What to Expect at Your Bridal Appointment
A Bride’s Guide on: What to Expect at Your Bridal Appointment
The moment you walk into a bridal boutique, everything feels real. The journey toward your wedding day is no longer just a dream—you’re about to find the dress that will make you feel like the most beautiful version of yourself. But as exciting as it is, we know that the whole experience can also feel a little overwhelming. What should you bring? How should you prepare? And, perhaps most importantly, how can you ensure that this special moment is everything you’ve imagined?
We are here to help ease your mind. This is your day, and the goal is to make it as fun, stress-free, and memorable as possible. Let’s walk through what to expect at your bridal appointment, step by step.
Expect to: Be Celebrated
When you first arrive at your bridal appointment, your stylist is going to want to know EVERYTHING from how you and your fiancé met, the proposal, to every detail of the wedding day you have been dreaming of. All of these details are a part of your love story and we want that to shine through in every detail of your big day, even down to your wedding dress!
Once you and your stylist have had the opportunity to chat and you’ve had the opportunity to provide some wedding dress inspo, you and your stylist will hand select dresses based on your vision. Don’t be afraid if your stylist encourages you to try on a wildcard or two! You may fall in love with something you never quite expected.
2. Expect to: Try On Dresses
We may be a little biased but this is the best part of wedding planning. While it can feel overwhelming for some brides at first, we encourage you to lean into this moment and truly enjoy the process. Your bridal stylist will be there for you through every step of the way, listening for your feedback, asking important questions and offering suggestions when necessary to help navigate you towards your perfect dress! On average brides can expect to try on anywhere from 6-10 dresses before finding “the one”.
Note- your stylist will be in the fitting room with you to help zip and clip the gowns. We encourage you to wear appropriate undergarments that you will feel comfortable in during the process! While a strapless bra is not required (our gowns are already designed with bra cups in them) we recommend skin-toned undergarments.
3. Expect to: Know Your Budget
Weddings can be expensive- and we know that talking “budget” can sometimes lead to unwanted stress. Do yourself a favor and communicate with whoever is going to be paying for your gown prior to booking your bridal appointment about a comfortable dress budget. This will help avoid any miscommunications or disappointments during your bridal appointment. We pride ourselves on being transparent when it comes to budget, so you may hear your stylist confirm this with you a couple of times as you’re trying on gowns. We want you to feel not only beautiful in your dress but it is important to us that you feel confident and empowered in the financial decision you are making as well!
Not sure how much to budget for your gown? At Ivory On Campbell, our dress prices start at just $1,499. Our average dress prices range from $2,000 - $2,500. We only require a 50% deposit to place the order for your gown and the remaining balance is due when the dress arrives.
4. Expect to: Chat about Timeline
All of our wedding dresses are special order. This means that your stylist will order you a brand new dress in your size. This typically takes about 4-6 months. If your wedding is sooner than 4 months, that’s ok too! Our designers have in-stock and quick ship options available.
5. Expect to: Have Alterations
You usually want to allot a minimum of 2-3 months for alterations. Typically brides will need standard alterations which include: a hem, bustle, and a minor strap or bust adjustment. Alterations often are not included in the price of the wedding dress and customizations can add to the price and timeline.
6. Expect to: Enjoy This Moment
Once you have found the gown, take a moment to soak it all in. This is such a special moment in time and you deserve to savor every second of it. Take some pictures, cheer with a toast and remember this magical moment.