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The Shop of Horrors! Here is a little more insight into the horror that becomes the search of the dream wedding gown, which also is the highlight of most women's whole wedding. The people at the bridal shops seems to often to be beneath the life forms who are car salespeople. They are with out a heart or care, and though this is very common, thankfully it is not the rule. The main thing to keep in mind is you do not have to buy from there! If you experience living heck upon entering a bridal Shoppe, then use it to your benefit. This goes with anything you buy cars, things for your home, bridal/wedding gear, etc! Keep this in mind, if they are rude to you, use it, not at them, but against them. Be sweet as pie, make them work for what you just may not give them. Try on to your hearts content, make notes of what you like, sleeve, neckline, fabrics, lace, etc. Make them physical notes, don't let them intimidate you! You are the consumer, they should be considerate to your wishes, not the other way around! Sure you should be kind and considerate, but what goes around comes around, so do show appreciation to those who are kind to you! Now back to the rude sales person. If you can find out the make of the gown, and style number, do so, this is where it is key to be the better person, by being a kind person they usually will be pretty willing to offer this information without a battle. Now you can start the bids, yeah really, see who will give you the best price. You can do this by email, if the shop has an email address, or by phone, or perhaps you might have to go door to door, but this way you will get the best price. Take into consideration places that include alterations, did the dress fit well or will it actually need alterations, if you are of the few that it actually fits we are in awe by your presence! Now that you have the best deal take that deal to the shop you like the best, and see is they will give it to you! If all places were a nightmare, then hit the online zone! You know the make, model and size, you can now do the bid war online, and once again the service matters. See how each place responds to you, how quickly, were they personable, were they like a robot or were they acting like you were bothering them? Make a note of each place, the response and the price. See if the place that impressed you the most had the best price, if not ask if they will honor a competitors price. The thing is it really never hurts to ask. This follows with the maids wear, flower girls, tuxes and invitations. Another thing that is amazing is how each dealer of invites prices exactly the same thing completely different, check it out, it will blow you away. Again service counts too, so look at all the sides before making a decision, but also keep in mind to not take anything a rude salesperson says to heart, just use it to annoy them, I have done it and it sure makes you feel much better. Similar Note, Sales people... What is really funny is on another note, but still dealing with sales people... looking for an automobile I email contacted local dealers, got a quote... now there were different responses. I have friends who dread the process, but I have actually enjoyed this time, I am not in a hurry, I have a perfectly healthy happy car, there is just another one I really want! This works completely to my advantage! Now I will refer to the places as A, B, C & D. Location A I was impressed by how they treated me, and they have been very low pressure, if any pressure at all, they have been in regular contact, and very polite! Location B had the lowest price, I heard from them once, that was it! Location C had the highest price, and a really comical response to them having the highest price. Location C said well buy the vehicle from us, get the extras anywhere else later, yeah that would work but their base price was the highest too! I explained that, thanked them for their time, and poof they vanished, not a peep to follow. Location D was next expensive, and very defensive about their price. they said the other place probably was leaving something out. I sent them a summary, and they quickly came back with the I will need to talk to my manager, I will have to sell my first born type of story, heart breaking HA! Still the comeback was still too high. They came back yet again, and now are the lowest price, finally, but yet they still act as though they are having to go out of business due to this severe sacrifice! Alas I had taken Location C's price to Location A and asked will they match, they said yes, with out a whoa is me story, or I will need to consult with the manager and the almighty! So I know bringing the new low price will not be a problem, and if it is I will just go to the "bankrupt" dealer and get the vehicle there, but I know that won't need to be the case. The other thing is Location D put down their competition, and location A apologized for the other locations being rude to me. That says allot to, how they treat their competition. So you get my point about how this can work. Also how fun it can be, this has all be by e-mail, I did not have to visit, I did not have to sit, wait and sweat it out. It is kind of like those mortgage commercials where they have all the banks bidding to them, really same thing, and it is fun! The bottom line is, nothing has to be so painful, and certainly not something so important, and something that is supposed to be so enjoyable and happy! Remember this, and carry this happiness always! Oh and you will hear below, I worked in a Bridal shop many moons ago, so speak from experience! Not a Size 4! Yeah the make-believe sizes of the Bridal wear for brides, maids, matrons etc! I say make-believe since really that is what they are. I worked in a bridal shop for awhile when I was in my early twenties. The shop I worked in did carry allot, compared to any other bridal shops I had ever seen (we had to a size 44, on the rack!), of "plus-size" gowns. The thing I am stressing when I speak of the sizes is anyone over a "normal" size 10, is a plus-size! Yep, it is true since all bridal & maid fashions for some sadistic reason is undersized by at least 3, 4 or more sizes! So you happily come into a bridal shop thinking of going to the size 10's on the rack, and find you can not even get your arm into the waist of the gown, now you are pushed up to paying around $25 more for the same gown, because of the sadistic bridal industry! I read some interesting articles about the lack of plus sizes out there. The one thing is I feel sorry for the person who said she does not need to worry about this issue because she is a size 12, she is going to walk into a rude awakening! Another woman said she could not find any tall sizes, she was a size 8. The tall sizes was something very common even over ten years ago when I worked in the industry, unfortunately it was an up-charge! Although all gowns are cut to a "model standard" which is for a woman 5'8" and typically a size 8 or 6. So the majority of us find ourselves having to cut off length, instead of needing to add or having a perfect length gown! The benefit to this, was what I advised people who the gown was a little small for, take the extra material and add insets to the sides of the gown, instead of paying the extra for the larger size. This worked 95% of the time! This did turn out beautifully too. This was perfect when there was those extra several inches of fabric at the bottom of the gown that would have to be cut off anyhow, and the gown was only an inch or two too small. Just a thought for all those normal women out there. But yes I agree the bridal industry is very cruel, the sizing is insane and the lack of gowns over a size 14 is far too few! Most of the styles for brides in the "plus" size area are often a bedspread with some sequins, they are unflattering at best! The "best" styles seemed to believe all plus-sized brides should look more like Queen Anne than like themselves, all the styles had the Queen Anne collar and sweet heart neck line, all, with the exception of the occasional v-neck. There just never seemed to be much available for the plus-sized bride. Not much different to what I call the plus-size bras, I affectionately refer to those monsters as flack-vests! The saddest thing I would witness was a bride coming in, and the gowns she wanted to try, we did not have a sample to fit her to give her an appropriate idea, she would have a friend model it for her. That is the saddest! Towards the bottom of this page I have a list of designers that specifically make gowns for sizes 14 and up, and most if not all also have bridesmaids gowns too, as well as flower girls gowns. I wish all the brides out there luck, love and happiness. Just know if you are considered a "plus-size" you are in good company! Understanding the styles... First if going for a church wedding, check with the church to see if their are any restrictions or requirements. They may not allow bare shoulders, sleeveless or backless gowns Formal or Semi-Formal stay the same for day or night.
Informal allows so much more freedom:
Time of the year, weather, etc...
Here are some Great tips, and information to understanding styles...
(above & below borrowed from BrideSave.com)
Click here to seem some definitions to help understand bridal wear jargon. The following designers offer plus sizes. Additional designers include Bonny MT, Bridals by 14 Plus, and Loralie. Some excellent links for (plus-sized) Brides! BrideSave overall excellent site, for gowns online, and for information! Alwaysforme.com intimates and accessories, for plus sizes! PlusSizeBridal as it says plus size bridal gowns, online! Sizes 16 to 32! GownsOnline online gowns, you can also search for gowns by bridal magazine (Bridal Guide, Brides, Elegant Bride & Modern Bride) Shopping for the entire bridal party (bridesmaids, tuxes, suits, flower girls, prom party, accessories etc)! Simply Dresses prom (gorgeous prom dresses 14-24!), bridesmaids, (says it has bridal gowns, I only saw bridesmaids) etc.. in pluses! DavidsBridal- you can not buy online, but can print a list of what you like to take to the store. MSNBC article on plus-size bridal gown hunt. |
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This page was last updated 03/17/04 • This website, page, and all information contained are Copyright 2004 by Tina Amberg. All rights reserved. |
