Questions to Ask When Wedding Dress Shopping

The Ultimate List of Questions to Ask While Shopping for a Wedding Dress

Wedding dress shopping is one of the most fun experiences a bride can have. But, it can also be an experience that leaves you feeling uncertain and overwhelmed.

Whether you choose to bring an entourage of close family and friends or you choose to keep things more private and work one on one with a bridal consultant, your visit to the bridal boutique should be enjoyable!

It makes complete sense that you would be both excited and nervous — you are shopping for what is arguably the most important article of clothing you will ever own! You want to feel and look your best at your wedding and the perfect dress plays a major role in getting there.

Visiting a bridal shop is not like a trip to your favorite store at the local mall. It is a specialized experience that should be both calming and joyous.

VIERO Bridal has bridal boutiques across the country, conveniently located in Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. Our wedding dress experts can help you find the dress of your dreams.

A number of factors go into a successful wedding dress shopping trip. You may have a number of questions or concerns that need to be addressed before you can truly make a decision.

In order to help you narrow your selection and get the most from the consultants and your bridal boutique visit, we have created this list of questions to keep in mind before and during your appointment.

Do I need an appointment?

This question is probably the most important as most bridal shops do not allow walk-in appointments.

Even if you are an impulsive person, buying a wedding dress requires planning.

Once you have booked an appointment, you should give yourself a few hours to spend at the shop. Your appointment may take less time than you have allotted, but it is better to have extra time and not need than it is to have to leave your appointment empty-handed because you ran out of time.

Do you have a dress that fits my budget?

If you show up at your wedding gown appointment without a set budget, you are setting yourself up for disaster. You’ll either fall in love with a dress you can’t afford or end up spending more than you wanted.
Giving your bridal expert a clear maximum (or even minimum) budget will help narrow down the dresses that are shown to you. If you choose to use the custom design process, you will also need to designate your budget.

If you want a couture wedding gown or you are sticking to a simple design, a quality wedding dress boutique will have a range of gowns in a range of prices so you are sure to find the right match!

What sizes do you carry?

Depending on your size, you may require a dress that is ordered specially for you. You will more than likely be able to try on a wedding gown at your appointment, but it may be helpful to get a sense of what is readily available and what will require more turnaround time.

If you need to order a gown, you will also need to determine if you require a rushed order, and whether or not this is even an option.

Some designers can accommodate rush requests, while others do not. Your bridal consultant will be able to answer this for you and help you make your selections accordingly.

How many people can I bring with me?

If you are wanting to bring a small group to your wedding dress shopping appointment, we get it! However, some stores have a limit to the number of people that can attend with you.

Call ahead and ask in order to avoid disappointment or, even worse, a too crowded try-on experience.

One thing to keep in mind when choosing who to bring with you for your appointment is that more people usually means more opinions. Consider bringing the most important people to the initial appointment and anyone whose opinion doesn’t matter as much to your fitting appointment.

What style of dress is best for my body?

We know you want to look and feel amazing on your wedding day.
Most bridal experts have a good idea of what will look best on your particular body type. In fact, it is likely they will have style suggestions that you haven’t even thought about!

While you likely have your own ideas, try to have an open mind. Try on what the experts pull for you but also be clear about what you are looking for. The more information you can offer, and the more willing you are to try one a few different dresses, the more likely you are to find a dress.

Do you carry accessories?

Veils, beaded or ribbon belts, tiaras, and other hair accessories are items that you may want to add to your wedding gown trial session.

Most bridal boutiques carry a selection of accessories that you can try on to complete your wedding look.

During your appointment, your bridal consultant will be able to suggest complementary accessories or suggest attractive styles of footwear or undergarments to be worn with your gown.

If there is something specific that you are looking to wear, call ahead, or check the boutique website to see if they carry it.

What is your payment plan?

Even if you are buying off the rack, you may not be prepared to pay outright for your wedding gown.

Many bridal boutiques offer affordable gowns and will accept a down payment of a percentage of the cost of the dress prior to purchase. If you are making a rush order or require a specialty size, you may have to pay an additional fee.

Make sure you have a clear understanding of your payment plans and options before you agree to purchase.

Do you offer alterations?

If your dress needs to be taken in, or let out, shortened, or go through some other type of transformation, you will need the services of a seamstress. Most of the best bridal shops have someone who they work closely with or even an in-house person who does alterations. It can pay off to take the recommendations of the bridal shop!

It is likely that their recommendation has experience with wedding dresses in a variety of styles and fabrics.

Do you serve or allow refreshments?

If you are bringing some friends and family to watch you try on your dream wedding gown, you may envision a fun time with laughs, tears, and champagne.

Some bridal shops serve a glass of wine or bubbly or allow you to bring your own refreshments, to be enjoyed dresses are out of the way. Other shops prefer that you save your celebrations for after the appointment.

Can we take photos in the shop?

Call ahead or ask during your appointment before you snap any photos!

Why should I choose your shop?

Your wedding dress is an important investment and something that should make you feel beautiful. You want to choose a bridal boutique that has knowledgeable staff, a great selection, affordable dresses, and the ability to create a special experience.

You may prefer a particular boutique’s designer selection, but if they do not provide optimal customer service and atmosphere, you may want to consider another shop.

Find out what your shop of choice is going to offer you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Enjoy yourself!

Your wedding dress shopping experience should be enjoyable. You are buying a dress that you will look back on for years to come, and we want you to be prepared for attending your wedding dress shopping appointment.

The great boutiques like VIERO Bridal offer you the opportunity to try on or design your dream dress with knowledgeable consultants in a beautiful and chic environment.

Attend one of our locations in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, bring your list of questions, and find the dress of your dreams.

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