Brides who are hoping to find a designer bridal gown at a readymade price would do well to check out sample sales. During sample sales, designers or stores sell off older inventory at rock bottom prices. Learn how to score big at a wedding dress sample sale!
Brides who find top name designer gowns for a song know the secrets of timing. This is definitely a case of the early bird – ahem, bride – catching the worm. Different stores run their sales in different ways. They may operate on a walk-in basis, or sometimes you can still have a scheduled time with a consultant. Now when you see brides lined up in the street outside a wedding dress store at 4am, you will know why! Get on the mailing list for special events at your favorite bridal salons. Sample sales are generally scheduled semi-annually before new collections arrive.
Don’t head out on your own – you will want your friends along. When the bridal shop allows reservations for sale shopping, you only need your mom or most trusted friend along. Brides who want to hit the mega warehouse sales need to bring along a big group of girls to seek dresses. This is considered above and beyond the call of normal bridesmaid duty, and requires hazard pay, like an extra piece of bridesmaid jewelry. Also find out if the store will be including bridesmaid dresses in the sale. What a great feeling it would be to have shop for bridal gown and shop for bridesmaid dresses knocked off your to-do list in one shot. With nothing left but to shop for bridesmaid jewelry and bridal jewelry, you will be in great shape!
Get ready to shop till you drop when headed for a sample sale. Plan to bring a seamless bustier to try on under the dresses. Brides headed to the Running of the Brides are advised to wear bandeau top swimwear for modesty, since there may not be fitting rooms available. The truly prepared shopper has a giant mirror with her. Have some notions about what styles you are interested in to move things along. With so many brides looking for the best dresses, you need to be an efficient shopper! But don’t be closed minded, because your dream gown might be totally different than you expected. Since gowns can sell for 25% of their original price, you might find one with lavish embellishments you had never thought you could own.
The main thing to remember is to be prepared to shop and make a choice on the spot. The minute you turn your back on a fabulous gown, some other gal will buy it. Most stores will not hold sale dresses, so bring your mother with you if you need her there to make a quick decision on the spot. Bring the means to cover the total cost of the dress that day. Many sample sales have a cash and carry policy. Sometimes personal checks are frowned upon at big sales, so be certain to find out what tenders the store takes.
The final piece of advice is to be realistic about how much a sample gown can be altered to fit you. Don’t torture yourself by buying a gown that is too small, with the hope that you will find a way to squeeze into it! Wedding dresses can usually be made smaller more readily than enlarged. When you find that amazing wedding dress for a steal, you will feel like you just struck gold.
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