Ask a professional bridal gown consultant! :)

[PrincessLinds]

Hi ladies, my name is Lindsay and I have been a professional wedding gown consultant for more than 4 years, and have only just left the business to return to school. I've noticed often times brides here have had questions about dress ordering, designers, pricing, etc., and of course opinions on gowns that are being considered. So I thought it would be nice to offer professional advice and hopefully answer any questions you ladies may have about your gown, veil, accessories and such. Since I obviously don't have a financial stake in what dress you pick, I'm hoping that I can provide a professional, but also objective opinion and some honest answers on things such as design, fit, quality, order time and pricing. Any and all question are welcome!


Lindsay

 

[Princesspunkin]

I was wondering if you knew how to get or find a discintinue wedding gown.

Dawn

 

[PrincessLinds]

I was wondering if you knew how to get or find a discintinue wedding gown.

Dawn

Hi Dawn, GREAT question, since a lot of gowns that are viewable online seem to often be unavailable for order at bridal salons!

Usually when a gown is discontinued, a store that sells it will either immediately try to sell it as a sample, or will put it in storage until they have a sample blow-out sale (think Filene's "running of the brides") in which they will usually deeply discount it (50% is the normal price cut, since that's what the store itself paid for it).

If the store no longer has the sample, there are certain designers that will still cut a discontinued gown, but usually they are extremely high priced couture designers (think $5,000 and up). Those who won't will usually refuse on the grounds that they have a "newer" version of that dress, which might be worth considering since it often has many similarities in shape and ornamentation to the one you're looking for.

If you have your heart set on a certain gown and can't find it in a local store as a sample, check the designer website for stores, and call around. See if another store still carries it. Also consider ebay or preownedweddingdresses.com. Many gowns on those sites are no longer available in stores.

Ultimately, it is unfortunately possible that you won't be able to find a gown once it has been discontinued. But, if you would like to post a picture of the gown you're looking for, I might be able to point you in the direction of where to look further, and maybe some suggestions of similar gowns.

I hope this helps!


Lindsay

 

[LovesHerTaurus]

I bought a wedding dress from a salon that I saw online and fell in love with. Going for first try on AND fitting in a few weeks once it makes it into the store!

They said if I brought the bag I wanted to pack it in, they would actually pack it in there for me to make sure it didn't get crumpled.

Two questions:
1 - do I really need dress steaming once I get to Orlando via plane?
2 - what IS a bustle and how much should I be paying for one?

 

[PrincessLinds]

I bought a wedding dress from a salon that I saw online and fell in love with. Going for first try on AND fitting in a few weeks once it makes it into the store!

They said if I brought the bag I wanted to pack it in, they would actually pack it in there for me to make sure it didn't get crumpled.

Two questions:
1 - do I really need dress steaming once I get to Orlando via plane?
2 - what IS a bustle and how much should I be paying for one?

First of all your picture is beautiful! You guys look so happy! And of course congrats on going to see your gown in a few weeks! I was always excited for my brides to see their own gown for the first time and try it on. Even if it's identical in size and color to the sample, there's something different when it's yours! Now, onto your questions:

1. I would definately recommend having it steamed once you get there...even the best packing can't really guard against every wrinkle. Usually when we packed gowns, we stuffed them with tissue paper to hold their shape, and would then hang it in a bridal garment bag. That's by far the best way for it to travel to avoid wrinkles, and most airlines will hang your gown for you on the plane (but check with yours ahead of time to avoid any surprises!) Most salons can provide you with a garment bag, either complimentary or for a small fee. But, regardless, steaming is the BEST way to make sure it looks perfect on your big day!

2. A bustle is the term used for shortening the train of your gown after the ceremony, so it doesn't drag on the ground during the reception. Generally speaking there's two types of bustles that are used:

1. French bustle (also called an "under-bustle"): this is the most popular type these days, in which the train is actually pulled up underneath the higher part of the skirt. Google "French bustle" and you will see exactly what I mean. It's done using ribbons that are sewn onto the inside of the skirt and train. It's also the more complicated bustle for a seamstress to make, because it usually requires at least 3 "points" (a "point" being where a pair of either numbered or color-coordinated ribbons tie together to pull the train up in that spot). 3-5 points is usually the norm, with one in the middle and one or two on each side to keep the side of the dress from dragging. A really long train might require a Double-French or even Triple-French, but usually one bustle is sufficient (although some girls like the Double look and simply have smaller French bustles made in order to have two. This is of course more expensive, however, because it's more labor-intensive, but it's usually a matter of choice.) Part of the reason this bustle is so popular is because it generally adds fullness to the skirt and has a very romantic look.




2. American bustle (Over-bustle): This bustle is usually much easier to construct, and generally only requires one point, right in the middle of the train. It's done with a discreetly placed hook and eye or button and loop, and works best on smaller, lighter weight trains, although some girls with elaborately beaded trains choose them so as to show it off (this requires heavier and usually multiple buttons and loops.)




Usually each dress tends to lend itself best to a certain type of bustle, but I suggest having your seamstress show you the different options. (If by chance your train is detatchable, you won't even need a bustle, although you could always choose to keep it on and have it bustled just for looks!) Make sure that once she pins it, you get to look at it and make sure you like it before you get out of the dress. This is VERY important. The bottom of the train should NOT be higher than the rest of the hemline (I've seen this several times on TV and I'm always horrified by it.) It should either be even with your hemline, or just slightly sweep the floor. If it's not when you look at it, ask her to please re-pin it so it hits a bit lower.

As far as pricing, some salons have flat rates for alterations, which means the bustle is included in everything you need done during your fittings. However, my store priced bustles based on how many points were needed. A single point over bustle could cost as little as $20, but an elaborate French bustle could easily run $75 and up. Ultimately it does vary from store to store, usually depending on the price point of their gowns (naturally a store that carries celebrity designers like Monique L'Huillier and Kenneth Pool will cost more than most boutiques), but keep in mind that they are incredibly labor-intensive and time consuming, and you will get what you pay for. That said, some stores are much more willing to try to cut you whatever break they can on alterations if you ask nicely.


I hope this helped!


Lindsay

 

[LovesHerTaurus]

That makes a LOT of sense! I have never even seen a sample of the dress in person (I'm a technie - fell in love with one I found online!) so cross your fingers I like it!

It has a semi cathedral train which is gorgeous but really long.... I'll see when I got for first fitting if they could american bustle it then and see what it looks like!

 

[PrincessLinds]

I'm sure you will love your gown! They always look even better in person than online anyway! If you have any others questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Lindsay

 

[pixiegirl]

I found my dress at Alfred Angelo and love it. I am 6 foot 2 so the dress was too short for me. They let me know that they could only add three inches to the dress. What fullness should I get my petticoat so that my dress isn't too short? Do you think with the 3 inches it will be long enough for me? I would like the dress as full as possible without it being to short.

Also I found my dress online for a lot less expensive. I found reviews of the store and they are all good and have an A+ BBB rating. Do you think it is a good idea to go ahead and order the dress online? Thanks so much for your help!!!

 

[pixiegirl]

One last question.....
I am having a corset back in my dress but tried the dress on in the store with a zip back. Do you think I should order a size down because of the corset? Thanks again!!!

 

[Pooh Friend]

I have a cleaning question. I got married on May 23 and plan on reusing my dress in 3-5 years for the church wedding. My dress is 100% silk taffeta and lace, no bling. It would make sense to me to just have it cleaned and put in a 100% cotton bag and hang it on the back of the door or in a closet as opposed to it being "preserved." Do you have any thoughts on preservation?

 

[ckpoodge]

Hi. Thanks for offering to help all us nervous brides-to-be! This is very generous of you.

I have a question on a veil. I'm converting a necklace into the headpiece that I'm going to attach the veil to. I've googled, called a few alterations places, and went to a few craft stores. I've not had any luck on finding something I can attach the necklace to in order to make it into a veil.

Can you suggest anything? I haven't started shopping for a dress yet - I'm still about a year out from my wedding.

 

[PrincessLinds]

I found my dress at Alfred Angelo and love it. I am 6 foot 2 so the dress was too short for me. They let me know that they could only add three inches to the dress. What fullness should I get my petticoat so that my dress isn't too short? Do you think with the 3 inches it will be long enough for me? I would like the dress as full as possible without it being to short.

Also I found my dress online for a lot less expensive. I found reviews of the store and they are all good and have an A+ BBB rating. Do you think it is a good idea to go ahead and order the dress online? Thanks so much for your help!!!

Congrats on finding your dream dress! Sorry it took a little time to get back to you, but I've been away this past week. Most gowns are cut lengthwise for brides that are 5'8" in 3 inch heels, or 5'11" in flats (I have no idea how they came up with that figure, but it's generally the industry standard and allows the dress to be shortened with relative ease for shorter girls). In my experience, many designers will add as much length as needed for a charge, but I'm not surprised that some will only add up to 3 because of the extra costs for fabric. That means that with an added 3 inches, your dress should be fine if you wear flats. As far as your petticoat, I would be weary of deciding on one before you've been able to try on a few sizes of them with your actual dress. Is your dress a ballgown style? If so, it usually will be very full on it's own, especially after it's been steamed. If you still want to add a petticoat, I STRONGLY encourage you to try them on with your dress before spending money on one.

That leads me into your second question. It sounds like the store you found online that carries your dress for much cheaper has given brides really great experiences. Here's my concern though...if (and it's a big "if") something is not quite satisfactory with your dress when it arrives, such as the length, what are their customer service policies? One of the biggest benefits to getting your dress in person is that any questions or concerns you have can usually be addressed by someone handling your account personally. If you purchase it in person at the store you found it in originally, they will be there to handle any snags along the way. Usually with an online retailer, you're more or less on your own, and that includes getting your alterations done. Personally, even though it would cost more money, with your legitimate concern over the length, I would still advise ordering from the store you tried it on at. I think in the end it will be worth the extra money just to have them overseeing the ordering and fitting processes, as well as helping you select the right petticoat, and could potentially save you A LOT of stress.

I hope this helps!



Lindsay

 

[PrincessLinds]

One last question.....
I am having a corset back in my dress but tried the dress on in the store with a zip back. Do you think I should order a size down because of the corset? Thanks again!!!

Whoops, sorry, I didn't see your second post initially. The corset back should not alter the size of the gown, so I would still advise ordering in whatever size your measurements match on the designer's size chart. The corset allows for minor adjustments to be made, but overall the sizing will still be the same.


Lindsay

 

[PrincessLinds]

I have a cleaning question. I got married on May 23 and plan on reusing my dress in 3-5 years for the church wedding. My dress is 100% silk taffeta and lace, no bling. It would make sense to me to just have it cleaned and put in a 100% cotton bag and hang it on the back of the door or in a closet as opposed to it being "preserved." Do you have any thoughts on preservation?

Hi, thank you so much for the question, and congrats on your recent marriage!! I'm so sorry how long it took my to get back to you, I've been away this past week and my computer access has been really limited. I'm not an expert in cleaning and preservation, but I suspect that if you speak to a dry cleaner with a lot of experience with wedding dresses, they can advise you on the best method. Explain to them that you intend to re-wear it in 3 to 5 years. My guess is that they will still recommend preservation to avoid the fabric oxidizing and getting yellowed, which is my gut feeling as well on the proper way to do it. It MIGHT be ok just cleaned and kept in a bag, but I'm not totally confident of that. You'll want to definately keep it out of direct light, and I would advise a plastic garment bag as opposed to a cotton one just incase you ever get a roof leak or any kind of unusual calamity that could hurt it and from which a fabric bag cannot protect it.

But again, I still advise talking to a professional cleaner about it. Congrats again!


Lindsay

 

[PrincessLinds]

Hi. Thanks for offering to help all us nervous brides-to-be! This is very generous of you.

I have a question on a veil. I'm converting a necklace into the headpiece that I'm going to attach the veil to. I've googled, called a few alterations places, and went to a few craft stores. I've not had any luck on finding something I can attach the necklace to in order to make it into a veil.

Can you suggest anything? I haven't started shopping for a dress yet - I'm still about a year out from my wedding.

Thanks for your question! What a wonderful idea, I'm guessing it's perhaps a family heirloom of sorts? My friend's sister did the same thing with her grandmother's diamond necklace for her wedding last year, although she didn't have it attached to her veil. There is a certain difficulty in attaching headpeices to veils, in fact you'll find that most veils don't actually come with attached headpieces. Usually, to get that look, the headpiece is simply pinned into the hair right at the top of veil, at the base of the comb that the veil is attached to. In other words, they only look like they're one piece. I'm going to advise that you try the same thing, because it will still give you the look you have in mind. Another beautiful look is to wear the necklace as a headband over the top of your head, and then set the veil lower on the back of your head. It looks very elegant and sophisticated!

Since you haven't found your dress yet, when you go to look (and since you're about a year out I suggest you start looking soon just to give yourself enough time to make a decision without being rushed ), take the necklace with you, so you can try it as well a veil with each gown you like. That way you can see the entire ensemble together to make sure you love the whole look!

If you have any more questions, always feel free to ask! I really hope this was helpful to you!

Lindsay

 

[pixiegirl]

Thanks so much Lindsay!!! You have been a big help!!

 

[PrincessLinds]

Thanks so much Lindsay!!! You have been a big help!!

You're very welcome! Don't hesitate to ask if you have any other questions!


Lindsay

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

I have a question Its getting close to the time I need to buy my dress and I've asked around all my local stores that sell Maggie Sottero and no one has a sample of the dress I want. Im reluctant to jump in and buy the dress without seeing what it looks like on.
Do you have any suggestions about what I should do?
The one local one (in a town of 2500) is trying to get me a sample real hard but its a very small shop (she's also my florist and decorator she's so nice)
What do you suggest just jump in or try to get a sample... or something else?

 

[PrincessLinds]

I have a question Its getting close to the time I need to buy my dress and I've asked around all my local stores that sell Maggie Sottero and no one has a sample of the dress I want. Im reluctant to jump in and buy the dress without seeing what it looks like on.
Do you have any suggestions about what I should do?
The one local one (in a town of 2500) is trying to get me a sample real hard but its a very small shop (she's also my florist and decorator she's so nice)
What do you suggest just jump in or try to get a sample... or something else?

In my experience, brides who have come in with pictures of gowns they love that they've seen online or in magazines only fall in love with it about 40% or so of the time after trying it on in person. Which means of course that more often than not they don't like it nearly as much as they thought they would. So I'm definately hesitant to advise ordering it without trying it on first, because if you don't like it as much, you won't be able to return it, and I would hate for you to lose your deposit. So absolutely have them do everything they can to get you a sample. If that becomes impossible, think about the elements of the gown that you fell in love with. Chances are, you will be able to find another with most (if not all) of the same features. Maggie Sottero is known for her corset style gowns, so I'm going to assume that's a feature you really like. She also makes re-designs of her most popular styles, so it's possible that she might have another gown that's incredibly similar to the one you want. If you can tell me which dress it is, I will look it up on the website, and perhaps I can come up with some ideas or suggestions in case your store can't get you the sample. If, in the end, you're confident that you will love the dress even without trying it on and don't feel happy enough with others that you do try on, then ordering it without seeing it first might be the way you want to go...but ONLY as a last resort, and only if you really can't find another that you love.

I'm going to be in WDW myself from Monday through Saturday (yay me! ), but if you have any other questions, I will get back to you as soon as I get back!


Lindsay

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

Thanks so much yes I'm in love with Ambrosia by Maggie I have tried on Brittany by Maggie but Im not sure if its similar enough (brittany looked realllll flattering but I wanted just a bit more pizazz on the breast area ) The corset feature is important as Ive been doing ALOT of weight loss in preparation for wedding dress purchasing (so far ive lost 100 lbs and plan to lose another 25 ish by next april! ) Thanks for your help Ill keep trying to get a sample in to try (they are trying real hard) and hopefully I can take some time go through the dresses and figure out something similar to try

ETA: Please enjoy your trip I loveeeee disney!