Ordering Your Gown

There are plenty of sites out there that will give you an estimate of when it’s best to order your wedding gown or bridesmaid dresses. I’ll do one better and not only give you the timeframe but also a peek into the behind-the-scenes order process so you can be better equipped to place your order with a certain level of knowledge that may help you avoid any misunderstandings. I understand the anxiety that brides go through during the long wait and perhaps this is simply due to the fact that the whole procedure has never been fully explained before. In part, my purpose in creating this blog is to bring helpful information to every bride and help smooth the lines of communication between a bride and her bridal salon.More...


Ordering in advance
Unless ordering from a huge chain manufacturer like David’s Bridal, gowns purchased though private boutiques will be made specifically for you once the factory receives the order. Because these dresses are not mass-produced but made individually there is a rather long gap between ordering the dress and receiving the dress. There are thousands upon thousands of brides (and bridesmaids) all purchasing dresses from different individual stores but the same companies, which means larger manufacturers are dealing with orders from all over the world on a massive scale. When your order is placed it’s put in a queue of sorts, the specifics of which vary a little from company to company, but generally is not necessarily on a first-come-first-serve basis. There can be many factors in determining how your order is placed in the queue, the most important being the wedding/wear date. I don’t wish to cause undo concern or confusion so I will give you an example of a fairly common occurrence; Bride #1 is well prepared, falls in love with a gown and places the order six months before the date of the wedding. She is given a ship date of around 4 months by her sales associate and the order is placed and sent to the factory.
Three months go by. Bride #2, who wasn’t aware of the timeframe and doesn’t have the six-month lead before her wedding, purchases the same dress/color/size as Bride#1. She has to put a rush cut shipping cost on the dress to ensure it will come in time but the associate confirms that it will ship before the wedding. The order goes through as a priority to the factory, pushing it quickly through the queue production to make the ship date. Because the factory can’t allow a disruption to the dresses currently in production due to this one order, the system will show dresses already made that match the specifications of the priority order. The manufacturer finds the dress for Bride #1, which is ready to go but shows there is still another three months before the wear date. The factory will send the dress to fulfill the rush order for Bride #2 and simply make a new dress for Bride #1 because she has the time, but this adds another month unexpectedly to the shipping time. All this is done without notification to the salon and thus without the bride fully understanding anything beyond the fact that the dress is late.

Every manufacturer will have a slightly different ‘purchase to package’ timeframe ranging anywhere from eight weeks to twenty-four weeks. Most bridal salons will cover all possibilities with a blanket period of around six months if not more. This is not necessarily a sales tactic to try and get you to purchase that day but more a guide to ensure a stress-free transition from the actual sale to your first alterations appointment with dress in hand. This creates less worry for the bride as well as the salon associates because everything will be done with time to spare. Bridal associates want to ensure the best possible experience at their store which includes making sure you have all your merchandise well before the date you need it. As difficult as these restrictions are for any woman who wants to take the time to shop, remember that the deadlines exist for your protection as well as for the safety of the reputation of the store.

Just Checking Up
It’s OK to keep calling the store to check on the status of your order but keep in mind that these shops are given fairly limited information from the manufacturer and may not be able to provide a satisfactory answer on the spot. The majority of bridal salons are simply the avenues through which these orders are sent to the factory, meaning they don’t have access to any specific information beyond confirmation of the order and an estimated time of arrival. Once the order is placed and set, there is little control that the consultant has over that order which is why it can very rarely be changed, canceled or checked on. Once placed with the manufacturer, the request is faxed or emailed to the factory (usually overseas, so there can be gaps in communication due to time differences) and is then put through the process of being cut and created. There is no set window of time for the entire process, no precise timeframe that can be given upon ordering which tends to concern the bride while placing the order. Rest assured, this is normal and unfortunately cannot be narrowed down by the shop associates.

Shipping
As mentioned before, most dresses are made overseas which can sometimes lead to delays in shipping time. When a gown is purchased, the bridal salon will typically give a two-week or more window of time as an estimated time of arrival providing a cushion of time that encompasses many potential delays. Most orders are shipped via containers on a ship versus air to keep costs down but because of this there can be delays due to weather or random selection through customs detaining the entire container for some time. It is important to keep all these factors in mind while nervously awaiting the arrival of your gown and refrain from anger or concern when the salon cannot give specific dates or tracking numbers. This is not an attempt to be sly or misleading, they simply don’t know and cannot give precise details until the shipment has been through customs and put on a UPS/FedEx/ Speedy truck with computerized tracking numbers


Get It Done
I promise, this isn’t meant from a saleswoman point of view but more common sense. If you love the dress and you want to buy the dress, why wait? Trust me when I say you don’t want any issues when it comes to something as intrinsic as the wedding clothes. Get it ordered, get it done! Not only will you be spared the nagging worry in the back of your mind but you’ll also feel a sense of accomplishment.
Wedding Dress – Check!

The Tuxedo Guide

Wedding shopping can be a daunting prospect. Choices! Decisions! More decisions! Usually the bride takes on the bulk of the responsibility and thus, the seeming endless and overwhelming parade of color swatches, post-it notes, phone calls and Advil. It can be extremely difficult to find answers to all the questions and so I offer my help. I have worked in the bridal industry for years, primarily with tuxedo formalwear, and I would like to give a step by step of how to go about making a tuxedo rental order a little simpler.
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The initial questions before you go shopping for a tux

• Discuss what you envision. You might have very different ideas about what the ideal tuxedo will look like? If you disagree, come to a reasonable compromise before you get to the store. Continuing the argument in front of the salesperson can be somewhat uncomfortable.


• Do you know what color the bridesmaid dresses will be? If so bring a color swatch. Just because the dress is labeled as celadon doesn’t mean that the celadon vest you’re looking at will match.

Note: A color swatch is a lifesaver, bring it with you to all your major decision making appointments that involve your color scheme. The color might be pretty close but could look awful in pictures if it’s not quite right. As overwhelming as it sounds, all the color matching for every part of the wedding should be done simultaneously. The color of the dress might be perfect with the flowers but won’t match the chair covers and none of them will match the vests. The color selection will vary from item to item and most times will not overlap. Making a final decision only to have to change it three weeks later because it was impossible to match with something else is not a headache that you should put on yourself.


The Steps

1. Make appointment to come in for a color matching and style consultation. It’s ok if you need some time to think about it but please-please-please don’t make the consultant write down styles and names if you are not 100% sure about staying with that rental shop. If you still plan on shopping around, be honest, you might even get an extra discount.

2. Once you have decided, make sure you have all information ready; what are the names, what their position will be (i.e.groomsmen,usher, ect) and who will be wearing what. The final decision can be made as far in advance as you want but should be at LEAST three months before the wedding.

3. Assuming that all the groomsmen have already been asked and agreed to be in the wedding (don’t laugh, grooms will put off this sort of thing for months if not kept in check) they should start coming into the store to get measured. All fittings should be completed by the date specified by that rental facility. Some can be as early as two months prior or as late as two weeks prior to wedding. Keep on top of those guys!! Most will likely forget or put it off until the day before the deadline. That deadline is there for your protection to ensure that all the styles in the colors you want are available in the sizes of your groomsmen.
Note: If you are getting married during the peak season keep this in mind: There are more than likely at least a dozen other bridal parties that have ordered that same Calvin Kline two- button wool for the same weekend. If your whole bridal party consists of average sized guys wearing a 40R coat you want to make sure that your order is places as soon as possible. Waiting until the last minute not only creates problems for the formalwear associate (and believe me when I say PROBLEMS) but is difficult for the groomsmen who may be forced to wear whatever size is available or wear a different style. Although the establishment will hopefully bend over backwards to help, it’s a situation best avoided altogether.

4. Check up on the groomsmen over those between months but also keep in touch with the formalwear associate. They have all the information about who has come in, who hasn’t paid yet and where in the order process you party is. Be involved or make sure your groom in involved, but no need to go overboard…….

5. Once everything is ordered and confirmed, rest easy until the big day!

6. Depending of the type of rental shop you purchased from, the tuxes will generally be ordered from a larger parent warehouse and shipped to the shop a couple days before the wedding. Be sure your groomsmen are aware of the arrival date and know that they must TRY THEM ON. There are no guarantees that the tux will fit perfectly based solely on measurements and the tux associate cannot help them if unaware of the problem. Measurements are necessary of course but they are just the first step as there are many different styles and cuts (i.e. classic cut, athletic, suit) and all have different proportions. The tuxes are typically in the store on the Wednesday or Thursday before the event and should be tried on immediately. If there are issues, some can be fixed on the spot while you wait but some replacements aren’t available in house and must be reordered from the warehouse. 24hrs is standard for most companies but if the issue isn’t brought to anyone’s attention until the day before the wedding without time for shipping, there really isn’t a whole lot that can be done. The formalwear manager in me wants to remind you that most sales consultants genuinely want to make sure everything goes smoothly and they have already put a lot of time and effort into your order. Some things are unavoidable and I’m certainly not discounting human error, but if there were a problem verbal abuse would not be the best step towards finding a solution. There is almost always an answer but you must do your part to make sure all members of your party do theirs so the tuxedo professionals can smooth out the transition from try-on to wedding ready.

7. The final step up to you. Have a fantastic wedding day because at the end of it you are still going to be married and if that level of perfection you were aiming for wasn’t a possibility (it does happen, sorry) take time to remember the things that did go off without a hitch and not the ones that were a little less than your expectations.

A Favorable Pick

Are you having problems finding just the right favor for your guests? There are so many sites out there but I wanted to give you my opinion. That's what this site is for right?

Here are the Belles to Brides top 3 picks for interesting and fun gifts
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#1 American Bridal
Wedding Favor Ideas -A wide variety of gift ideas - some more traditional and a couple not.My personal favorites are these chocolate bath salts for your guest table favors. Works perfectly with your chocolate brown wedding theme! Or cute as can be "two peas in a pod" salt and pepper shakers. Delicate Asian theme wedding? Look at these sake cup favors. Comes in a set of 12 so end ups being about a dollar apiece.
All in all - there are tons of styles and fun items to choose from, and shipping is free if you spend more than $149

Wedding Guest Favors
Chocolate Bath Salts $3.50
Wedding Guest Favors
Peas in a Pod Salt/Pepper Shaker $3.75
Wedding Guest Favors
Blue Bamboo Sake Cups (set of 12) $25.00




#2 Hanson Ellis
Personalized Wedding Gifts
Make it your own. Make it a gift that will be remembered.
Look at these - personalized magic beans! I was flabbergasted, they are grown with your names or a short message on them. A great idea for an earthy bohemian reception or if you want to add a special touch to your garden party dinner.
Above and beyond customer service with an excellent website that is easy to navigate.
Save 20% on Personalized Engraved Gifts



#3 Sophies Favors
Cutest website. I like that she divided everything not only by theme but by colors as well which makes it easier to search for that pale yellow favor box you've been looking for.
I really liked these delicate rose soaps. $1.99 for a heart box of 6. Give out the whole box as a gift to your bridesmaids or separate them as an inexpensive table favor!
$1.99 Rose Petal Favor

SOPHIE'S FAVORS - Unique Favors, Gifts and Party Supplies

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A Toast to You

Lets face it. You can’t control everything. Even after all your hours and days and months of careful preparation there is still that nagging suspicion that the Best Man is going to ruin your masterpiece of perfection with one of those lame inside jokes that no one gets. Your Maid of Honor has been a blessing to you and held your hand through multiple wedding decisions, but she has already told you that she isn’t very good at knowing what to say for toasts and will probably just end up sobbing and sitting down without finishing anyway.  Now I’m sure no bride would write everyone’s speeches for them or specify exactly what to say……but what harm could possibly come from giving a push in the right direction? I found a couple of sites that I liked the most that give you all the information you (I mean your bridal party) would need to get the most out what they REALLY want to say. More...

The BM can still have his witty comments and the MOH can feel at ease knowing exactly what to say and still have the option for a tear or two. Maybe have your Dad check it out too just in case he was planning on bringing up that one, uh,  incident….that one time…..you know what I’m talking about.

• If you would prefer a pre-written-pre-approved 
  

          toast and be absolutely sure of success 

          check out Instant Wedding Speeches

• If you want peace of mind but still want the eloquent 
  

         from the heart oration that only your closest loved ones

         can give try Wedding Speech 4 You

Are you worried about what you want to say? That’s ok, because there are plenty of tips for writing beautifully meaningful Vows for you and your soon-to-be.

 Do you have any tips for getting over vow-writing block ? Perhaps a funny story of a wedding where the bride obviously did NOT approve the speeches?  Do Tell!

The Posse

You just breezed out of the dressing room in an absolutely drop-dead- gorgeous silk charmeuse Vera Wang knock-off. The sleek fabric gives a sway to your hips as you make your way to the mirror, smiling as you say to yourself “this is the one – I LOVE it!” There are gasps and murmurings behind you and as you strike a model pose so you can make sure your backside looks as good as the front in the figure-flattering mermaid cut. You turn to the cluster of family and friends to bask in their admiration and approval only to find that most are shaking their heads in disgust. Grandma makes a face and declares the lace A-line was MUCH prettier to which Aunt Cathy agrees and adds her thoughts about how uncomfortable the dress looks. Your older sister Jenny, who never really understood your evolved sense of style, loudly expresses her distaste for how tight fitting and see through the fabric is. Cousin Beth likes it well enough but reminds you that you have only been to 5 shops and when she got married she went to at least 10 before finding “the one”. Your 6 bridesmaids are still talking amongst themselves but you gather the vote is not good and Mom has a strained look on her face as she says for the fourth time that day that she loves it if YOU love it. You are close to tears but dutifully return to the dressing room to try on the rack of overly-beaded polyester gowns Jenny picked out for you.
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Over-exaggerated as this scenario may be, some of you may be facing a similar fate on a smaller scale or for others maybe this was pretty much right on track. There is a very delicate line that all brides must walk during the pre-wedding shopping and of course every single person who is close to you will have an opinion that more than likely will clash horribly with your own. The bridezilla bully is probably the most popular defense tactic as well the most well known followed closely by the stick-your-head-in-the -sand maneuver. That fine line is a difficult place to be for any blushing bride but aside from screaming “MY DAY, MY WAY” every five minutes, you have the obligation to be as gracious with your family and friends as you are firm. Never allow your own vision to be overrun by the expectations of others. Of course this mantra must be molded to the individual family dynamics and one should never be so rigid in their planning that there is no room for compromise.

In my years as a bridal consultant there are a couple tips I tell every bride whether they are planning on an extended family shopping experience or just their closest friends. I hope you find these helpful!


• Do YOU even know what you are looking for?
Do your research before dragging a dozen people to busy bridal shops where the consultants looks on helplessly as all twelve ladies emerge with armloads of wedding gowns you would never have picked out yourself.

• Do some undercover work.
Once you find the shops in your area that carry the designs you like don’t be afraid to go on your own or with you favorite shopping buddy. It is imperative to have clarity of what your own thoughts are regarding certain cuts, styles, and fabrics. If your initial dress shopping experience is free from the influence of others you have less chance of buyers remorse later.

• Try them on!
You might be very surprised when that backless halter style you have been eying in the magazine does not give you the illusion of bustiness you were hoping for. Find out what looks good on your shape and have a working knowledge of the styles that will create the look you are going for and the ones that definitely will not.

• Be specific
Have a pre-shopping meeting detailing your particular style do’s and don’ts. Bring pictures, style numbers, sketches or whatever works for you.

• Pre-approved
Have a couple dresses picked out that you have already tried on and decided on as possible purchasables and show the family only those dresses. They will appreciate that they are in on the final say and you might be surprised at how quick to approve women are if they know already that you love the dress. It’s the open-ended dress shoppers that invite negative evaluations because there might be a “better one” out there.


Did you have an experience like this? Do you have helpful tips for others?
Write a comment and share!