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Events and BoutiquesOur Heart | November 29, 2024
The Bridal Boutique Experience
Events and Boutiques | July 27, 2024
Are you ready to start shopping for wedding dresses but unsure of where to start? Don’t worry, brides! We have you covered! We’re here to give you the 411 on all things bridal boutique etiquette, from making your appointment to walking out with your dream dress! Keep scrolling for the dos, don’ts, tips, and tricks of saying yes to the dress!
P.S. Looking to have even more fun dress shopping? Check out our store events page to see what upcoming events our authorized bridal boutiques near you have planned!
What Is A Bridal Boutique?
A bridal boutique is basically a store full of wedding dresses that you can go try on IRL! Think Say Yes To The Dress, being surrounded by your friends and loved ones, tears spilling as you look in the floor-length mirror in your dream dress… you get the picture, right? That’s the bridal boutique experience!
Our Authorized Retailers are bridal boutiques that carry samples of our Maggie Sottero wedding dresses for brides to try on before choosing their dream dress. Then, the fabulous stylist who helped you during your bridal appointment orders the gown and whatever accessories you’ve chosen to go with it in your size from us! You can visit one bridal boutique, or shop around and explore your options to find your dream dress!
Why Shop At A Bridal Boutique?
For many brides, shopping at a bridal boutique is a childhood dream come true. Whether you grew up watching romcoms where brides-to-be tried wedding gowns, or saw your older siblings or friends say yes to their perfect dresses during their bridal appointments, many brides have pictured the moment they find the dress.
There are, however, also practical reasons for shopping at a bridal boutique. Stylists are trained to take in your personal aesthetic, tastes, body type, and wedding details in order to hand-select gowns that are right for you, getting you to the right dress faster than if you were left to sort through the hundreds of gowns many bridal boutiques carry on your own.
Bridal boutique stylists can also help you understand what personalization and accessory options you have for your dress to ensure you get what you’re looking for, down to every detail. (Psst! Be sure to ask about our Personalize It! and Quick Ship programs during your bridal appointment for more information!)
Bridal Boutique Stylists
Shopping in a bridal boutique for your wedding gown also puts you in the hands of stylists who can advocate for you and mediate difficult situations that may arise during your bridal appointment. Whether you have someone in your bridal party who is more outspoken about their opinions or you need a little confidence boost, your stylist is there to make sure everything goes smoothly and you feel like your most beautiful self!
(Psst! Here are some tips on Maintaining A Positive Body Image At Your Bridal Appointment!)
Finally, most bridal boutiques will give you recommendations on seamstresses and other vendors, let you know how to properly care for your wedding dress, give you an accurate idea of what gowns within your budget and timeline look like, and help you get a sense of what types of alterations you might need!
How Many Months Before Your Wedding Should You Go Dress Shopping At A Bridal Boutique?
PC: The Bridal Closet | Jessica Parsons
Because they’re a special item that you want to look flawless in, wedding dresses aren’t usually something you take home that day ready to wear. You’ll probably want to shop around and go to a few different bridal boutiques to try on gowns, peruse your favorite designers’ websites (like ours!), and have a sense of your overall bridal aesthetic and wedding-day vision before choosing your wedding dress. Then, once you’ve found a winner, you need to reserve time after selecting your gown for shipping time, alterations appointments, shopping for accessories, etc!
Because of this, we recommend that brides start to look for a wedding dress 9–18 months before the wedding date so that you’ll be able to choose and order a gown 8–9 months before you get married. This gives you time to find the perfect dress at the perfect price point and make sure your gown matches the overall aesthetic of the wedding, including the theme, color scheme, venue, etc. By this point, you’ll also have an opportunity to get your budget finalized, including alteration fees.
Already past that point? No worries! To help brides with fast-approaching wear dates, we offer many gorgeous Maggie Sottero wedding dresses that arrive faster than our typical delivery window. These Quick Ship gowns are perfect for last-minute brides, elopements, courthouse weddings, short engagements, and more! To place an order for any of these romantic wedding dresses, talk to your Authorized Retailer!
Here are our different shipping timeframes:
- Quick Ship & Super Rush: 10 weeks
- Rush: 12 weeks
- Standard Delivery: 16-18 weeks
(Psst! Remember, rush and super rush may come at an additional cost, so be sure to include that in your budget if you’re looking at a quick wedding date!)
How Many People Should Go Wedding Dress Shopping At A Bridal Boutique With You?
PC: K Stars Photo | The Bridal Closet
Every bridal boutique has different rules when it comes to how large your entourage is, so make sure to ask when you book your appointment how many people you can bring before you make any promises to anyone.
Our recommendation though is not to bring more than 3-5 people to a bridal boutique with you. Too many voices may drown out your own, and too many opinions can leave a bride confused and anxious about whether she is making the right decision. Because of that, we think keeping your list to maternal figures, maids of honor, or sisters who have positive mindsets, make you feel like your most beautiful self, and who are ready to support you in whatever decision you make is always a good way to go. Remember, wedding dress shopping is supposed to be a good experience!
Prioritize yourself and don’t be afraid to avoid anything that will have a negative influence on this special moment in your life!
Is It Okay To Go Wedding Dress Shopping Alone At A Bridal Boutique?
Absolutely! If you don’t want the added pressure of having other people at your bridal appointment or don’t have someone in your life that you want to share that moment with, it is totally okay to go wedding dress shopping alone! After all, we’re all for brides protecting their peace of mind.
If you’re worried you’ll stick out, trust us, your stylist won’t bat an eye. Here in the bridal world, we understand that everyone is different, and so are their situations. We’re just here to make it the best experience possible, and if that’s a day out treating yourself to some solo shopping, we love that for you!
Plus, going wedding dress shopping alone creates such a fun surprise for not only your future partner on your wedding day, but for everyone in your life! If you’re looking to keep a little mystery alive and love a grand reveal moment, keeping your dress a secret until your wedding day can be a great way to add a little spice to your ceremony!
What Do You Wear To A Bridal Boutique?
PC: Bridal Closet | Ro Odeh
Walking into a bridal boutique for the first time can be intimidating, but don’t worry! Here’s the 411 on what to wear to your appointment. First of all, make sure you have some nude, less noticeable undergarments when trying on wedding dresses, especially if you’re interested in something sexier with cut-outs or sheer paneling. If you’re looking for more info on How to Choose the Right Wedding Undergarments for Your Wedding Dress, look no further than our blog!
For shoes, you can go one of two ways. You can either wear something comfy that slips off easily and that you’ll be okay standing in for a while or potentially taking off as you try on different dresses, or you can bring your wedding heels to get a better sense of what your overall bridal look will be. Wearing your wedding heels will also help you find a dress that pairs well with them and give you a better sense of how much hemming your seamstress will have to do.
If you have your bridal jewelry or other accessories, those can be good to bring to your bridal appointment as well to make sure they pair well with your dress. If you’re putting off accessorizing until you find the perfect dress, then keep other jewelry or accessories to a minimum during your appointment so they don’t distract from the gowns you’re trying on!
Other than that, feel free to wear your street clothes to the bridal boutique, and they’ll take it from there!
How Many Times Should I Go Wedding Dress Shopping At A Bridal Boutique?
Just remember, if your wedding date is set, you are on a timeline! We’d also encourage brides to step outside of their comfort zones and try something different than what they initially pictured if they’re not finding a dress they love among what they’ve already tried on.
Wedding dress shopping at a bridal boutique is a blast, but don’t get so carried away playing dress-up that you’re in a rush to find your dress once your wedding date approaches! Have fun and try on all sorts of different styles and silhouettes, but don’t be afraid to commit when you find something you’re head over heels for! Accessory shopping, styling your gown, going to alterations appointments, and planning the rest of your wedding all await and are just as much fun!
What To Expect At A Bridal Boutique
PC: Ming Cee | The Bridal Closet
Typically, you’ll call ahead of time or book an appointment online at one of our Authorized Retailers near you. Then, you’ll show up to the boutique at your allotted time and meet your stylist. They will probably ask you a few questions about your personal style, preferences, budget, wedding aesthetic, and more to get an idea of what types of wedding dresses are right for you.
They’ll then start pulling some dresses for you and get you set up in a dressing room. Once you slip into a gown, your stylist will lead you back out to your entourage and place you in front of a mirror, helping to spread out your dress so you and your party can see all the exquisite details the gown has to offer. They’ll ask you questions about what you like and don’t like about that gown to help improve their sense of your style, and then lead you back into the dressing room to try on more gowns they pick based on your feedback throughout the appointment!
Your stylist will probably give you the rundown on what accessories are available to pair with that dress, customizations you can make to it, and other details that are important to know when choosing whether a wedding dress is right for you.
At the end of your appointment, you will either have your heart set on a dress and ask your stylist to order it for you in your size, or you’ll say goodbye and start the process over again at a different bridal boutique in search of your wedding dress!
Need even more details? Check out Maggie’s Wedding Dress Shopping Tips!
10 Of Our Top-Selling Wedding Dresses To Try On At A Bridal Boutique Near You
Lennon by Maggie Sottero
A floral beaded mermaid bridal gown has glam aplenty. But what about shimmer? What about texture? What about a sexy nod to boudoir styling with a plunging neckline and bodice details? We’re here for all the gorgeous potential of this red-carpet staple, Lennon by Maggie Sottero!
Looking for accessory inspo? Check out these options:
Harlem by Maggie Sottero
You must have shimmer, shine, and an off-the-shoulder fairytale wedding gown like Harlem by Maggie Sottero and her matching Harlem Veil, made for dance floors and magical lighting.
Bridget by Maggie Sottero
The perfect gown cocktail: add one part ethereal to one part champagne bubbly. You get Bridget by Maggie Sottero, a sensual floral lace wedding dress worthy of your best day ever.
Casey by Maggie Sottero
Don’t let your gorgeous floral fall flat! Embrace the third dimension in Casey by Maggie Sottero, a sparkly ballgown wedding dress featuring bouquet-inspired motifs and a regal-chic silhouette. Feel free to pair Casey with a stunning Casey Veil!
Anastasia by Maggie Sottero
For your true-blue, unabashedly feminine, and sensual soul – Anastasia by Maggie Sottero! This crepe beaded bridal gown delights with delicate spaghetti straps, shimmery motifs, and gorgeous illusion details.
Drew by Maggie Sottero
You’re bold, have a vibe, and are destined for Drew by Maggie Sottero! This illusion corset wedding dress was made for celestial backdrops and magical lighting. Especially with a matching Drew Detachable Jacket!
Alexandria by Rebecca Ingram
You love ethereal flourishes, so treat yourself to all the airiness and illusion you could ever want in these simple bishop wedding dress sleeves. Say hello to Alexandria by Rebecca Ingram and her fab accessory options:
Catherine by Rebecca Ingram
Let’s say you’re getting married in some kind of ideal mountain locale. We say ditch the bells and whistles and opt for Catherine by Rebecca Ingram, an easy-breezy, effortlessly romantic bridal dress with spaghetti straps, lace, and chic illusion!
Bronson by Sottero and Midgley
A unique boho fit-and-flare bridal gown has charm aplenty. But what about volume? What about texture? What about a nod to 70’s glam in a curve-hugging silhouette and plunging neckline? We’re here for all the gorgeous potential of star-worthy Bronson by Sottero and Midgley! Pair her with:
Positano by Sottero and Midgley
Cue the disco inferno. Turn up the Roaring 20s. Cheers to your moonlight soirees. This mermaid-inspired beaded wedding gown, Positano by Sottero and Midgley, is chic, shimmery, and dance floor-ready. Here are some accessories that go beautifully with Positano:
Loving these picks and totally ready to try them on IRL? Find an authorized retailer near you, gather up your entourage, and book your bridal appointment today! Happy shopping, brides!
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