Shopping for your wedding dress can feel daunting, but our goal at The Bridal Manor is always to make your experience feel comfortable and stress free. One of the best ways we can do that is by spelling out what you can expect from an appointment with us!

Welcome In:

Our store is by appointment so we always encourage brides to call ahead to book an appointment. We try to accommodate walk-ins when possible but unfortunately there isn’t always a stylist available, so we ask that customers book online or call us. Our first time bridal appointments are an hour and a half long so calling ahead also ensures that you get the entire allotted time. We also do not have an appointment fee, so please don’t be afraid to book that appointment ahead of time. 

We have three bridal rooms in our store; two private suites upstairs that fit the bride and four guests comfortably and a larger suite downstairs that can accommodate the bride and five guests comfortably. Our downstairs suite is also the perfect room for anyone who’s unable to go up and down the stairs, so always let us know if your party needs to be downstairs.

Before Your Appointment:

What many brides don’t know is your appointment starts before you even step foot in our store. After making an appointment, brides are sent an interview form which asks about what you’re searching for in a dress. Don’t stress about it though! If you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for or all the correct terms, that’s completely normal. You can give as much or as little information as you would like, or you can simply say “I’m not sure yet.” The interviews are just to help our stylists get to know you better, even if that’s letting them know that you’re right at the beginning of your wedding dress search. 

We’re Here to Help:

In a bridal appointment, every bride is paired with one of our stylists who works with you one on one to help find your dream dress. They’ll pull dresses for you and help you in and out of the dresses. While each of our stylists approach appointments in their own way, they always start by talking to the bride about what she’s looking for in a dress. Our stylists will talk you through different styles, silhouettes, fabrics, and everything else in between to make sure they understand your vision. Even if you don’t know what you’re looking for in a dress, our stylists will chat with you to ensure they understand what may be a good fit for you and your wedding. We are also always open to seeing inspiration photos and mood boards, we want to understand your vision to the best of our abilities, and photos are always helpful! 

Our bridal room is employee only, so your stylist will pull dresses for you to try on based on the conversations you have with them before trying on and while trying on. We always recommend trying on what our stylists bring in because not every dress looks the same on the hanger as it does on your body. But at the end of the day it’s your appointment and we’re here to help you, so if your stylist brings in something you don’t feel comfortable trying on, don’t be afraid to say so. We will not be offended if we pull something and you don’t or can’t try it on. 

What You Should Bring For Your Appointment:

To be honest, there is no right answer. If you have specific undergarments you want to bring that’s perfect, if you don’t that’s okay too. All of our gowns have cups built into them so most brides don’t wear a bra with their dress on their wedding day. If you are more comfortable wearing a bra or bringing pasties for your appointment that’s completely okay, and if you want to go without, that’s okay as well. The only thing we do ask is that you wear underwear. We cannot let you try on dresses without underwear on. Shoes are also completely optional for shopping. If you want to bring a pair of heels to see what the dresses will look like with them that is completely normal, but it’s also normal to just wear your socks! Keep in mind that all of our sample dresses are long and get hemmed in alterations or by the manufacturer so the majority of people won’t see their feet either way. At the end of the day, you should bring what makes you feel comfortable and prepared for your appointment!

The sample dresses at The Bridal Manor won’t be to your exact height, and they often won’t be your exact size. We carry bridal gowns that range from a bridal size 8 to 28W in store and are able to order additional sizing. While we pull dresses as close to a bride’s size as possible, not every dress will be a perfect fit. We clip you into dresses that are too big or too small so you can see how the dress would fit if it was in your size. Sizing is based on the manufacturer’s size chart and most brides need their dress altered because most of us are not an exact fit in any size!

Before You Go:

Finally, what happens at the end of an appointment, whether you’re ready to buy or you need more time to think, we completely understand if you need time to sit with your options. In that case, our stylist will save your favorite dresses in our system so when you decide you’re ready to purchase one of them you don’t need to explain your dress, it’s all there ready for you. When you’re ready to purchase one of your favorites you can call us to make a second appointment or do so online. If you decide in your first or returning appointment that you’re ready to buy, we measure you and talk you through the sizing options for your dress. Then we ask that you put a sixty percent deposit down to order your dress or to purchase the sample. Once your dress arrives we’ll call you to come in and try it on, or if you’re buying off the rack, we’ll schedule you for alterations.

Time to Celebrate:

When a bride says yes we want to give you the chance to celebrate with your bridal party! We have photo-ops throughout the store so you’re able to capture this special experience with your family and friends. Unfortunately we aren’t able to let you eat or drink inside the store, but we do have a beautiful covered back porch where bridal parties are always able to celebrate with any champagne or snacks you bring.

Hopefully this made you feel a little bit more prepared to shop for your wedding dress! And if we didn’t answer your question here, feel free to call us. We’re always happy to answer any questions prior to an appointment. You can book an appointment with us through our website or by giving us a call at 856-582-1422. 

With love,
The Bridal Manor