image: Melanie Zacek
As many brides are beginning to shop during this time of year, we thought it would be helpful for re-post some frequently asked questions about our boutique and shopping experience. What is the price range of your gowns? We have hand-selected a collection of gowns that are priced between $2,500 â $11,000. We have two designers with a small selection of gowns priced between $1,200 â $2,000: Jenny Yoo and Theia. These gowns are unstructured and tend to be for a less formal wedding. We also always have a selection of store samples that are discounted and being sold directly off the rack. *Please note that these gowns are generally sample size 10. Do I need an appointment to shop in your boutique Yes. We are by appointment so that we can provide each of our clients with our undivided attention. The majority of what we sell is special order, and many items can be customized. Working with a dedicated associate allows you to be educated on all of your options, as well as all of the unique services that the boutique has to offer. You can schedule an appointment by ringing us at 860.669.4596 or you may request one here. *Please note our cancellation policy below. Are you open on Sundays? We have limited hours on select Sundays from November â March.  If you are interested in a private shopping experience on a Sunday, click to learn more about about our White Carpet Appointments and Bridesmaid Soirees. How long will my appointment be? Our appointments are 1½ hours in length. Can I schedule bridal and bridesmaid appointments back to back? We strongly recommend that you make separate appointments. Bridal appointments can be emotional and require making quite a few decisions. If your schedule allows, we recommend that you try to schedule separate appointments so that you can get the most out of each appointment. If your schedule limits you to requiring bridal and bridesmaid appointments on the same day, we do require a credit card to reserve these two back to back time slots on a Saturday. If the appointment is cancelled with less than 24 hours notice, your card will be charged $50. We do offer Bridesmaid Soiree appointments where you and your bridal party can have 2 hours of exclusive access to chic by the shore, our bridesmaid atelier. You and your bridesmaids will enjoy sweets and mimosas while experiencing a private shopping appointment. For further details, check out the Bridesmaid Soiree page on our website. What should I bring with me to the appointment? If you wear a bra or shoe size that is especially small or large, your may want to bring your own. Otherwise, we have both to offer you during the appointment. You will be working with a dedicated stylist, so feel free to bring any photos of gowns that you admire. When should I arrive for my appointment? Please arrive at the time that your appointment is scheduled for. We often have appointments immediately before your appointment and (especially on a Saturday) will not be able to take you early. Furthermore, if you are late, this will cut into your appointment time. We also often have an appointment immediately following yours (especially on a Saturday) and therefore, we may not be able to extend your appointment time due to a late arrival. Is there a limit to the number of guests that I can bring? As we are a small boutique, we ask that you limit your guests to no more than 5. We understand that there are many special people in your life that want to be a part of this momentous decision; however, too many opinions can actually be detrimental. Try to limit your guests to those who understand your personal style and the overall look and feel of your wedding so that they can assist you in selecting a gown that compliments both. If you feel that you want to make a big reveal of your decision for your bridal party or your extended family, we offer White Carpet Appointments. These appointments provide you with 3 hours of exclusive access to the boutique. You are treated to champagne and sweet or savory treats during your visit, and a photographer is present to capture all of the wonderful memories as they unfold. You will leave the appointment with a SWAG bag full of bridal goodies. For further details, check out the Pricing Details page on our website. Are photographs allowed? They are allowed, but we ask that you refrain from taking them until the end of the appointment when we have helped you narrow down your choices to 3 gowns. Taking them throughout the appointment can be distracting and may not be the best use of your time. We also ask that when viewing the photos to remember that our gowns are samples and may not be in the color or condition that your gown will be upon itâs arrival. Also, the gown has not been professionally fit to your body and therefore may not be lying exactly right. Can I bring small children to my appointment? We adore children, but our boutique is filled with delicate, expensive items and it is not an appropriate environment for them. Children require a lot of care and attention and we also feel that caring for them takes the attention away from the bride, which in our world, is always the star of the show! We kindly request that you leave small children at home. What is your cancellation policy? For appointments that take place on Thursday evenings (5 and 6:30), Saturdays and trunk shows, we require a credit card to reserve your appointment.  Your card will be charged $25 only if you cancel your appointment in less than 24 hours notice or if you donât show up for your appointment. Will you discount or haggle on price? The only time we discount is during a special event or trunk show. For further details, check out the Discounting Policy page on our website. We do offer a 5% discount on bridesmaid purchases from our bridesmaid designers if you purchase your gown with us. What is a trunk show, and what is the advantage of purchasing your gown at one? A trunk show is when a designer sends in an extended version of their collection. There is frequently a special offer that is provided during the event as an incentive to buy. Very often, the designer or a company representative is present at the trunk show, which allows you to fully experience the nuances and beauty of the collection. What is the difference between an accessory appointment and your Styling Service? Accessories Appointment â This appointment is an hour and a half in length. We will have you try your gown on, and one of our trained stylists will assist in selecting the perfect veil and accessories to compliment your gown. Styling Service â This appointment is three hours in length. This service is for the bride who needs a lot of guidance or is overwhelmed by all of her options and wants assistance in editing her selections. Prior to your appointment, you will receive our styling questionnaire, which provides us with the overall look and feel of your wedding. During your visit, we will assist in styling all of your wedding day looks, from shower, to rehearsal dinner, to the wedding itself. You will also receive a beauty profile, providing hair and make up style suggestions. If you have style changes planned for your wedding day, we will communicate those to your photographer so that every detail is captured. To ensure that you are picture perfect and no hair, bustle point or accessory is out of place, we also offer a Dressing Service on the day of your wedding. How far in advance should I purchase all of the items for my wedding? Following are our recommended lead times for each of our categories: Bridal Gown 9-12 months in advance of the wedding Bridesmaids and Mother of the Occasion Dresses 5 months in advance of the wedding Little White Dress 4-5 months in advance of your wedding related event Accessories 2-3 months in advance of the wedding Veil 2-3 months in advance of the wedding Shoes and Undergarments 1 months in advance of your fittings starting (Your bridal alterations should begin 4 months in advance of your wedding) Do you offer in-house alterations? We have two seamstresses that perform fittings in our store for our brides. Our alteration services are ala carte, so we charge for what needs to be done to the gown. We would be happy to provide you with an average price range and a complimentary quote for our services once you have been measured for your gown. Our seamstresses are bridal specialists, so we reserve their talents and craft to perfect our wedding gowns. We have a network of talented out-of-house seamstresses that we have fully vetted and can refer for bridesmaid and mother of the occasion alterations. We can only accommodate a certain number of bridal alterations per month. It is best to purchase your wedding gown a minimum of 9 months in advance of your wedding if you want to take advantage of our in-house alterations service. When you purchase your gown, you are automatically added to our alterations que, up until the time that our monthly quota is met. To learn more about our unique and extensive alterations process, view this video.xoxo, TWD