FAQs

 
These questions are examples of most asked about subjects in our store and on the website and we hope you find the information useful. If your query is not answered, please contact us by phone or email and we will do all we can to help!


When should I start looking for my dress?
We believe that it is never to early to start looking as it is a very important decision. Some brides find it best to do some research into the local bridal stores and visit the bridal fairs, while others just go to a store that has been recommended or fall in love with their dream dress on their first trip out! One thing is for sure - you will know when you have found your dress as you can't stop thinking about it, no other dress in existence compares to it and you never ever want to take it off (even if it is our store sample and you have had it on for 3 hours!) Most brides start to look seriously around 12 months before and an order should be confirmed no more than 6 months before! If you don't have this much time before your big day -don't panic! We have created the 'gowns to go' collection just for you, with over a hundred gorgeous gowns up to a size 30 ready to wear! Whenever you start looking just make sure that you enjoy the experience as it is supposed to be fun!!

Why do you ask for at least 6 months to order a dress?
The average delivery for a wedding dress from our designers is 12-16 weeks and then we have to start the critical alterations to ensure your dress fits you to perfection! The delivery time is always an estimation of when the dress will arrive in store and although we can get orders in on an express delivery (charges apply) we prefer not to get us or you more stressed than we have to!

Do I need appointment to look at bridal and bridesmaid dresses?
It is always recommended that if you know in advance that you want to visit us, just give us a call and get booked in, especially on a Saturday! The appointment system we run is in place to ensure that every bride or bridesmaid that walks into our store has the time and attention they deserve! If you do just want to pop in and have a browse, feel free to do so and we will always try and fit you in if we can, but please be aware that if there is already a customer booked in, they will always have priority! We have found that this is the fairest way to ensure everyone is happy!

I am going abroad to get married but I still want a stunning dress - any ideas?
Around a third of all of the weddings we do involve some kind of travel. We have sent brides with gorgeous dresses all over the world from Las Vegas, Florida, Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand and even on a frozen lake in Austria so we have plenty of experience in getting you and the dress to your destination! We ensure that the selection of gowns we have include those suitable for weddings abroad, and just because you are heading far away does not mean you have to sacrifice the dress of your dreams. The gowns we have range from the slinky and straight chiffon floaty designs to the larger satin and tulle dresses that with careful packing, will emerge at the other end with barely a crease on them. We also have a selection of travel boxes that fit perfectly into the overhead cabins so your dress never has to leave your sight! We can even help you pack your dress so you know how to re-pack it for your return journey.

I am a size 20 and I am having trouble finding dresses to try on, so how am I supposed to know what suits me?
We believe that everyone should have fun and enjoy trying on dresses and finding their perfect gown, whether they are a size 12 or 22. We have always had sample try on gowns over a size 16 but we have never really made a big thing of it! We have recently decided to shout it from the roof tops as the average size in the UK is a 16! We have a fab collection of bridal and bridesmaid gowns available to order up to a 32, with try on samples up to a size 26. So come in and lets find you your dress!

I am on a diet and trying to loose weight, how do you know what size dress to order?
It seems that virtually everyone tries to loose weight for their wedding when in fact they are prefect as they are! Our policy is to order for whatever size will fit you when you place the order. This doesn't mean you can leave it right to the last minute as it is preferable to order at least 6 months before your big day. We measure you and each designer has its own size chart. We look on the chart and order whichever measurement is your biggest bit as we can take in but we can only let out by however much fabric is in the side seams of the gown. It is vital to remember that you will always look better in a gown taken in to fit perfectly, than squeezed into a too small gown let out to its maximum.


I have sorted my bridal gown out but I do not know where to start on my bridesmaid dresses - please help!
The decision of your bridesmaid dresses can be a difficult one as you are ultimately choosing the colour theme for your whole wedding as well as trying to find dresses that suit adults and often children who all are a different shape, with different preferences, hair colour and complexion! We understand that it is a tall order to try and please everyone which is why you should always remember whose wedding it is -  and you and your groom should try and decide on a colour at least that you are both happy with. It is then simply a case of getting your bridesmaids together and having a mass try on session. Once you start trying on it becomes clear which styles will suit your adult bridesmaids and the little ones are usually happy in anything that looks like a princess dress or sticks out when they spin around! Please also bear in mind that the delivery time for bridesmaids is the same as bridal so order at least 6 months before the wedding!

Do you do a payment plan?
We have just introduced our own payment plan scheme which allows you to pay for your dress in monthly installments over 3, 6 or 9 months. Please contact us for further details as the terms and conditions of the payment plan depends on the date of your wedding and which gown you order.

What happens when my dress arrives?
We will always let you know as soon as your gown arrives in store and we will then store it for you until it is time for alterations to begin. We will call you in for alterations and once they are completed your gown will be pressed and prepared for your wedding day. It is usual for the dress to remain with us until just before the wedding as once it is collected it will need to be hung up and often out of its protective bag.

Why is the underwear and shoes so important for the alterations?
When we start alterations to your gown it is vital that you (and your bridesmaids) have the underwear (bra or basque) and shoes that you are going to wear on the wedding day. As many of the designs are strapless and even though they all have corsetry of some sort hidden beneath them a change of bra can still make the dress not fit. If you decide that you do not need or want to wear a bra or basque, it is not a problem just let us know on your first fitting. The shoes are also important as most dresses will arrive too long and the hem will have to be shortened. We need to be sure before we cut off the hem that it is the right length, as we always point out that we can't glue it back on once it has been shortened! We have been altering with the bridal industry for around 20 years so we like to get the fit as perfect as possible!