination places in lieu of feeding off of “walk in” traffic. They do not have to be in the most expensive location or the most popular area but they should be somewhere you are comfortable. Overall, gown shopping is an experience. One that you want to remember for all the right reasons. Do some homework, visit bridal shows and ask for suggestions.