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.