et·i·quette: the customary code of polite behavior in society or among members of a particular profession or group
Over the years we’ve gotten a good idea of what makes our shop special & what brides and their families enjoy about our bridal experience. One thing that seems to be the same for every bride, “having the shop to ourselves” or “being in such a beautiful shop and getting the one on one styling guidance” and that makes us so happy to hear. Getting a chance to spend quality time with our brides & help them through the bridal process is one of the best things about this job! But in order to have those intimate appointments we need to share just how our little shop works, what to expect, & just general bridal etiquette.
These guidelines are tailored to our small bridal boutique but most of these are general etiquette principles you can apply wherever you shop!
APPOINTMENTS
RESEARCH SHOPS IN YOUR AREA
- Bridal shops will have a resourceful website where you can view the designers they carry, price points, lead times, etc. Make sure the shop fits your criteria for style and budget before requesting an appointment. Establish a budget beforehand. This is extremely important and not something you want to begin discussing once you are in a salon in front of other people.
TIP – Consider alterations, veil, and accessories when thinking about your overall budget for the dress.
GIVE US A CALL
- If you’re in town and planning to drop by to look at our gowns, give us a call. We are by appointment only & there’s nothing worse than a bride driving from near or far and not being able to be helped. We value our brides’ time & honor the intimate experience we promise. We’ll always try our best to assist in any way, but communicating with us beforehand is helpful for both of us!
TIMELY CANCELLATIONS
- Our boutique reserves 2 hour appointments for our brides. We book one appointment at a time so when someone cancels last minute or doesn’t show we have an open two hours in the day. Effective, January 1st 2020, we will be charging a $50 cancellation fee for those who do not show or cancel less than 24 hours before their appointment time.
TIP – It’s natural to shop around for your gown & we know most brides will be considering dresses from other stores as well. One way to avoid last minute cancellations when you SAY YES to the one is to not book appointments back to back or even on the same day. Separate your shop visits. If you find your dress someplace, call any standing appointments you have and let them know immediately!
ONCE BOOKED
BE PREPARED
- Trying on wedding dresses is a little different than your average shopping experience. You want to make sure you’re prepared to make the appointment as stress-free & fun as possible.
TIP – Make sure you go light on your makeup, there’s nothing worse than finding lipstick or foundation stains on our brand new samples.
Other preparations to keep in mind are your undergarments. We always hear brides’ jokingly say “oh I shouldn’t have worn *insert color here* underwear” and sure it can be a little distracting depending on the gown. If you’re looking at tight fitting gowns, you may want Spanx to smooth everything out.
If you want us to be able to clip the gown as accurately as it will fit in your size, you’ll want to bring a strapless bra. Many of our gowns have open or low backs, which can be hard to tighten unless we have something to clip to.
READ SHOP COMMUNICATION
- We send out an appointment reminder email a few days prior to your appointment. Make sure you read through and pay attention to what items we suggest bringing! We are located downtown so parking can be tricky and we give suggestions on that in our email prior to coming in.
BRING THE DECISION MAKER
- It’s a good idea to have the “decision maker” with you at your appointment. We hear all the time that a bride needs to bring “so and so” back to get their opinion. This really puts a damper on getting that precious bridal moment the second you fall in love with a dress.
TIP – Keep in mind that return appointments at some shops might be limited to certain days of the week so take advantage of being there in that moment! We offer a complimentary initial appointment however, any return appointments after that will require a fee. Therefore, it is beneficial to feel “ready” when you come see us the first time!
ARRIVING TO APPOINTMENTS
- Be on time! It can be disruptive for a group to arrive early or late to an appointment time. A late arrival will cut into your appointment length.
TIP – If you are bringing a large group, PLEASE meet up ahead of time to say your greetings. We find that large groups can cause an appointment to start 15-20 minutes late with all the hugs, hellos, and gifts. Take care of this before arriving to make the most of your time!
BE MINDFUL
- We know it can be quite overwhelming when you step into our salon. There are so many dresses to choose from & the little girl in you wants to try them all. We totally understand, but pulling too many dresses (or allowing other members of your party to continue to pull dresses) can become extremely overwhelming. We have a strategy we use to make the most of your appointment time so trust us!
TIP – Remember, we’re here to serve you & know the inventory so very well. Sometimes pushing yourself to try something out of your comfort zone can lead to big rewards!
TIP – Let your guests know that as tempting as it can be, they should not pull gowns off the rack for you. They can guide you to a gown to look at, but it’s extremely frowned upon to insist that a bride try a certain style during the process. We’ll help you get there, we promise!
We hope this was helpful in understanding what to expect when you come visit us. Above all we’re here to make your dress shopping experience stress-free. We can’t wait to have you in the shop!
