Geraldine Pollock, Industry Expert and owner of Belles Bridal Boutique in Liverpool, invites us to share her Wonderful World of Weddings on this #Wedding Wednesday!The newly launched Belles Bridal Boutique really is a Bridalistas Paradise. A personal shopping experience for 'you and your bridal entourage' with stunning European gowns, impeccable service from the Belles Angels and homemade sweet treats to aid that all important decision making!
"So - you’ve found the one you want to marry, now you need to focus on finding the one you want to wear. For many brides-to-be searching for a wedding dress can be a daunting task – but fear not, by following Belles Bridal Boutique’s ‘Five Ws rule’ your journey can become the enjoyable experience it should be.
W number 1 is for...
Who will you bring with you when you search for the dress? The most important thing to remember is to bring people along who will be positive, encouraging and share your vision of the big day. There is no room for negativity in the search for your wedding dress!
You might want to bring along your mum, sisters or bridesmaids but remember an entourage is not compulsory. In my experience, many brides prefer to attend initial appointments on their own. And if you know what you want, then follow your instincts and bring in second opinions if and when you need them.
W number 2 is for ...
Where will you go to buy the dress? Before making any appointments at bridal boutiques it’s a good idea to decide on your budget. There’s no point in making an appointment with a shop where the prices of dresses begins at £3000 if your budget is £1000 – inevitably you will see something you love but can’t afford and you don’t need this kind of heartbreak.
Once you’ve decided on the budget do your research – look at bridal shop websites and find out which designers they stock. Look at prices and, if necessary, call the shop and ask the price range of their dresses – this will save you (and them!) an unnecessary journey.
Once you’ve selected the shops you want to visit plan your appointments carefully. Make several appointments for one day – you will be able to try on a range of styles in each shop and they will remain fresh in your mind to enable you to compare. Don’t forget to leave enough room for travelling between appointments!
Make sure that you feel as good as you can on the day and start from the outside in – wear nice underwear, put on your make-up (although go easy on the fake tan!) and take time to do your hair. It’s not every day you try on a beautiful wedding dress, so it’s worth making the extra effort.
W number 3 is for ...
What is expected of both parties, the shop and yourself, at the appointment? Most importantly, you need to feel comfortable with the shop, the sales assistants and the whole vibe – buying a wedding dress is a massive spend financially and emotionally, so it’s essential that you feel right with all aspects of the purchase. Ask yourself: do I feel that I can ask as many questions as I like about the dress? Do they understand what I want from my dress? Do I look forward to returning to the shop for fittings? If the answer is yes, then you’ve found the shop – if the answer’s no, continue the search.
A good boutique will make sure you know the timescales for ordering; payment terms and contract; alterations costs – are they included in the price of the dress, or are they separate? What is the timetable for fittings? If necessary, write the answers down to these questions and store them for future reference.
W number 4 is for ...
When should I start looking for my dress? Most shops will advise that you leave 20-24 weeks for ordering, delivery and alterations – and this is generally a good benchmark timetable. However, it is NOT set in stone – manufacturers can sometimes bend the rules and put an order through in less time, although it’s not an ideal situation and could create unnecessary stress.
Ignore wedding scaremongers who tell you that if you haven’t ordered your dress 18 months before the wedding you’ll be a naked bride – this is nonsense! The best advice is to start looking casually at websites and magazines and then begin the search in earnest about a year to 10 months before the big day.
W number 5 is for ...
Why are you doing this? Sometimes the ‘why’ can get lost in the wedding chaos, but this is possibly the most important ‘W’ of all.. It’s not about the dress, the favours, the latest flower arrangements – it’s about the fact that you’re marrying the one you love. Take the time to contemplate what’s important – and forget about what’s not – you’ll appreciate this advice in the long run!
Looking for the dress should be one of the most exciting parts of the wedding journey – so make sure you enjoy every minute of it: share the time with your family and friends, enjoy the ride and cherish the memories.
And finally...
W is NOT for...
Worrying about not finding your dress – you will, probably when you least expect it.
Weight – by all means tone up and lose weight if you really have to – but be realistic in your expectations and you won’t be disappointed if you haven’t dropped 3 dress sizes before the big day.
To make an appointment at Belles Bridal Boutique please go to www.bellesbridalboutique.co.uk Tel. 0151 708 1996. We look forward to meeting you!"
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