| With brides looking for ways to have a beautiful | | | | definitely be happier in a wedding gown from a bridal |
| wedding on a budget, more of them are considering | | | | salon. |
| shopping at discount retailers like David's Bridal instead | | | | Of course, there is one advantage to mass produced |
| of their local bridal salon. After all, the idea of getting | | | | gowns, which is that there will be a full size range |
| your wedding gown for only $99 sounds pretty good! | | | | available in the store. Plus size brides in particular |
| But of course, there are advantages and | | | | appreciate being able to try on the wedding gowns in |
| disadvantages to most things in life; to help you sort | | | | their own size. Designer bridal salons only carry one |
| it all out, here is what you need to know about the | | | | sample size in each style, and it can require a lot of |
| differences between shopping at a bridal warehouse | | | | imagination to picture how the gown would look |
| versus a smaller bridal salon. | | | | when it does not come close to fitting you. |
| Certainly the number one reason to shop at a place | | | | However, with that said, all made to order gowns |
| like David's Bridal is price. There is no doubt that they | | | | can be ordered in every size, and a good consultant |
| will have some of the lowest prices in town. | | | | will know which gowns will look best when they fit |
| However, that is not to say that you will get the | | | | properly. |
| best value for your money. They are not selling top | | | | One of the intangibles is the level of service that you |
| quality gowns like you would find in a local bridal shop. | | | | will get at a small local salon as compared to a mass |
| When shopping at a wedding warehouse store, you | | | | merchandiser. This is not to say that a warehouse |
| are not getting the same gown for less, you are | | | | type of bridal store will not have caring employees, |
| getting a totally different type of dress. This may be | | | | but the consultant-to-bride ratio will be very different. |
| just fine for some brides, but for others it will not be. | | | | In a traditional bridal salon you will have a trained |
| So now that we are on the subject of quality, it is | | | | consultant who will give you her full attention for the |
| time to review the differences between bridal | | | | duration of the appointment, from recommending the |
| warehouse gowns and designer wedding gowns sold | | | | most flattering gowns, to helping you try them on, |
| at boutiques. The main difference is between mass | | | | to assisting you in finding the style you want within |
| production or handmade. Most designer gowns are | | | | your budget. At a discount bridal warehouse, you |
| made one at a time, whereas the $99 ones are | | | | may be able to get help, but many brides end up in a |
| definitely mass manufactured in factories. A gown | | | | self service situation, which can be a very challenging |
| which is made to order will not only have finer | | | | way to shop for a bridal gown. |
| attention to detail, but it will offer the possibility of | | | | In the end, it all comes down to what you want in |
| customization, either for fit or style. That is | | | | terms of a wedding gown and a gown shopping |
| something that you simply cannot have with an | | | | experience. If you want to be pampered, and have a |
| off-the-rack wedding gown. | | | | personal consultant who will help you with everything |
| The types of materials used will also vary between | | | | from picking out your gown to suggesting styles of |
| mass produced and made to order bridal gowns. The | | | | bridesmaid jewelry gifts, a bridal salon is for you. |
| first will use synthetics like polyester and the second | | | | Brides who are perfectly comfortable picking out |
| will use natural fibers like silk. In addition, the | | | | their own gown, as well as all of the extras like the |
| embellishments on a discount gown will often be of | | | | aforementioned bridesmaid jewelry gifts, may be |
| lower quality, such as plastic beads instead of genuine | | | | happy with a bridal warehouse which has a large |
| Swarovski crystals. In some cases, the plastic beads | | | | number of dresses in stock. And then there is the |
| or even lace might be glued on to an inexpensive | | | | matter of finding the right balance between quality |
| gown instead of being stitched on. So if you are one | | | | and budget, which is a decision that each bride has to |
| of those brides with an eye for detail, you will | | | | make for herself. |