If you have never set foot in a bridal shop you don't know what to expect on your first visit unless someone tells you. Most brides trying on wedding gowns for the first time think that it's like going to your favorite shop at the mall, trying on a dress in your size, and taking it home. Some bridal shops work this way but most will have you try on samples and measure you to order the size closest to your own. How does this work, you ask? Let us tell you how!
Size
Bridal shops order sizes 8 and up so that they can fit more brides into their samples. Example: You are a size 4 in wedding gowns. You can fit into a size 10 wedding dress but a size 10 bride cannot fit into a size 4. While a size 10 is a few sizes bigger, bridal stores have tricks to make that size 10 wedding gown fit almost like a perfect size 4. This will give you an idea of how it would look in your size. Wedding dress sizes vary by bridal shop and designer.
Wonderland Bridal carries wedding gown samples ranging from a size 6 to 26 and our wedding gowns can be ordered from size 2-34.
Color
A question we are asked most often is, "why are none of your sample dresses white?" There has been a decline in the interest of brides ordering true white wedding dresses in recent years. There are several reasons for this. The most common reasons brides are not ordering white is that the color is so bright she would need to have her teeth whitened, it can often wash out many skin tones, and it can appear dirty very quickly. That being said, many wedding gowns still do come with white as a color option for the traditional bride.
Our selection of wedding gown samples are variations of white including ivory which is also called bridal white. This is a softer version of white that isn't always that yellow ivory color. We also have wedding dress samples in hues of pink or champagne that make lace appliques and embroidery pop. Since Ivory is the most popular color for wedding gowns, all of our wedding dress samples can be ordered in this color.
Length
Wedding gown samples in bridal shops are usually a standard length which can be very long for some brides. As with sizing, this is to accommodate a range of heights. Wedding dresses are made to fit brides who are 5'8" and shorter. If you have ever wondered why bridal shops have pedestals, this is why. When a bride steps on a pedestal in a wedding gown, it gives her the appearance of being taller. This makes the wedding dress look like it is closer to the perfect length or appears that she is wearing high shoes.
When a new dress is ordered there are a few ways to make sure you are not tripping down the aisle. You can order a wedding gown with a custom length. This means that you can order your wedding dress to the desired length and have the dress arrive this way. This also means that you will have to have your shoes before you place your wedding gown order. Another option is to have a seamstress shorten the hem when you do your alterations (which are almost always necessary). At the very least you will need a bustle. Which brings us to our final subject...
Trains
Everyone loves a long train. A bustle is the collection of the train after the ceremony with loops and buttons. This prevents your train from being damaged. Wedding dress samples are not bustled. The reason for this is that your wedding gown must be the perfect length before your bustle is measured otherwise your train will still be too long or so short you will see underneath your wedding gown.. Since there are several styles of bustles, you can have your seamstress choose the one you like the most at the time of your fitting.
It is just as fun shopping shopping for wedding dress samples for us as it is for you to shop for your's. Let us be the shop to help you find the perfect wedding gown for your special day.
Schedule your appointment with us today!