Wedding Gown Shopping Timeline

We always knowingly smile when brides tell us that their weddings are "a long way off," usually meaning it's 12 months or more. Of course, we know, it seems like a long time, but wedding planning has a way of making time speed up and your wedding day arrives before you know it!

We also know that the dress shopping process takes time - and the sooner you start, the better off you'll be. To help you get on the same page that we are, here's a quick timeline of when things ought to happen in your wedding planning process:

12 months or more prior to your wedding date: Start looking at bridal magazines and at designer websites to get gown inspiration. Cut out or save your favorite dresses (by the way, Pinterest is a great site for doing this).

photo: Sierra Banco Photography

8 - 12 months prior: Select and order your gown. It usually takes four to six months for a gown to arrive in our boutique. Additionally, you'll need time for alterations.

2 - 4 months prior: Begin your alterations. At Suzanne's Bridal Boutique we usually have 3 to 4 alterations sessions with our bride. During your final fitting don't forget to schedule a day pick up your dress.

A couple of days prior: Pick up your freshly pressed dress. Our consultants will tell you how to store and care for your gown until you get ready to wear it down the aisle.

Are you on a shorter planning schedule? Got more questions? Give us a call: 480.926.9106

Suzanne's Bridal Boutique
480.926.9106
www.suzannesbridalboutique.com
www.facebook.com/suzannesbridalboutique
www.pinterest.com/SuzannesBridal

When You Absolutely Have To Have It

So, you've found this amazing dress online or in a magazine. You've searched all over town and no one has it in stock. You really want to try on this dress; it's calling your name; you have to get your hands on it! What to do?

Don't worry, don't fret, dear one. Usually there's a simple solution. First, find a bridal boutique that actually carries the designer line that you are searching for. You can find out who has the line by looking either at the designer's website or on the boutique's website. Next, give them a call or shoot them an email. Ask if "loan samples" are available for the particular collection you are interested in.

Say what?

A loan sample is pretty much what it sounds like. A designer will loan out a sample of the dress a bride is interested in. Loan sample programs help fill in the gap between what the designer has to offer and what a boutique is able to carry in their store. Keep in mind (a) not all collections have a loan sample program, but a majority of them do, (b) not all dresses are available as loan samples, and (c) it's probably going to cost you. The privilege of having a loaner dress provided for you will usually cost you between $40 and $100 dollars depending on the designer's loan sample program, and it's usually non-refundable. So before you set out to get a loan sample, make sure you really want it.

What if you're not willing to pay to get a loan sample? Then what? No worries. Bring your picture - and an open mind - to your boutique visit. Thankfully trends umbrella across designers. What you love about this dream dress is likely to be found in a similar dress by the same or different designer. Sometimes dresses are so similar you'll wonder what you ever worried about. =)

Whatever you're looking for, let us help you find it. Our consultants pour through bridal magazines in their spare time (we're kind of obsessed) and commune with our collections while they're at work. So they've got the knowledge to match what you want with what we've got. Give us a call and let us help you find The One.

Best wishes,
Suzanne's Bridal Boutique
480.926.9106
www.suzannesbridalboutique.com
www.facebook.com/suzannesbridalboutique

Before You Start Gown Shopping, Plan!

First, CONGRATS are in order if you recently said YES to a wedding proposal. We know that this is one the most exciting times in a woman's life and we want you to enjoy every single minute of it!

Most brides we've met hardly have the ring on before they are dying to get themselves into one of those frilly, lacy, poofy, white wedding gowns - and we can't blame them! But before you rush into a million bridal stores ready to try on everything that's thrown to you, take some time to plan.

Get inspired. It's a good idea to go get a couple of bridal magazines just to get some inspiration. You may have been dreaming of your gown since the day you were born, but a photograph helps the dream come to life - and it will later help your consultant get an idea of what you're looking for. Don't be afraid to come in with a collection of pictures; when it comes to bridal, a picture really is worth a thousand words.

Do some research before you start making your appointments. Visit a store's website and Facebook page to make sure this a store you want to do business with. Also make sure they have the type of gowns you want at the price you want to pay.

Know yourself. Before you step inside one store, be sure you've had a talk with yourself. During the planning of a wedding there will be a lot of opinions thrown at you, but remember, YOURS is the one that truly matters. Decide now what you will take to heart and what you'll take with a grain of salt. If you really want a red wedding dress... or a ridiculously long cathedral train... or a big flower headpiece... don't let anyone discourage you. It's YOUR wedding.

Once you've done some planning, give us a call. We'll be happy to help you find the dress you've been dreaming of!

Best Wedding Wishes,
Suzanne's Bridal Boutique
480.926.9106
www.suzannesbridalboutique.com
www.facebook.com/suzannesbridalboutique

Get Into Some Hanky Panky

I'd like to say that what you wear underneath you wedding gown is nobody's business, but the truth is, it's my business.  I want you to look good on your wedding day, so it's my job to make sure you're wearing the right under-things so that your dress fits you just right.

That being said, there is one underthing that I have very little comment on: your underwear.  So long that it doesn't bunch or show underneath your gown, I don't care whether you choose granny panties, a V-string, or go commando!  But if I might make a suggestion...

A Hollywood favorite that you can pesonalize with your own message of love...Hanky Panky thong undies!  And if you buy them this month, 5% of the sale goes to Make A Wish Foundation (one of our favorite charities).  So head on over to HankyPanky.com and pick out two or three.  You'll be feeling as fabulous underneath your dress as you look on the outside. ;)

Best Wedding Wishes,
2sday
Bridal Fashion Consultant

Suzanne's Bridal Boutique
http://www.suzannesbridalboutique.com/
480.926.9106

Be Careful Who You Work With

As a former lawyer and as a former bride-to-be, if there was one piece of wedding advice that I had to give a bride, it would be: Be careful who you work with.
Planning a wedding is a huge undertaking and if you're not careful you can make some very costly mistakes.  One of those mistakes is not purchasing your wedding gown from a reputable, authorized dealer.  I know that in this current economy we are all pinching pennies.  But if you leave your gown in the hands of a dishonest or invisible (meaning an internet only) dealer, you'll end up paying more in the end anyhow.
Nearly every week we get a letter from one of our dress manufacturers warning us about stores who are failing to play by the rules.  At Suzanne's Bridal Boutique we play by the rules.  We honor all the requests of our manufacturers even when others don't.  Why?  Well, that's how we stay in business.  We may lose a dress sale here and there, but we don't have to worry that we can't get your gown because our license has been pulled.  And our brides don't have to wonder what to do with their dress after it arrives, because we're there to service them all the way to the "I do."
Lest you think we are simply whining, I'm copying a letter we recieved yesterday from our biggest desinger, Maggie Sottero.  It warns of the danger of "transhipping" to non-authorized dealers.  Transhipping is the practice of an authorized dealer purchasing a gown for an unauthorized dealer. 

"January 27, 2010

Dear Authorized Retailer,

We have become aware of emails specifically targeted at inducing Maggie Sottero Authorized Retailers to violate Maggie Sottero's Authorized Retailer Policy by transshipping gowns. The primary offender is a shop in New York referring to itself as Gowns and Other Glitz. The contact phone number provided on several emails we have received is 315-524-4526. This number is listed as the contact phone number on the internet website, Bridalgown.net, and is registered on 411.com to Julie L. Painton. Bridalgown.net, Julie Painton and Gowns and Other Glitz are not authorized retailers of Maggie Sottero products.

The emails we have received claim a variety of reasons for needing Maggie Sottero gowns and the methods used to contact our retailers are equally diverse. The primary method of contact has been using the email address gownsandglitz@yahoo.com, however, some retailers have received messages through eBay from the user name "mywaydeals".

The Authorized Retailer is the heart of Maggie Sottero and transshipping is a direct assault on those loyal retailers who invest in samples each season. These are clear examples of an unauthorized retailer who has not made an investment in the line preying upon our Authorized Retailer network to get product and then taking business from them by discounting in many cases. The best way to prevent the unauthorized distribution of Maggie Sottero gowns is to ensure that our Authorized Retailers understand the seriousness of this issue, and for Maggie Sottero to discontinue business with those who blatantly disregard this policy and damage fellow retailers who have made a commitment to Maggie Sottero.

Included below are two examples of email solicitations that have been sent to Authorized Retailers, one of which requests over 20 specific Maggie Sottero gowns. Please be aware that Maggie Sottero actively monitors all suspicious ordering activity, and any retailer who is found violating Maggie Sottero's Authorized Retailer Policy with respect to transshipping is at risk of losing their authorized retailer status and their ability to receive any pending special orders.

Maggie Sottero is committed to supporting our retailers who invest in our products and we will continue to pursue the unilateral enforcement of our policies which we believe give our Authorized Retailers the greatest opportunity for success.

Sincerely,

Darven Erickson

Executive Vice President

Sent from gownsandglitz@yahoo.com email address:

'Hello and Happy New Year!

I have an off the rack shop in NY but often receive requests for specific gowns. I'm looking for a few specific Maggie Sottero gowns in stock because the brides do not have time to order. Would you have any of the following in stock? I can be flexible on size and color if you don't have an exact match:

Kadence 6 ivory, Sterling 4 or 6 ivory/pewter, Astrid 8 ivory/pewter, Jovi 4 all white and 8 ivory/pewter, Gatsby 8 and 12 all ivory, 6 and 8 ivory/pewter, ASM3239 diamond white 10, Alannah 8 ivory, Chelsea 12 ivory, Nevaya 8 ivory/pewter, Nyna w/cap sleeves 4, 6 or 8 diamond white/pewter and 6 white/pewter, Carla w/bolero 6 pearl/ivory lace/pewter, Layne 10 gold/ivory lace, Aspen 6 ivory/black, Allison Marie 8 diamond white, Adrianna empress taffeta 14 light gold, Zoe 10 white, Ida 10 deep ivory, Freesia 16 white Hope you have some matches and can help! I can also be reached at 585-319-6067.

Thank you,

Julie

Gowns & Other Glitz'

Sent via eBay Message Center:

Dear ,

Hello! I'm wondering if you might be able to assist me. I have about 20 maggie sottero gowns I either need to locate in stock or special order as the shop I used to order from is preparing to close due to family illness. I pay in full and in advance at cost plus 20% and shipping. I'm hoping I don't have to disappoint these brides and we can work together.

I can be reached at gownsandotherglitz@yahoo.com, my name is Julie and I am located in NY.

Please let me know if you can assist. If it helps, I can order Pronovias gowns as well as some other lines that may be helpful to you.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Julie

mywaydeals (110)'"

"What's wrong with all this?" you might ask.  Well, an unauthorized dealer obviously doesn't have to play by anyone's rules.  They can undercut the price (by the way, our designers pretty much dictate the price we sell the gowns at and they tell us how much we can discount.  Contrary to popular belief, it is not a negotiable thing.).  And who suffers?  Honestly...the bride.  Because she's been tricked into believing that she is getting the quality of service that a bride deserves when she purchases a gown.  What happens if there's a problem with the gown?  You have nowhere to go.  They can't send it back to the manufacturuer because they've purchased it from some other third party.
And for those of you who don't think this in any way concerns you -think again.  If you bought your dress from a boutique who is providing these dresses to unauthorized dealers, what will happen when their license gets revoked?  You won't be getting your gown!
So ladies, this is why we don't price match lowball prices from other bridal stores or prices on the internet.  When you're price shopping and you run across an unusually low price, ask: how are they able to offer such a steal?  The answer could be important for you and your dress.

Until next time,
Best wedding wishes

P.S. - lest there be any questions, there are some reputable internet stores out there.  They typically have a brick and mortar store that you can actually visit and their prices will abide by manufacturer's MSRP.  Again, ask questions.  The answers are important.