Getting engaged is a dream, and finding "the one" - your perfect wedding dress - is a moment every bride cherishes. At Mary’s Designer Bridal Boutique, we live for that "YES to the DRESS" feeling!
But once the champagne cork pops and the tears dry, a practical question often pops up: When do I actually pay for my wedding dress and those crucial alterations?
It's a fantastic question, and one we hear often! Buying a wedding gown is a special-order transaction, which is completely different from grabbing an outfit off the rack at your local mall. Let's break down the typical process so you know exactly what to expect when you shop with us.
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Christina Wu Brides
Style #15948
The Dress: When Do I Pay to Order My Gown?
When you fall in love with a gown at our boutique and decide to say "YES," that’s the moment we place a special order with the designer to create your dress just for you.
For special-order items, designers often require payment upfront before they start cutting fabric. This ensures that the process can begin immediately, securing your gown's production slot and timeline.
The short answer: Yes, you typically pay for your dress when you say "YES to the DRESS."
At Mary’s Designer Bridal Boutique, like many high-end boutiques, we require full payment when the order is placed. Here’s why this is the best practice:
Designer Requirements: Our designers require us to pay them in full to place your order. Therefore, we need to complete the transaction with you to move forward.
Peace of Mind: Many of our brides tell us they prefer paying for the dress upfront. While it can feel like a big payment initially, it's one less major balance you have to worry about closer to the wedding. As your date approaches, you’ll be juggling payments for your venue, caterer, and invitations. Having your gown paid for and production underway is a huge weight off your shoulders!
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Elizabeth Lee
Style #Aria
What about a Sample Dress?
If you choose to purchase a sample gown - the dress hanging on the rack in the store - the process is much simpler. These dresses are typically sold as-is and must be paid for in full when you purchase them, and you take the dress home with you that very day!
Alterations: A Separate Process
Your wedding gown payment secures the dress itself. Alterations, however, are a separate service that occurs much later in the process and is based on labor.
The cost of alterations is not a flat fee; it depends entirely on what needs to be done to make the dress fit your body perfectly. Whether you're taking in a seam, adjusting the hem, or adding a bustle, the cost is based on the time and skill involved in opening and closing the garment's seams - not the amount of fabric being moved.
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Elizabeth Lee
Style #Larissa
When Do I Pay for Alterations?
Alterations usually begin a few months before your wedding. At Mary's Designer Bridal Boutique, our alteration process typically works like this:
Dress Arrival: Your beautiful special-order gown arrives at our boutique.
First Fitting: This is when you meet our seamstress, who will pin and measure everything that needs adjusting.
Payment: You will typically pay for the alterations at your first fitting. Once the seamstress assesses the required labor, the final cost is calculated, and payment is due so that she can begin the precise work of tailoring your gown to perfection.
Some stores might offer an alteration package when you buy the dress, but paying at the first fitting ensures you are only paying for the exact labor required for your unique fit.
Ready to find the dress of your dreams and understand the payment process seamlessly? Book your bridal appointment with Mary’s Designer Bridal Boutique today! We can’t wait to help you say YES!