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Beth's Shopping Tips
“Tackling Trunk Shows”
By Beth Chapman- owner of
The White Dress by the shore
Trunk Shows can provide the
perfect opportunity for a bride to find the gown of her dreams. But what is a
trunk show, and what are the benefits for the bride to be?
Beth Chapman, owner of The
White Dress by the shore, an upscale bridal boutique located in Clinton,
provides this explanation: “A trunk show is an event hosted by a bridal boutique
where a broader representation of a designer’s collection is sent to the
store.” According to Chapman, “There is often a representative from the company
present or in some instances the designer themselves attend the event. There is
almost always some type of discount or special offer that is provided during the
course of the trunk show if a purchase is made at the event.”
Store owners are generally
not able to purchase a designer’s entire collection. A trunk show allows an
extended version of the collection to be sent to the store, and oftentimes,
designers will send new styles to the event that are not yet available in
stores. One of the primary benefits for a bride is that she is able to work
directly with the designer or company representative to learn about the
intricacies of the line and make custom changes to create her own, one of a kind
gown. Notes Chapman, “We recently hosted an Anne Barge trunk show and we
customized almost every gown that we sold. Trunk shows are the perfect
opportunity for a bride to work with a designer to create her dream gown.”
The designer benefits from
the trunk show as well. They are able to watch brides try on their gowns and
listen to their comments. It is an excellent opportunity for them to get direct
feedback from brides that they can apply to future collections.
Generally there is a
discount or special offer associated with a trunk show. It is commonplace for a
bridal store to offer a 10% discount during a bridal gown trunk show.
Chapman notes, “Trunk shows
are not recommended for a first time shopping experience. In order for a bride
to fully benefit from a trunk show, they should come into it knowing the types
of silhouette that they are looking for. Having this knowledge will allow them
to receive the benefit of the discount and the opportunity to work with the
designer to customize their gown.”
A trunk show is an excellent
time to purchase your gown. If there is a particular designer that you are
interested in, a trunk show will allow you to see the full breadth of the
designer’s line and allow you to purchase one of their gowns while receiving a
discount or special offer. But, be sure to book an appointment early. These
exclusive events book up quickly!
10 Tips For A Successful
Bridal Shopping Experience
by Beth Chapman
Shopping for a wedding gown
is often one of the first steps that a bride takes as she embarks on the journey
of her engagement. Wedding dress shopping is an exciting, but often daunting
task. Following are 10 tips that if followed will help to make the experience
memorable, enjoyable and lead to the gown of your dreams.
1. Secure your wedding
date and venue
Before beginning to shop for
your gown, you should have your wedding date and venue secured. Your decision
will be much easier to make if you can envision yourself wearing your gown in
the setting of your wedding.
2. Set a budget
In creating your wedding
budget, be sure to include a realistic budget for your wedding attire. Your
budget should include an allocation for not only the gown, but accessories (bra,
veil, and shoes), alterations and gown cleaning and preservation after the
wedding.
Websites like The Knot and
Brides.com can assist you in determining the price range of different
designers.
It is very important to
articulate your budget to the sales associate when shopping for your gown. You
do not want to fall in love with something that does not fit your budget.
3. Do your research
Prior to beginning to shop,
research salons that carry designers that meet your taste level and budget.
Evaluate the types of stores
that you like to shop in for your everyday clothes and be sure that you select
the correct shopping environment for you. If you are a department store
shopper, a larger bridal salon with a large selection of gowns may be the right
fit for you. If you prefer to shop in small boutiques, then a smaller more
intimate bridal store would most likely be best for you.
Visit the salon's website
before calling to set an appointment to ensure that the selection and price
range meets your needs. It is also helpful to read the bridal blogs to find out
what other brides to be have to say about the stores that you plan to visit.
4. Plan ahead
Call to schedule an
appointment a minimum of one week in advance. By scheduling an
appointment, it allows the salon to provide you with their undivided attention
and have a sales associate dedicated specifically to you.
Keep in mind that it takes
approximately 4 months to produce a wedding gown. You should begin shopping for
your gown a minimum of 8 months in advance of the wedding to allow enough time
for alterations once the gown arrives.
5. Limit opinions
This is a momentous and
joyous time in your life, so naturally you want to share it with your family and
friends. Be careful however of bringing a large group with you. Too many
opinions can be detrimental to making a decision.
If you have bridesmaids or
family members who insist on being part of the process, a suggestion might be to
shop with 1-2 very close family members or friends who understand and respect
your personal style. Once you have finalized your decision, then you can bring
back other people to show them the gown that you have decided on.
The key is to remember to
take opinions into consideration, but ultimately you know yourself best. Your
opinion is truly the only one that matters- It is your day and you are the one
wearing the gown.
6. No fiancés!
The one opinion that should
never be asked is that of the fiancé! When it comes to the gown, it is the
bride's decision.
Do not show your fiancé
photos of you in your wedding gown and by all means DO NOT bring him with you to
shop for the gown. The reality is, he loves you and he will think that you look
beautiful in whatever you wear!
7. Communicate
Bring photographs of styles
that interest you and articulate your vision and budget to the sales associate
that you are working with.
Don't be afraid to speak up
if you don't like something. Who knows- perhaps there is something that can be
done to the gown to make it perfect for you!
Before making the final
decision on your gown, be sure that you understand the policies of the salon at
which you are purchasing it. Ask about their policies for payment, alterations
and whether or not you will receive a discount on bridesmaid dresses if you
purchase a gown there.
8. Be wary of
photographs
Although it can be very
helpful to take photographs of yourself in the gowns as you try them on, be very
careful about using the photos to make your final decision.
If the gown is not in your
size, the fit many not be perfect for you. Keep in mind that your hair and
makeup are not done as they will be on your wedding day. Also, the lighting in
the store might not be reflective of the lighting on your wedding day.
Photos certainly can assist
in making your decision, but they should not be THE deciding factor.
9 Have an open mind
Trust the sales associate
that you are working with. If they are good at what they do, they will listen
to your vision and make suggestions of gowns for you to try on. Even if you do
not like the way that a gown looks on the hanger, TRY IT ON!!! It could be the
gown of your dreams!
10. Enjoy the
experience
The most important tip is to
HAVE FUN!! How often in life will you be able to try on beautiful gowns and be
treated like a princess? Enjoy every minute of it!
The key is to make sure that
you are working with a store that maximizes your shopping experience and allows
you to feel comfortable in your buying decision.
HAPPY SHOPPING!!!!
Beth Chapman is founder
and owner of The White Dress by the shore, a couture bridal boutique located in
an antique home in historic Clinton Connecticut. The boutique features couture
bridal gowns, accessories and chic attire for mothers and maids. For more
information visit
www.
thewhitedressbytheshore.com.
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