By Chelsea Carney
Almost every girl dreams of her perfect wedding dress far before she needs to pick one out. But when it comes time to do so, there are some things you need to consider before saying yes to the dress. Named The Knot’s Best of Wedding winner six years in a row, the Bridal Shoppe in Warwick is the perfect place to pick out the dress to say “I Do” in. Here, Donna, owner of the Bridal Shoppe, answers some questions that’ll be sure to help future brides out.
How far out in advance should I start searching for a wedding dress?
Once you have identified the date of your wedding, you should look to start your dress shopping about a year in advance. One thing to keep in mind is that dresses take roughly about 6 months to arrive at the store and alterations also need to be factored in.
Are alterations included in the cost of my gown?
Alterations are not included in the cost of the gown, but are very reasonable at our boutique. Depending on what is being done to the dress (ex: addition of sleeves/straps; cups; bustle; applique removal; material; etc.), we try to keep the cost as low as possible for our brides
Can I buy the sample dress?
All of the dresses we have displayed in our store are available for immediate purchase at a discounted price. Our samples are sold as is. Our shoppe strives to make sure that your dress is perfect in every way and we stand by our service.
How many fittings will I have?
A bride can expect to have about 3 fittings. Depending on the dress and/or bride, we have perfected our girls’ dresses in as little as 2 fittings. We have some of the best seamstresses in the state and we proudly stand behind all work that is done in house.
How long does it take for my wedding dress to come in?
One a bride has been sized an order is submitted to the designer. Typically, it takes about 6 months for a dress to arrive into our shop, but it can be a little longer if ordered on more of a custom level. This is the main reason we urge our ladies to start their shopping about a year in advance to make sure they are giving themselves enough time for their fittings.
What should I bring to the appointment?
The only things a bride should bring with her to her appointments are the shoes she plans on wearing for the date of the event as well as the bra/undergarment they would be wearing if she chooses to do so. If a bride has a specific thing that she would like to have incorporated into the dress, that should be brought in as well.
Can I bring my mom and friends?
We definitely think it is very important for the bride to have the input of those people who are very close to her. From our years of experience, we feel it is important for the bride to not become overwhelmed with various opinions. The process of searching and finding the perfect wedding dress tends to be a lot smoother when the bride has more of an intimate gathering supporting her vision of the perfect wedding.
What makes your bridal shoppe unique?
Our bridal shoppe is unique for a variety of different reasons. We do house the dress from start to finish so that we alleviate the bride from having to worry about the storage of her dress. We have some of the best seamstresses in the state who are incredibly friendly and 100% knowledgeable in all of the steps they need to take to make your dress perfect for the day of the event. Our staff is second to none and really takes the time to listen to what our bride’s vision is. We constantly strive to do better and provide first class service each and every day. We are always willing to go the extra mile and think outside the box. Here at the Bridal Shoppe, our number one goal is to make you feel beautiful inside and out and to NEVER stress about the dress!
Any other info about the Bridal Shoppe you’d like to share?
We have a wide selection of bridesmaid and flower girl dresses. Our dresses can also be ordered or bought, as is, for formal events or proms. IF we do not have what you are looking for in our store, we are able to place orders for all of the designers we carry. We are a 2017 Gold Premier Retailer for all Maggie Sottero dress lines inclusive of the new Rebecca Ingram line and Sottero and Midgely. We have also received the Knot’s Best of Accolade from 2008 through 2017. We are authorized dealers for Casablanca and Stella York. Most importantly, we are committed to making each bride’s dress fitting a seamless and worry-free process, the service we provide, and above all never losing site of our ladies vision.
