First things first:
When should I start shopping for my wedding dress?
Most designer wedding dresses need to be specially ordered. It takes 6 to 7 months for special order or designer wedding dresses to arrive so you should be shopping at least nine months in advance. Shopping early will give you the most choices and this will also allow time for fittings, alterations, and coordination.
When should I start shopping for my bridesmaid and flower girl dresses?
Most bridesmaids and flower girls dresses need to be specially ordered. It takes 14 to 16 weeks for special order bridesmaid dresses to arrive so you should be shopping at least nine months in advance. Shopping early will give you the most choices and this will also allow time for fittings and alterations.
What do I need to do to make Bridal Dress shopping fun?
To make your day a pleasant and rewarding one, try not to visit too many bridal shops in the same day. When you are fresh, full of energy and enthusiasm, you will be able to make sound judgments. On the other hand, if you come to the store exhausted and unprepared, after trying a few styles you may be confused and find that all the wedding gowns begin to look the same.
What do I need to bring with me?
Bring along pictures of wedding dresses you like and be open to discuss your plan with our enthusiastic staff here at Angel Brides. By wearing appropriate undergarments it can also help to make wedding dresses look and fit better.
In order to protect the cleanliness of the dress samples we ask you to refrain from wearing fake tan and heavy make up when visiting Angel Brides.
Do I need an appointment to try on wedding dresses?
Yes you do. Our spacious bridal suite at Angel Brides offers a calm and tranquil atmosphere. An appointment is necessary thus ensuring the Bride to Be the utmost privacy.
Saturday appointments generally get booked up a couple of weeks in advance, mid-week appointments are normally available at short notice. We do also get cancellations, so it is always worth phoning if you are in the area. If you need to cancel your appointment please ring us and we can reschedule it for you.
What are Angel Brides opening hours?
Winter opening hours are Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 5.30pm.
Summer opening hours are Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 6pm.
We are closed on bank holidays.
Can I bring someone with me for my appointment?
You may want to bring a family member or friend along for a second opinion . We understand that you will want to have their help in making your selection, and we welcome them.
Our bridal rooms can facilitate up to three guests. Choose one to three people whose opinion you value to accompany you on your visit, or feel free to come alone for your first appointment then maybe bring someone back for a second opinion.
However we suggest if possible to avoid taking too many people since too many opinions can conflict and confuse. Thus placing doubt in your mind about your ‘perfect’ wedding dress, after all it is you who will be wearing the wedding dress of ‘your’ dreams. This is YOUR decision, and you need to be able to listen to your own instincts about what dress makes you feel great. It’s easier to hear what your heart says if you don’t have a crowd with you.
About Angel Brides:
What sizes of dresses do Angel Brides stock?
We currently have wedding dress sizes ranging from size 4 to 24 each dress is only in one size or colour. We do not stock each dress in various sizes.
What accessories are available at Angel Brides?
We have a wide collection of bridal veils, tiaras, head pieces and shoes to suite all wedding gowns. We also stock ring cushions, jewellery, bollero’s, fur wraps and bridal handbags.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept cash, Euro Cheques accompanied by a cheque guarantee card, Visa, Master Card and Laser.
Do I need to bring a pair of high heels to try on with the wedding dresses?
You may if you wish. We have a standard pair of shoes for you to wear but we also have a step for you to stand on, so you can see the fall of the dress easily, as most sample dresses come in a standard 59” length.
Am I limited to the number of gowns I can try on?
No. However your appointment will be for about 1 hour and 15 minutes and usually we find that you will manage to try on 6-8 gowns during that time.
How much deposit do I need to give to enable me to order my wedding dress?
We require 50% non refundable deposit on your bridal gown before the order is placed and the further 50% balance when your dress arrives in our store.
My wedding is in 3 months time is it too late to order a bridesmaid or flower girls dress?
Most designers facilitate a rush order system there is a small charge on top of the price of the dress.
What happens at my first bridal appointment?
We will ask you to fill out a quick questionnaire, before showing you into our private bridal suite. Where a member of our professional and friendly staff will explain about the style of dresses that we have at Angel Brides.
You will be invited to look along the rails of gowns to pick out styles that you like, and then your stylist will help you into each one, pinning it to fit as necessary so you get a really good idea of how it could look on you.
Our trained, professional staff at Angel Brides will make your experience enjoyable, relaxed and comfortable. Our bridal store staff will wait on you more closely than you’re used to when shopping for other clothes. It’s our job to help you find the dress of your dreams. Enjoy the attention!
What about the Dress?
How will I know what style dresses to try on?
If it is your first time trying on wedding dresses Angel Brides recommend that you try on a variety of styles and shapes, even if it may not seem like “your style” as most wedding dresses look much better, and different, on you than on the racks. Once you have determined the cut and style of dress that suits your body you can then begin to try variations of that style.
Our staff will study your figure type and personality to help you select the styles that flatter you and suit your budget.
Be open-minded: It’s important to try on at least one dress that isn’t like anything you ever thought you’d wear on your wedding day. It’s amazing how many brides walk in thinking they want to wear something simple and straight and walk out looking like Cinderella or vice versa. In short, the dream dress you decide on may surprise you, and you won’t have the chance to discover it if you swear off trying on styles you think aren’t you.
I saw a wedding dress in a magazine by a designer that Angel Brides stock. If you don’t have it in the store can you order it in for me to try it on?
Unfortunately if we don’t stock the dress that you saw in a magazine, we cannot order the gown from the designer for you to try on. As then it would be classed as a sample gown and the designer would not be able to sell it on to a customer as a new dress. However should the designer have the dress in stock for their own use they maybe willing to send us this sample dress for viewing purposes only.
If you wish to go ahead and order the dress, we would get you to try on some of the designers other dresses that we do stock similar in style to the dress in which you want to order. But when ordering a dress without seeing it or trying it on you are obligated to buy the dress.
My measurements were taken before I ordered my dress why doesn’t it fit me properly?
Before your wedding gown is ordered a member of our staff at Angel Brides will take your bust, waist, hip and hollow to hem measurements. The fit should be close to good. It is not usually perfect. Though we took your measurements, the gown was not custom made to them. The measurements were taken to compare them to a chart of sizes for the gown. An Angel Brides staff member then picks a size that will give the closest fit for you, but alterations are usually necessary to fine tune the fit.
One of our sales associates at Angel Brides will measure you to determine what size you need to order. This does not mean the dress is going to be sewn to your exact measurements. Many a bride has been surprised and even dismayed to find that her newly arrived gown does not fit her perfectly. “But they took my measurements?” is usually a common reply.
You need to understand the difference between “Special Order ” and “Custom Made”. In Custom Made, a garment is cut and sewn to a specific set of client measurements and should fit well when finished we don’t offer that service at Angel Brides. In contrast, a Special Order garment is chosen carefully using size charts to determine the best size to order that will make alterations minimal, but it usually does not eliminate the need for them.
My measurements vary greatly, which size dress should I order?
Special Ordering is sometimes tricky because the various designers that have varying sizing charts and when you add the fact that no two brides have exactly the same body, you can start to understand why alterations are a necessary part of the gown selection process.
When an Angel Brides staff member selects a size for your gown she is looking at many factors. One of the most important is your figure proportions. Since it is always better to take a large area in then let a small one out, our staff member is going to select a size determined by your largest proportion for the size category you best fit into.
This means that if you have a large bustline in proportion to your waist and hips, she will select the size to best fit your bust and you will need alterations in the waist and hip areas to make them fit to your measurements. In contrast, a smaller busted bride will have to select a size according to her hip measurement. Alterations may be needed in the bust area.
I plan to loose weight before my wedding how will I know what size dress to order?
Here at Angel Brides we suggest that you buy your wedding gown at your largest size. All gowns can be made smaller, but the opposite (called releasing the gown) is more difficult, more expensive, and rarely looks perfect.
Sometimes, it’s not even possible to make the gown bigger as there’s just not enough fabric to work with. With all the stress of planning a wedding, weight loss plans often fall short of the goal. You don’t need the added stress of a dress that is too small and can’t be made to fit.
Then there is the opposite, if you diet and make your body over 2 sizes smaller than the gown you ordered, alterations will be costly to make the gown fit your smaller body and you may loose design elements of the gown that you won’t like loosing.
Why are Wedding Dress sizes so much different than ready to wear clothes?
Don’t be alarmed, offended or disappointed when our staff makes you try on a size 14 when you’re really a size 10 (or vice versa) or orders you a dress that’s a size or two larger than you usually wear. For starters, bridal gowns run small, so the dress that’s ordered for you may be a size or two larger than you wear in ready-to-wear clothes.
I’ve found my dream wedding dress, what now?
Once you’ve decided which dress is THE ONE, stop looking at other dresses and don’t try to second-guess yourself! Have faith in your own judgement, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes from having one of your most special decisions looked after. Smile! You look gorgeous!
I am a plus size bride will the price of my wedding dress increase?
Yes, unfortunately most designers charge an extra cost for plus size wedding dresses.
Alterations
If I find my perfect wedding dress at Angel Brides can you alter it for me?
Absolutely, Angel Brides has an experienced seamstress on hand to guarantee a perfect fit.
Will I need to bring my Bridal lingerie, shoes etc. to my fittings?
Yes, what you wear under your dress plays a vital role in making you look and feel your best.
How many fittings will I need to get my wedding dress just right?
It usually takes two fittings, the first will be 8 weeks before the wedding and the second could be 3 to 4 weeks before. You will then be able to take your dress home.
Why do I need to get my dress altered when it arrives?
Wedding and formal dresses are more closely fitted than ordinary garments. Dresses are made to standard sizes, which can vary from one designer to the next, expect the fit of your dress to be close but not exact when it arrives. It’s normal that your wedding dress will need to be altered to achieve the perfect fit for your unique contours. (Bridesmaid dresses, too.)
Are the alteration prices included in the cost of my wedding dress?
No. The alterations are a separate cost from your wedding dress made payable directly to the seamstress. Angel Brides provides the appointment times and space for the seamstress to do your fittings but your contract for alterations are solely with the seamstress.
How much will my alterations on my wedding dress cost me?
Altering a bridal gown is skilled and delicate work, and the seamstress is one of your most important partners. Note that it’s the complexity of the alterations that will determine the price, not the amount that a seam has to be taken in. Whether the seamstress takes it in a half inch or three inches the price will be the same. The seamstress will give you a price on your first fitting.