Wedding Dress Shopping Tips Amidst COVID-19
Are you ready to do some wedding dress shopping?
We know it’s an unusual climate right now for those newly engaged couples amidst planning. We reached out to one of our local vendor partners at Annalise Bridal Boutique to seek some pro advice for any brides looking for pointers during this difficult time. Check out our Q+A with them below for some tips + guidance, along with how they are pivoting to accomodate your shopping experience. We hope you find it helpful! Thanks Lindsey and the Annalise team for sharing this insight!
Annalise Bridal Boutique
START WITH THE BASICS + GATHER INSPIRATION
Q: Where should brides start if just beginning their search for “the dress?”
A: If you haven’t purchased your dress yet, it is still doable!
Reach out to your local bridal boutique & give them the facts:
wedding date
budget
street size
any styles or designers you have in mind / inspiration
This info will help us provide direction on what designers will be your best bet and those who can guarantee arrival by the date you’ve communicated.
These details will narrow the infinite amount of options (& your Pinterest rabbit hole) making shopping for the perfect dress much easier!
TIME TO SHOP – VIRTUALLY!
Q: We know that several local shops including yours have sadly been forced to temporarily close during the COVID-19 Crisis. What options are you offering for shopping?
A: Many bridal boutiques are offering virtual appointments. We will be offering virtual appointments beginning in the month of May! (Follow us on Instagram: @annalisebridal for more details!)
These appointments are going to be key to really kicking off the dress shopping process. In the past, brides may have had the luxury of making multiple appointments, but with tentative timelines & many in a crunch to get their gown due to shops being closed, boutiques & related bridal businesses (seamstresses, etc.) are prepping for a huge influx in appointments when the time comes to reopen to the public. By doing a little homework in narrowing down dress styles, or even committing to your top three gowns virtually, you’re going to feel much more prepared & much less overwhelmed when it comes time to choose. Once mandates are lifted, we’ll get you into the boutique for that appointment to select number ONE!
Q: What if a bride has secured her gown, and just needs to shop accessories?
A: In addition to virtual gown appointments, we will also be offering virtual accessory appointments. Brides will be able to virtually shop our accessory collection & get our professional opinion on how to style their final bridal look! For brides not local to Richmond, we’ll offer direct shipping so anyone can shop from the comfort of home. With so much at a standstill in the wedding planning process, accessory shopping is an easy & fun element you can check off your to-do list!
Q: What sort of timeline should we consider for shopping?
A: Once the perfect dress is found, it *normally* takes about 4-6 months for the custom order to come in. With another couple of months for alterations additionally, you’d generally start the shopping process 8-10 months in advance of the big day. Now, especially amidst COVID-19, we suggest to start as soon as possible - and pad your timeline to avoid stress. Consider investing in the rush option for your gown, or purchase a sample gown right off the rack. Rush fees are a typical topic of discussion during appointments. While it is ultimately the bride’s decision to rush or not rush, we usually advise brides to err on the side of caution and pay the rush fee to ensure a timely arrival! Worth it!
Luxury bridal accessories are made to order (just like gowns), so even if you just want a “simple veil,” plan a little extra for time for these too! Pre-pandemic most bridal accessory designers took anywhere from two weeks to two months to make & ship these custom pieces. With some accessory designers even pivoting their business to aid in mask production, getting your accessory orders into production is going to be much more important.
For further direction and inquiries, the Annalise team is ready to answer your questions! hello@annalisebridal.com