Let’s run through some things together!
Frequently asked questions & questions brides might not think of asking as a first-time bride.
Hi Bustle Babes!
For most women it is there first time getting married, first time planning a wedding and first time being a bride. There are so many little details that go into planning a big event and a wedding is no different! I am not here to go through the wedding planning details this time, but I am here to talk through a few questions brides might have, or more importantly questions brides perhaps would not have thought of asking. I know it can be shocking and overwhelming when brides start finding out things they had no idea about, when it comes to purchasing a wedding gown.
Feel free to comment if there are questions needing more clarification, or questions I did not answer.
WHEN SHOULD I BUY MY GOWN?
Here is a pro tip, gowns take ‘around’ six months to come in, but don’t forget alterations! The alterations recommendation by most if not all seamstresses is two-months. Now the simplest answer to the question is to purchase eight months before the wedding or date of departure if the wedding is abroad.
Here is the best answer, all bridal shops will recommend 10 to 12 months. This is the best timeline for purchasing. It allows room for issues with shipping, production, and overall, less stress, not only for the bride, but for the bridal shop, the designer’s production team, seamstress and others! A year is perfect and stress free. Make your bridal experience less stressful, you’ll thank me later I promise.
SIZING & CUSTOM MEASUREMENTS
When purchasing, brides have two options when ordering with certain designers. Not all designers offer both options.
~Option one, is most common and recommended, it is standard sizing. Standard sizing is when a stylist will take a brides bust, waist and hip measurement, then look at the specific designer’s sizing chart to determine a bride’s recommended size. The way the sizing charts are set up is each measurement typically falls into different sizing, so a brides bust might be a size 2, the waist might fall into a size 4 and the hips fall into a size 6. The recommended size would be 6. It is extremely rare that a bride will fall into one size for all three measurements. Why do we recommend the size 6 versus the size 2 or 4? The reason is a bridal rule, you can always take a gown in, but you can’t always let a gown out. We go based on the biggest measurement so the seamstress can take the gown in. This is cheaper for a bride and easier for the seamstress. Even if a bride is planning to lose weight they should go based on the bigger size because it will just add stress when it is not necessary. This is not to say brides don’t know their own bodies, some brides do pick a smaller size and that is okay, only if they are 150% sure of their choice.
~Now for some designer’s brides have option two. This is custom sizing, which is not typical in bridal because as women we do fluctuate in weight, so getting custom measurements does not guarantee a perfect fit. With custom sizing a bride is paying for custom measurements and then may still need alterations once the gown arrives due to weight or shoe height. Custom sizing is best for brides that do not fall into the sizing provided by the designer’s chart, which can be smaller than the smallest size, or larger than the largest size. The other reason for custom sizing would be if a brides bust is larger than the standard size bust cups.
ALTERATIONS
Everyone needs alterations! Whether a bride chooses standard sizing or custom sizing. Custom sizing does not guarantee a perfect fit. Even if a bride falls perfectly into a size 6, the hem and bustle are needed. Or perhaps a bride is perfect height and doesn’t need a hem, the bustle is not provided by designers, the bustle is done by a seamstress. The typical alterations are a hem, a bustle, straps, cups and taking in side seams. Alterations, now a days, can be anywhere from $900 to $1,200. This is standard pricing however it can be more or less depending on what you need altered. This pricing is if you are getting the typical alterations for a gown with many layers and lace.
A common concern is that it will be more expensive if the bride loses weight and needs to take the gown in more. This is not true for 90% of brides! A seamstress must open up the side seams of a gown to take it in and that is what a bride is paying for, whether it needs to be taken in .5 inches or 2 inches that is not what a bride is paying for. It is the opening and closing of the seams. Now, there is a but, if a bride orders a size 12 and they go into alterations having lost weight and are now a size 2, yes it does cost more but this is extremely rare. It cost more at this point because the bride’s entire body has changed, and the overall construction of the gown must be remade by the seamstress.
HOW MANY GOWNS ARE TRIED ON DURING AN APPOINTMENT & IN TOTAL?
There is no set number of gowns being tried on in one appointment or in total. Everyone is very different. Some women try on three gowns at their first appointment and by the third they say yes to the first one. Other brides feel they need try on gowns at every shop near them.
The recommendation is to do research, I personally always tell family and friends to do research, figure out what style they prefer. Bohemian, classic, romantic, traditional, modern, etc. Once the style is figured out, go to a few different bridal shop websites and see if their styles is a match. Brides should really only need to go to one shop, two at most, and I will explain why. If it is a good shop, the bride will get the experience they deserve and find the gown they love even if they have to go back to that shop twice and try on a whole new style of gowns! Trying on too many gowns can lead to more stress. Why? Because all gowns are beautiful, and once a bride tries on too many, they lose the excitement and start to feel overwhelmed, numb and stressed. No shop wants that for their brides! Just try my method, like I said, everyone is different so this method might not work for you, but you won’t know unless you try. Last thing, going to one shop or two is great, those shops have hundreds of gowns, so even if a bride doesn’t find one the first time, perhaps the second visit to that store will help the bride find the one! Tip: Be open to trying on anything a stylist brings you, even if you think it is the ugliest gown you have ever seen on a hanger. It might be, but what are you loosing?
THE BUSTLE’S: PAYMENT PLANS & NUMBER OF PEOPLE FOR APPOINTMENTS
Payment plans are huge! Not every shop offers a payment plan. The Bustle does offer payment plans because we know how expensive weddings are. The Bustle does not have any interest that accumulates when opting for a payment plan. We do require a one-time fee of $99 because we do pay our designers in full in order to get the gown started in production. How does it work? We require half down along with the $99 payment plan fee and the remaining half is split up into two, three, or four payments over the next couple of months. The gown does have to be paid off before arriving and the bride is all set to come in, try her gown on and pick it up.
The Bustle offers two different types of appointments. First is a standard appointment, which allows up to 4 guests including the bride — this appointment is $50. If a bride would like to bring more guests, she can pay an additional $40 per person. Second appointment type is a premier appointment, which allows up to 8 guests including the bride — this appointment is $199. The same rule applies, if a bride would like to bring more guests, she can pay an additional $40 per person. What happens to the appointment fee and guests’ fees?
APPOINTMENT FEE & GUESTS FEES
The appointment fee and the guests’ fees can all be applied towards a gown purchase on the same day as your appointment! When coming into The Bustle, the appointment fee of either $50 or $199 will be applied to the same day gown purchase, this goes for the $40 per guest fees as well!
Just remember Bustle Babes, have fun and if you start to get overwhelmed, take a minute to sit down, sip some bubbly and relax. Your bridal gown experience should be one to remember forever, and we are here to help you with that, always!
XO,
The Bustle