If you are a bride shopping for your wedding dress, you may have come across the term “sample sale." You may be wondering what a wedding dress sample sale is and if you should shop a sample sale online for your dream wedding outfit. How do you know if a wedding dress sample sale is right for you? Is it safe to buy a wedding dress online? Before we even get to the “sale” part, you might be wondering what a wedding dress sample is.
If you are not familiar with the bridal fashion world, a wedding dress sample sale can be somewhat confusing. With our advice and tips, we’ll guide you to knowing exactly what a wedding dress sample sale is and help you determine if you should shop for your dream wedding dress at a sample sale online or in store.
What Is A Sample Wedding Dress?
When brides are trying on gowns at a bridal shop, those dresses are what is called sample dresses. The bridal store orders inventory from their selected bridal designers so that brides can try on various dresses to see what their best match will be. If bridal stores did not order their own inventory, there would be nothing for brides to try on before ordering their wedding gowns.
If you find a dress that you love while visiting a store, you will then place an order with that designer and a new dress will be made for you. That sample dress you tried on stays in the store for future brides to try on.
When wedding dress styles are discontinued or new styles arrive, bridal shops need to make room for the new inventory, and many times will put their sample dresses on sale. And there you have a sample dress sale, which often means a discount for brides.
Here are The White Dress By The Shore, we are offering many of our sample wedding dress for sale online in our designer wedding dress for less sample wedding sale section. Even if you don't live in Connecticut, you can shop online anytime and choose from our huge selection of gorgeous designer wedding gowns for less.
No matter where you live in the U.S., we'll ship you your dream wedding dress from our online sample sale!
Who Should Shop A Sample Sale?
Wedding dress sample sales won’t be for all brides. These are more unique situations than the traditional appointment brides will make to try on wedding dresses. Typically, a bride will schedule a wedding dress shopping appointment and will work closely with a bridal stylist or consultant to try on various different wedding dresses. This is the time to try on many different dresses and dresses of different shapes and silhouettes to see what you like and don’t like on your body.
If you have already been shopping and tried on wedding dresses, a sample sale might be for you. Sample sales are best for brides who have already tried on wedding dresses and know the silhouette and shape they are looking for.
If you are on a budget, then a sample sale may be for you. Sample dresses are often heavily discounted as the bridal store is looking to clear out that inventory to make room for the new arrivals. If you are looking for a designer wedding dress on a budget, a sample sale dress might be the answer.
If you are in need of a wedding dress on a tight timeline, a sample sale might be the best option for you. Brides typically should order their wedding dress a year before their wedding day as it can take up to six months or more for a dress to be made and shipped to your bridal store. Add in time for alterations, and you really need to plan ahead and early your bridal gown as soon as you can. If you have less than 9 months before your wedding, an off the rack gown might be your best option.
Lastly, bridal sample sales are best for decisive shoppers. There is often only 1 or 2 dresses of a particular style, so if you see a dress you love at a sample sale, you will need to act quickly. Remember, these sample dresses are priced at a great discount and they will sell quickly so you have to act fast if you find a dress you love. If you already know the specific dress or style you are looking for and you are ready to purchase the dress when you see it, a sample sale could be a good fit for you.
Learn More About Sample Sales
If you think a wedding dress sample sale might be a good fit for you, or you just want to learn more about wedding dress sample sales, be sure to get your free copy of our Ultimate Guide To Shopping A Wedding Dress Sample Sale - it’s full of all the expert tips brides need to prepare for and shop a sample sale.
If you are looking for your dream wedding dress, you can shop our online wedding dress sample sale anytime, or click here to request your in-store Sample Sale Appointment. No matter how you choose to shop, we can’t wait to help you find your dream wedding dress!
xoxo,
TWD Lovelies
Photographer Credit: Jennifer Conti Photography & Jennifer Conti Photography