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!