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Top Ten Tips to Save You Money When Purchasing Your Bridal Goods
1.
Make sure you leave at least 28 weeks to order your gown, bridesmaids and accessories. If you do not leave enough time to purchase your gowns, you could find yourself paying an express delivery charge levied by the manufacturer (costs may vary depending on the bridal manufacturer but can be as much as £80.00).
2.
Ask your bridal studio in advance if they charge for “Fittings” this is simply to try on your own gown and pin where alterations may be necessary. Do not confuse a fitting with an alteration as you may be charged for both services. It has not been unheard of that some brides get charged as much as £150.00 for fitting alone, even if no alterations are required; as they will have a professional seamstress standing by to pin you.
3.
Ask your bridal studio if they will undertake any alterations to the gown or if you will be expected to take the gown yourself to a designated seamstress. This could cost you valuable time, parking fees and petrol money, especially if you have to have a couple of fittings. Ensure you allow plenty of time for your fittings because you may be charged extra if they have to be carried out in a rush.
4.
Agree a price for your alterations and get a receipt otherwise you are left with no option but to pay what ever the bridal studio wants to charge and this can prove to be a very costly mistake. Some bridal studios have alteration packages i.e. £150.00 upwards (prices vary depending on the bridal studio and which part of the country you live) and even if the alterations have been minimal you may sill be charged the full package price.
5.
Ask if the bridal studio will store the gown FREE OF CHARGE once it arrives. It is not uncommon that a bridal studio may charge for this service (approx £50.00 to £100.00 per month, as space is money!). The worst case scenario being that they do not offer this service and you are expected to collect your gown and store it your self at home as soon as it arrives.
6.
Ask if the bridal studio will steam your gown upon collection FREE OF CHARGE, as otherwise you may find you have to pay for the service (charges could range from approx £30.00 to £100.00 for steaming before it leaves the studio). I would always advise you have your gown professionally steamed, as it can often get badly creased during delivery from the manufacturer. Never attempt to iron or steam your gown yourself. A badly creased gown can ruin your wedding pictures, so if your bridal studio does not offer this service find a professional company that can, as it will make all the difference.
7.
Ask your bridal studio if you will be given a gown bag or box FREE OF CHARGE to bring your gown home and store it. Once again prices vary dramatically and can range from £20 for a basic bag up to £80 for a box. If you find you are going to be charged for a bag or a box, take an old white or ivory duvet cover with you.
8.
Always cancel appointments if you are unable to attend, as your bridal studio may charge you a cancellation fee, especially without 24 hours prior notice.
9.
Make sure you pay your final balance on the date stated on your paperwork otherwise you could be charged interest on the outstanding amount.
10.
Many reputable bridal shops offer a payment scheme which is a good idea, allowing you to spread the cost of your purchases. Make sure you read the small print and double check you are not going to be charged interest for this service otherwise you may find your dress just became a whole lot more expensive than you originally budgeted for!!
Do’s & Don’t
DO:
Do your research and look around for the best prices, products and services.
DO:
Consider a week day/Sunday wedding or off peak season, as many products and services can be cheaper and you will probably find suppliers are more flexible and have greater availability.
DO:
Choose and visit three of the best of each supplier or venue, so you have something to compare. Once you have visited all three providers, one will probably stand out over the others; when you are satisfied you have made the right choice, do not delay and simply secure with a deposit. Many top suppliers and venues have a full diary for a year or two in advance and if you delay your decision you could miss out.
DO:
Take your friends, family or partner with you to make important buying decisions. Your friends and family will always give you an honest answer and can often view things more objectively. Not only is this a good idea to help you book the right products and services etc it can also make the rest of the wedding party feel involved and part of the whole wedding planning process.
DO:
Ask family, friends and members of the bridal party if they would prefer to offer their services as your wedding present i.e. proffesional cake making and decoration or you may have a seamstress in the family who would rather take care of your bridal alterations at cost price, as this could save you a great deal of money and certainly help your wedding budget stretch that bit further.
DO:
Create a wedding list. Most department stores offer this service, as do quite a lot of the high street retailers; you will be spoilt for choice. This also ensures you get the presents you really want and not 200 toasters!!! The service is usually FREE and is very simple to use with the choice of over the counter sales, internet and usually there is a call centre option too.
DO:
Open a wedding bank account this will help you to budget and if guests do give you cash or a cheque as a wedding present, you can deposit them straight away. Set a direct debit from you bank account, for what ever you can comfortably afford each month and do not touch the fund other than to pay for items or services related to the wedding.
DON’T:
Be pressured into making snap decisions by pushy sales people that you could regret later.
DON’T:
Get involved and drawn into family arguments, try to stay objective and still invite both parties concerned, and simply explain it is yours and your partners’ special day and if they feel that strongly they can always decline the invitation.
DON’T:
Become stressed, if you still have a lot of wedding plans to make, simply DELIGATE!! Ask friends and family to help and give each person a specific task.
DON’T:
Overspend! Set a budget and stick to it. If you go over in one area cut back in another but don’t be tempted to spend what you do not have!