FAQ

Appointments are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, especially on weekends. Whether you’re looking for/getting fitted for/picking up your dream wedding gown, prom dress, mothers dress, bridesmaid dresses, tuxedo, you name it, having an appointment ensures there is a fitting room and a consultant available for you and your party. You are always welcome to pop in to browse the racks without an appointment, we just cannot promise we will have a fitting room or consultant immediately available for try on without an appointment. You can schedule an appointment on our website or by calling 361-596-7772!

We do not set time limits to our appointments because we are here to give you our undivided attention until you’re 100% satisfied with your experience and celebrate you every step of the way. Our brides typically spend between 1.5 to 2.5 hours with us shopping for, getting sized for, paying for, and celebrating their “YES” dress. Prom girls, mothers, bridesmaid parties, and other special occasion appointments vary in length based on how many in the party try on gowns and how many gowns are tried on.

We recommend undergarments that match your skin tone. Underwear is required to be worn at all appointments - seamless thongs, fullbacks, or shapewear - whatever your preference. As for bras, most dresses have built in support so you can feel free to go without a bra. We ask that you also bring a pair of shoes with you that are what you plan on wearing on your wedding day or the same height because most of our gowns are able to be ordered with a custom length and we will need your shoes to get a precise measurement. When in doubt, ALWAYS bring your shoes to every appointment. Any magazine pictures or screenshots from our social pages are a huge plus to bring with you as well so we can get an idea of what your dream dress looks like.

 All sales are final on all purchases. No returns or exchanges are accepted. We understand sometimes things happen, so please understand with any canceled or postponed event, all merchandise must be paid and taken within 14 days from notice.

Bridal gown sizing typically runs 1-2 smaller than the size of your everyday clothes. For example, if you typically wear a size 8 in your usual clothes, you may need a size 10 or 12 to get you the best fit possible. We carry one sample of each dress style with sizes ranging from 4-30 in store. When you try on a gown that is too big or too small, we will clip and pin the gown in such a way that allows you to see what the gown will look like when fitted to your body. We will take your exact measurements when sizing you for your gown and use the designer’s size chart to determine the size you will need.

We always recommend purchasing the gown that best fits your current body and size at the time of your appointment. If you are planning to lose weight, it is ALWAYS recommended to size safely. Alterations charges are based on seam work, not by inches being taken out. Losing too much weight may interfere with the structure and overall look of a gown. If you are still losing weight when your gown arrives at the shop, please go ahead and reach out to us. We will work with you to create a custom timeline that best suits your needs. It is important to remember that if you lose more weight between your first and second fitting, your dress will need to be resized and this will incur an additional alterations charge.

 

Some of our designers offer custom sizing for small fee that may save brides time and money in the long run. Custom sizing is when you have the option to order the bodice and skirt in different sizes. This is a great option for girls who are pear shaped or a little bustier. This option is used for major discrepancies such as a bride who is a bust size 2 and hips size 10, not mild size differences that typically occur with regular sizing. Our bridal consultants have been fully trained in this ordering option and will recommend it when it applies/possible!

Dresses can take 4 to 6 months to produce since they are handmade to order specifically for you. When factoring in alteration time, it can take up to 6-8 months to have your gown fitting perfectly for your bridal portraits and the big day. We suggest deciding on a dress nine to twelve months prior to your wedding date, so you have time built in for fittings, accessorizing, and steaming your gown. There are rush options for weddings under six months, but rush fees do apply. Please let us know if you have a tight timeline before your wedding and we’ll guide you to collections that we can order quickly. We also have off-the-rack options if your wedding date is quickly approaching!

The short answer, yes. Formal wear gowns are considered made-to-alter versus our usual made-to-wear street clothes. When ordering your gown, we order based on the designer’s size chart. This means we take your measurements and then order the size that best fits those measurements. We order your dress in as close to your size as possible, but in most cases your gown will need alterations to give you the perfect, tailored fit. It is extremely normal to need alterations such as a hem, bridal bustle, straps taken up, and bodice work.

We sure do! See our alterations page for all the details.

Of course! See our preservation page for how to take care of your dress post-wedding.

We absolutely do! We love being able to help brides on tight timelines or with limited budgets find their dream dress and purchasing off the rack samples gives us that option.

We’ve found over the years that the lucky number is the bride + five. Bring your nearest and dearest loved ones with you to your appointment and you’ll have the best time. Looking to bring a larger party? Give us a call to discuss booking you for a weekday appointment or larger seating room.

If you have enjoyed the service from your consultant and wish to gift them a tip - go for it! If not, a happy customer who found their dream gown is all the thanks we need! Bonus points if you leave us a review about your experience!

We believe every customer should get to feel beautiful and comfortable trying on gowns with us! If our sample gown is not your exact size, we can clip and pin the gown to give you the best idea of how that gown will look on your body once ordered in your size. We carry bridal sizes 4-30 in store with most gowns being available to order in sizes 00-32W. Please keep in mind that bridal sizes are different from everyday clothing. Typically, bridal gowns run small! Anticipate your bridal size being about two to three sizes larger than your average dress size. We also carry prom and pageant gowns in sizes 00-26, mothers gowns in sizes 2-26, bridesmaid gowns in sizes 4-30, and flower girl dresses in sizes 24M-16 in store.

We work extremely hard to choose high-quality gowns and tuxedos from the same world-renowned designers you will find in the “big city” and offer them at a fraction of the price. We will always honor your budget and do our best to find attire you love at the right price point!

 

Our brand-new bridal gowns start at $1,000 and go up to roughly $2,500 with the sweet spot being around $1,700.

 

Our sale samples start at $299 and top out at $1,000. Our prom dresses range from $275 to $750 with most gowns coming in around $500. Mothers gowns range from $150 to $500 with most mothers finding their dream for under $400.

 

Bridesmaid dresses start at $160 and top out at $250. On average, our bridesmaids spend around $190 on their dress.

 

Tuxedo rentals range from $130 to $250 depending upon how many pieces you will be renting. Tuxedos and suits are also available for purchase and vary by style and pieces purchased.

Trunk Shows are our absolute favorite special events throughout the year! For a limited time, a bridal designer will send us most, if not all, of their newest collection of gowns, most of which we will not have in store at any other time, before they are available to the public. We also showcase offerings from local wedding vendors for the weekend such as cake bakers, wineries, charcuterie caterers, and more. Special discounts and promotions are included for our Trunk Show brides. To visit a Trunk Show, please browse our events page to see all of our upcoming Trunk Shows. Trunk Shows only last a couple of days, and appointments fill up quickly, so we recommend you book early!

We have a large, paved parking lot with parking available in front of and to the side of our shop.

Yes! We are located street level and do have a handicap accessible ramp to enter the shop. Please call ahead and let us know if we need to make special accommodations for your appointment guests.

Samples sales are a fantastic way to score a mint condition sample bridal gown at an unbelievable price. Samples are sold at up to 80% off their original price in order to make room for new gowns that are arriving. While our samples are sold “as is “, we do keep our gowns in vinyl bags to prevent staining, our consultants get every bride in and out of each dress to avoid damage to zippers, seams, and fabric, and we regularly make minor repairs and beading fixes to our gowns to keep them in tip top shape for our brides. We have several sample sales throughout the year with our largest being in July.

Special Orders: We require a 50% non-refundable deposit to place your order. Once your order is submitted, no changes or cancellations can be made since all orders are custom made for each bride. You are welcome to call and make payments anytime over the phone or the remaining 50% is due within 30 days of the gown’s arrival at the shop.

 

Sample Gowns: We require a 50% non-refundable deposit at time of purchase. You are welcome to call and make payments anytime over the phone or the remaining 50% is due within 30 days of purchase. Sale Merchandise: Must be paid in full at time of purchase.

We offer a complimentary beverage selection of wine, beer, and water in store, but you are welcome to bring your own beverages and snacks for your party to enjoy in our kitchen as well!

All sales are final on all purchases. No returns or exchanges are accepted. We understand sometimes things happen, so please understand with any canceled or postponed event, all merchandise must be paid and taken within 14 days from notice.

We do not and are not familiar with in person options for this nearby.

No, there is no fee to book an appointment with us.

Yes, we love your littles and want them to be able to experience your magical moment with you! We do ask them all children ages 18 and under be accompanied by and in direct presence of an adult at all times to avoid damage to our inventory and shop and for the safety of all of our customers.