Lets talk timelines - when is the right time to order your wedding dress?
Congratulations, you’re engaged and it’s time to find the one. This really is a special time and we promise it doesn’t need to be a stressful time. At The Briderie, we pride ourselves on creating a welcoming and relaxed environment at whatever stage of the dress journey you are on. We know that lead times when it comes to wedding dresses can be a daunting subject, and we also know that for many reasons, you don’t always have the luxury of a year to spare when choosing your wedding dress. It is really not our style to scare brides that reach out or visit us when they have a less than perfect timeframe ahead of their wedding. It’s our job to guide, advise and work with you.
Below is just a handy little guide to equip you with all your options when it comes to timings and finding the right wedding dress / bridal designer option for you.
When is the best time to visit for an appointment?
Ok, so you want to visit The Briderie, what would be the perfect, text book time to arrange an appointment? We would say anywhere between 9-12 months before your wedding would be ideal. This allows you to have the option of any gorgeous gown we carry in the boutique and it allows you plenty of time to find and book in the right bridal seamstress (more on this below).
In terms of best months to visit, there isn’t really any specific months that are better than others, it tends to be busiest in the Autumn so book ahead if you have a specific date/time in mind. However, we’re very flexible offering select Sunday appointments and late night Thursdays. We’re open 5 days a week for appointments, and can even open by request on days the studio is closed.
What are my options if I only have a few months until my wedding?
You’ve come to the right place, we are so proud to work with British bridal designers with UK productions, meaning our general lead times are much faster than your average bridal boutique and typically, we’re not shipping dresses across the continent. We also have a beautiful archive selection of ready-to-wear sample gowns that are good to go, kept in great condition and ready to be rehomed for a bride to be. They will most likely require dry cleaning and alterations but they are a budget friendly and most importantly, readily available options. All information on sizing, pricing and condition are stated on the website. Sample sale appointments are still a private fitting, lasting 45 minutes. There is a £10 booking fee, just to avoid no show’s.
Generally, our dress lead times are 3-6 months production make time, depending on the designer you choose.
CLOVER LONDON // Lead time generally is 3 months but we can make your gown in as little time as 1 month, depending on the studio capacity at the time. If you have little time and you desire the full gown experience and made to order production, then a Clover London dress really is a perfect choice. For last minute options, even less than quoted, always reach out to us.
UNBRIDLED STUDIO // Lead time generally is 6 months, however, with a rush fee (+10% of the order value), we can have your bridalwear made in 4 months.
How long do I need for alterations?
Very good question! So ideally, allow 3 months but 2 is also fine, 1 really is pushing it but sometimes we can make this work. Currently, we do not offer an in house alterations service. When you order a gown with us, we have a couple of local seamstresses we can refer you to, our advice is to reach out as soon as your deposit is paid and your gown is ordered, they are in high demand. Depending on where you are based, we might have some bridal seamstress recommendations that will suit you better such as London based options. We will help you as much as possible sourcing the right bridal seamstress for you.
How many fittings will I need?
For typical alterations such as hems/straps/tweaking the bodice etc to achieve the perfect fit, we advise that 2 fittings is most likely. Depending on what is required, if it is more complex than more fittings will be required but 2 is most standard. The more complex alterations required will also mean you may need the full 3 months.
Don’t be scared by other boutiques telling you that you’ll have to choose (dare I say it) ‘off the rack’ if you have less than a year until your wedding! In our view, preloved /sample options are a sensible and sustainable choice should this be the option due to timings that you have to go for. In addition to these gorgeous ready to wear gowns, we adore being able to offer made-to-order with UK production in just a few months, giving you the full wedding dress experience you deserve. We know that life gets in the way sometimes and situations simple change that can impact your bridal timeline, we really are here to help, support and collaborate with you to find you a beautiful wedding dress in time for your wedding day.
We’re always happy to answer any questions, for any further questions on timeframes or alterations or anything else wedding dress related, just email hello@thebriderie.com
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Image Lottie Topping Photography