FAQ
Questions? We can help you with that.How far in advance of my wedding should I shop for my wedding gown?
We recommend shopping for your wedding dress soon after you choose your wedding date and venue. Most gowns take between four to six months to arrive from the date you order the dress, so to give yourself a stress-free experience and to avoid rush fees, it’s great to start shopping between nine months and a year before your wedding. If you have less than six months before your big day, we still have lots of options that can be ready in time for your wedding. Rush fees and availability depend on the designer. In addition, ALL of our bridal gowns are able to be purchased OFF THE RACK, for the bride who is on a short deadline and needs her dress super quick.
Why do I have to put my credit card on file to book an appointment?
Credit cards are required to book an appointment as a courtesy to our stylists and other brides. When a bride has no intention of making it to her appointment, it takes away from another bride who could have wanted to come in and find her dream dress that day. Your credit card is ONLY charged the $50 fee if you “no show” for your appointment, or cancel with less than 24 hours of notice. This fee also applies if you find your dress elsewhere the same day, so make sure you are not “overbooking” yourself with bridal appointments during a day.
What should I bring with me to my appointment?
Feel free to bring pictures of gowns that inspire you. Source them from magazines, Pinterest, vision boards…anything you’d like! If you don’t already have a vision of what you like, no worries – we’ll help you figure out what you love! We encourage you to wear nude-colored underwear when trying on wedding dresses. We encourage you to eat before or after your visit with us as we do not allow food and beverages in the shop with the exception of water. We are lucky enough to be surrounded by several local restaurants and we are happy to recommend our favorites if requested! We will be more than happy to offer a glass of celebratory champagne for your “say yes” moment.
Who should I bring with me to my appointment?
We recommend bringing 1-4 family members or friends whose opinions you value most. Wedding dress shopping is SO fun, but it can get overwhelming and stressful when a bride is considering the opinions of many people. After all, it’s YOUR wedding dress – and it’s your feelings and preferences that are most important! We believe that every bride wants and deserves a wonderful wedding dress shopping experience. To ensure the best experience possible for each and every bride, we kindly ask that large groups over 5 guests, and unsupervised children, do not accompany you to the shop. We do not have room to accommodate strollers, however baby carriers are acceptable. Please make sure that if toys are brought for your children that they are silent. Of course we realize there can be special circumstances – please contact us, and we will do our best to accommodate you.
What should I wear at my appointment?
We require all of our brides to wear underwear, preferably nude colored no edge panties or thongs for sanitary reasons to their appointment. We also require that brides not have used tanning products within the last 4 days and not wear heavy makeup as well to uphold the integrity of our inventory.
How long is my appointment?
Appointments are scheduled for 90 minutes. That is usually the ideal amount of time to try on several gowns, narrow down your selection, and choose your wedding dress without feeling rushed. Of course, if you feel you need more time, we’re always happy to schedule a return visit!
What size are your gowns?
We don’t believe in “one size fits all.” The gowns at Elizabeth Scott Bridal are in a wide variety of sizes, from bridal sizes 6 to 30. We strongly believe that every bride should feel comfortable and have many beautiful options to try on when she’s shopping for her wedding dress. Sample gowns (i.e. what you try on in-store) will rarely be a perfect fit, but thankfully our bridal stylists are experts at giving you a great idea of how the gown will fit when it’s made in your own size.
Will I need alterations?
The vast majority of wedding gowns need at least some alterations to ensure the ideal fit and length. You will be so happy to have your wedding dress fit flawlessly! The alterations that are needed will vary from bride to bride and from gown to gown, and alterations costs are not included in the price of your wedding gown. We partner with excellent seamstresses with many years of bridal gown alterations experience, and will happily refer you to their services.
Do you have options in my budget?
We offer an incredible and high-quality selection of gowns, priced from around $500 and up. When you come in for your appointment, your bridal stylist will help you choose gowns in a price range that you’re comfortable with. We never push you to spend more than you want, and we treat every bride with the same pampering service regardless of how much she wants to spend.
How Long Will It Take for My Gown to Come In?
The dresses in our store are made to order and require a 16-20 week lead time. Custom changes can take longer. We suggest ordering your dress at least 9-12 months before your wedding to allow time for production, shipping, alterations, and bridals. Sometimes we can get lucky and find a gown already in production at the manufacturer and get it in much quicker, and some designers do offer rushes. Please speak with your consultant about tight timelines and she can help!
What are Ready To Wed dresses?
Ready To Wed dresses are bridal gowns that are clearly marked with special tags throughout our dress selection that are sold, usually at a discount, and cannot be ordered in additional sizes or options. They are available to take home that same day for the bride who is on a super tight deadline!
Do you take walkins?
Appointments guarantee that we have a room as well as a consultant available to assist you, and give you and your guests the best experience possible. Bridal gowns aren’t like buying any other garment, and you will need assistance in selecting and trying on gowns. If a bride does choose to walk-in, and a consultant and room are not available, the customer may possibly have to wait anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, or schedule an appointment to come back in another day.
Do you offer other items for my Bridal Party?
YES! We offer a wide variety of flower girl dresses, mothers dresses, and tuxedo/suit rentals for your bridal party. As an Elizabeth Scott Bride, you also receive special discounts available for your bridal party. Your stylist can give you more information on these, or feel free to give us a call.
What are trunk shows?
Trunk shows are events that we frequently host where we highlight a particular designer’s collection. Trunk shows are a great opportunity to see and try on much more of a designer’s collection than what we normally have in the shop. Special gifts and discounts are often offered during trunk shows. Plus, the designers and their expert stylists often attend trunk shows, which makes for an unforgettable experience as you find your wedding dress! See all of our upcoming events
What is a Sample Sale?
Sample Sale gowns are sold as is, off the rack, and are a wonderful option for brides who don’t have 4-5 months for a new dress to be made, and/or for brides who want to wear a designer gown at a fraction of the original price. Sample Sale events are held 2-3 times a year.