Confession of a Bridal Consultant #1

Confession of a Bridal Consultant #1

At the beginning of my bridal consultant career many years ago I have one particular embarrassing story that can make anyone blush.

The scene was a younger me in my freshman year of college. I had been working at this exclusive bridal shop for maybe three months, if that. It was a small shop, but one of two in town. Business was pretty regular and I had just started flying with my own wings and not needing to shadow my peers during appointments.

I start the appointment out with a bang. There were lots of laughs and good feelings being exchanged between the family and myself. We chug right along from gown to gown, and she just didn’t love any of them. The fourth or fifth dress I pulled was completely different than the other gowns she had been trying on. It was a dropped waist ball gown that was very form fitting. Her arms go up and I slide the dress onto her like she is a toddler. Like usual, the tight dress needs a little help going from the shoulders gown to the ground past the hips. A lot of layers got caught up around her rear-end so like usual I get on my knees and start to pull down layer by layer. I tell her what I’m doing before she says “take it off it doesn’t fit” because the gown definitely fits.

“Okay, enter brides name here, I am just going to start pulling down some layers that are caught.”

Pull, pull, pull, tug, tug, tug.

Time to reach up and get that last layer down where it belongs.

“Woooo! That’s my underwear!” says a violated bride.

“Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry!” I respond mortified. And then continue to do the most awkward thing a consultant, or any human could have done…I pulled them back up for her!

This honestly could have ended very badly, but instead the bride laughed so hard she had to sit down next to me in this tiny dressing room to the point of tears. We both chuckled and hollered until management and the family decided it was time to come check on us. From then on the appointment was a breeze. She found her perfect gown for an amazing deal, and made an unforgettable memory with an amateur bridal consultant.

That is just a taste of my embarrassing confessions as a bridal consultant. So let’s play a game: send me in your awkward experiences as a bridal consultant or even a bride and we can all snort and cry together at our inner bridal confessions. I will post one submission a week and maybe even come up with a cool name for the posts. “Way Awkward Wednesday”? “Totally Shouldn’t Tell Anyone This-Tuesday”? maybe send me suggestions for a neat name too.

Have a fabulous memorial day!

Your Bridal Consultant,

K.R. Woot

Buying vs. Renting your Wedding Gown.

"To rent, or to buy? That is the question." That should have been the real opening of Hamlet's soliloquy because I know that all the brides are asking themselves the same question. When one decides to Google search something around the lines of "renting vs. buying wedding gowns" they will only find arguments supporting renting your gown. I am here to do the impossible, ladies. That is right, I am arguing for the weaker man: PURCHASING YOUR WEDDING GOWN.

Before everyone starts screaming at me as if I just asked who would take the ring to Mordor (Yes, LOTR reference) things like, "you'll only wear it once!" and "my wedding is on a budget!" let me calmly inform you on why I feel so strongly about buying your own wedding dress. And if you are the type of bride that has never even considered renting, stay tuned and hear me out and maybe it will calm some of your budget nerves.

First thing is first: A Brief History on Wedding Gowns. 

Think back in the olden days. Why were brides even asked to dress up for their wedding? Because it was more than just a union of two people. Marriages were forming a bond of two families, businesses, trading partners, and even countries. So although style, and color may have changed throughout the years the message has always been the same: brides are dressing to show their families nobility and social status. Don't get your panties in a bundle just yet. My point is not to say everyone needs to have the most expensive gown in the state...more that you are expected to look beautiful on your wedding day because you are representing more than just yourself. You DESERVE a well made dress of your own with alterations catering to your body instead of one that has been wore 20 times before you that month.

Second: Price. Because isn't that always the hold up?

True or False? Renting a wedding dress is cheaper than buying one at a bridal store? FALSE. Who knows where this misconception came from? Because I have a few words I would like to say to whoever started this ugly rumor.  Many brides I have an appointment with come into my store with a wedding dress budget. However, more often than not they give me a ballpark range on what they THINK is acceptable for a wedding dress. Most the time it is the same price as prom dresses. Ladies: Wedding gowns are not a sheet from Walmart. When purchased from a creditable store, it is top of the line material and craftsmanship. Before you even make appointments ANYWHERE call around and ask the typical price of wedding gowns in your area. While you are at it, ask about store promotions, upcoming sales, or discounted dress racks they may offer. It will help you make an accurate dress budget. Based on this knowledge, break down the costs.

 Let's have a mock story for reference. Lindsey is shopping for her wedding gown and is trying to decide whether she should buy or rent. She has gone to a few different stores around town and has fallen in love with a dress! It fits her near perfectly and would need few alterations. The downside is the dress is a bit more than she expected to spend. A friend from high school rented a dress from a rental shop in town...and her dress didn't look too bad and she spent the amount I was hoping to. And the rental lady made it seem like I was getting an awesome deal. What should I do?

Well, Lindsey...Let me give it to you straight. Renting a gown is really a ripoff. There, I said it. Many rental companies will give you one of these bad boys to stare at.

Costs: 

Dress Rental-$350

Petticoat- $100

Corset- $90

Alterations-$125

Steaming-$25

Cleaning-$150

Storage-$200

However, if you get your dress form Rentals By BlahBlah you get it all for the price of $400! 

*Prices taken from a rental company in my area.

Whoa! So you're telling me I can get all that for the price of $400!? Although this lovely laid out chart seems amazing, it is also hypocritical. You have to realize you are paying a rental company for nothing. Yes, they steam and clean the dress for you...but of course they do! It's been worn MULTIPLE times before you. It needs a good cleaning. Also a free petticoat and corset? Sorry honey, we are not in the 80's anymore. Most well made gowns you purchase have built in corsets and boning. Next, alterations...$125. Okay now that could very well be the price you would pay on your purchased gown. However, when you rent a gown they are not altering the dress to you. They are merely placing small tacks and pickups to last 5 hours until it can be altered again for the girl renting it tomorrow. They are doing temporary fixes rather than making you look like the gown was made for you. And lastly, dress storage. Girl, if that is a concern for you then we have bigger problems than your wedding. Put a "Wedding Dress Preservation" kit on your gift registry and BAM it's taken care of...for free! And you actually get to keep it.

So you see, Lindsey...You really are not getting a fantastic deal. You are paying this company for squat. Where as at a credible bridal shop you can spend...say $600 and get the dress of your dreams. One that screams "Lindsey" and everyone in that wedding will know exactly why you picked that one out of hundreds. A dress that you get to keep for as long as you wish. A dress you can pull out for your future daughter to try on once they get engaged. For $200 dollars you get what you DESERVE. Not one of twenty options the rental place has to offer you. Cut out a couple flower arrangements, or a couple less bridesmaids and groomsmen to make the dress fit into your budget. You can buy your own gown, even if you're a budget bride.

Wedding dress shops usually do the same things as rental shops. In most cases you get a free steam and clean as well as awesome discounts on other services. Some stores even include a free dress slip, and coupons to other local wedding vendors to save you money. These stores are not trying to rip you off, rather give you the experience you paid for. 

I hear all the time that "I'm just not one of those girls who really care what I look like on my wedding day" and I want to slap them with my clipboard and say "You better start." This is YOUR day. Of course your fiance would love you if you walked down the aisle in a potato sack...but you DESERVE to wear a dress as beautiful as your marriage. Stop letting money control your wedding. I say that as a friend.

Final tips on Wedding Dress Budget:

1. Call ahead, ask for First Visit Promotions, upcoming sales(most stores do Black Friday), sale racks, and upcoming wedding shows they will participate in (FREE GIVEAWAYS). 

2. Set a realistic dress budget. Prom dresses are like $200-$300 nowadays. Triple that for wedding. 

3. Don't be afraid to fall in love with a dress a little over price range. It will all fall into place, I promise. 

4. Remember, you DESERVE the dress of your dreams. Never settle for less. 

Your Person Bridal Consultant, 

K.R. Woot