FAQs

Everything You Need to Know About Wedding Dress Shopping with co-owner & bridal stylist, Roberta Noronha

These are the most common questions we receive at The Bridal Finery. Don’t see your question here? Contact us below and shoot us a text or email!

+ What should I expect when I am shopping at The Bridal Finery?

To find your wedding dress and accessories! We are a full-service bridal shop and will be with you every step of the way. You'll be assigned a personal stylist to help you throughout your bridal appointment. Our whole team is trained extensively on fitting wedding dresses, styling with accessories, and coordinating all the details with the bridal designers. The combination of extensive inventory and our staff make for an unforgettable moment.

+ What is the price range of your wedding dresses?

Our wedding dresses for special order range from $3,500 to $15,000. Majority of our dresses are made in the U.S. or Canada. They are made in designer showrooms, not factories, so the time and attention invested in the gowns is what makes them truly designer wedding dresses. Most importantly the number one reason we focus on designer dresses is because of the way they fit.

Our off the rack, sample sale collection starts at $2,500 and up. Read more about our off the rack dresses below.

+ Is it ever too early or too late to order my wedding dress?

You can never be too early! Designers recommend ordering your wedding dress one year in advance if possible. Wedding dresses can take 6-9 months to be made and you'll need time for alterations. It’s nice to have extra time to make sure everything is ready for the wedding day. Rush options are available for special order. If you are less than four months away from your wedding date, we recommend shopping our off the rack collection. The collection features over 120 dresses from designers all over the world. Whether your wedding is two months away or two years away, we will be here to guide you on timeline recommendations.

+ How long are your bridal appointments?

We reserve two hours for your bridal appointment. We find that the majority of our brides use the full two hours. The time flies by between finding the dress, trying on accessories, discussing the bustle, and celebrating! We don't believe in rushing our brides out. To be on the safe side, we do not recommend making any additional arrangements within three hours of your bridal appointment. Nothing is worse than our bride having a moment in their dress and then feeling rushed to get to a dinner reservation or another commitment.

+ Should I book more than one bridal appointment at a time?

We recommend booking one bridal appointment at a time. There are over 25 bridal shops in Orlando. With a little research, you can identify which store is best for you based on your style and customer service expectations. Based on feedback from other brides, they feel very overwhelmed shopping at multiple stores, especially all in one day. It can feel more like car shopping than a special moment with family. We suggest booking one appointment and if you don't fall in love, make a new appointment. It is rare that we don't find the dress. Our bridal stylists are career fashion experts and we work together as a team to listen to your needs to find you the right dress!

+ What is the $50 reservation fee for?

We require a $50 reservation fee to finalize your bridal appointment. The $50 allows us to block the boutique for two hours and have a stylist available to answer all of your questions. We tend to get on a waiting list, and this allows us to secure your appointment. After the appointment, the $50 is transferred towards your wedding dress or will be refunded.

+ Can we bring champagne to your bridal shop?

Yes, you may. We are happy to provide the glasses. We do provide one champagne toast; however, we are not able to serve throughout an appointment.

**+ Can I have a certain style sent in? **

We do have the ability to have certain styles sent in. We recommend emailing or calling us regarding a particular style. If you feel it is your wedding dress, we are happy to see if we can source the exact style for you if we don't currently have it in stock. The first step is to book an appointment at least two weeks out. This will give us the proper time to have a sample sent in. Once you book your appointment, we will reach out to you to learn more details. The second step is to share what style you are looking for with your stylist. The third step is for the stylist to consult with the designer about having it sent in for you. Majority of the styles from our designers are available to be sent in. If for any reason, we are not able to, we will notify you immediately. We will do our best to pay to have the dress shipped in. If shipping costs exceed $100, we may ask for a small deposit that can be transferred towards your dress purchase.

+ How many people can I bring to my appointment?

Based on feedback from our brides, we recommend 4 guests max. We are flexible on the total guest count; however, please make us aware so we may do our best to provide seating. While sometimes a larger party can add a fun energy to the day, we find that most brides are overwhelmed with ideas and opinions with larger groups. Keep in mind after you purchase your wedding dress, we are happy to host a dress reveal party where you can show more friends and family your dress. Deciding on your wedding dress doesn't mean the experience is over, at The Bridal Finery, it's only the beginning.

+ What accessories do you have?

We carry one of the largest bridal accessory collections in the country. Our accessories collection includes: bridal veils, jewelry, hairpieces, crowns, undergarments and lingerie. As part of your experience, your personal stylist will guide you through how to pair your bridal accessories with your wedding dress. We do not currently carry bridal shoes; however, we created a guide on wedding shoes just for our brides.

+ What do I need to bring to my appointment?

We have SPANX, bras, a pedestal, and beverages ready for you. We recommend wearing nude undergarments. Our appointments are approximately two hours from start to finish so we do recommend all brides and guests eat before attending an appointment. Read our recommendations on Things to Do and Places to Eat in Orlando.

+ Do you have a seamstress?

Being your personal bridal stylist means we help you until you walk down the aisle. For the convenience of our brides, we host all alteration fittings at our boutique! The seamstress is not an employee at The Bridal Finery; however, we are very involved to make sure you leave happy with your dress. We will be here to provide suggestions, take videos of the bustle, and share all of our day of wedding tricks with you. If you live outside of Orlando, we will help you find a seamstress closer to home. Read more about alteration fittings here.

+ Are alterations included in the price of my wedding dress?

Alterations are not included in the price of your dress. Before you purchase your wedding dress, your bridal stylist will share the price range of your specific alterations based on what you will need. You are not required to work with the seamstress we recommend. You are welcome to get several price quotes and make your decision on who to work with from there.

+ How long do alterations usually take?

Standard alterations take about two months. We love helping you to personalize your dress. It may be adding a detailed strap, adding a sleeve, or lowering the backline. Some of these changes take time. If you are not personalizing your dress a standard alteration including a hem, bustle, and take in will take approximately two months. The seamstresses do offer rush options for a two week turn around.

+ Can I just come in to look at accessories?

Yes! We provide accessory appointments at The Bridal Finery. Brides who purchased their dress at another retailer are welcome to bring their dress to our Orlando bridal boutique. Our accessory appointments are about an hour long. If your wedding dress is on order, we recommend sending us a photo of you in your wedding dress. The photo will be saved in your file and we will be ready to assist you with the perfect pieces. Read more about our accessories collection here.

+ Can I bring an item with me that I know I want to wear on wedding day?

Yes, please do! If you are planning on wearing a family heirloom, be sure to bring it to your bridal appointment. We believe your bridal style is about an entire look and vision so it’s important to see how well those items work with your wedding dress. We understand the sentimental value of those pieces and can't wait to see them paired with your wedding dress. If for any reason you would like to compare the heirloom with a new piece we have in store, we are happy to show you options so you can make the best decision from there.

+ How does that payment process work?

When you purchase your wedding dress, a 60% deposit is required at time of purchase. The balance is due when the dress arrives at our bridal shop. We accept cash, check, and credit cards.

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+ After the wedding, do you offer cleaning and preservation services?

After your wedding we offer a cleaning and preservation service for $525. Cleaning your dress will remove most stains that may have happened on wedding day while preserving your dress ensures no additional yellowing. We recommend purchasing your gown cleaning when you purchase your wedding dress. Due to freight and service costs, the preservation company does an annual increase. If you purchase the service in advance, you won't have to worry about a price increase. After the wedding we will help you schedule a time to drop off your dress and veil so the cleaning and preservation process can start. If you are looking to donate or sell your wedding dress, we recommend cleaning only. To clean the dress it is $325. Here is a link to order the service or feel free to contact your stylist directly.

Questions About our Special Order Bridal Boutique

+ What designers are currently available at The Bridal Finery's special order collection?

For special order wedding dresses, we mainly work with Ines Di Santo, Chosen by Kyha, and Anne Barge. We have the largest collection of Ines Di Santo dresses in the country. While we appreciate many different brands, Ines Di Santo provides unparalleled fit, customer service, and the ability to make custom changes. With a wedding dress being the most important garment worn, we do believe in the ability to make a custom change or two to make it absolutely perfect. In 2021, The Bridal Finery was selected to be one of six shops in the world to become an Ines Di Santo "Shop and Shop". Being a shop and shop means we have the ability to access more dresses, have exclusive styles, and are able to provide special dates when needed for our brides. Read more about Ines Di Santo and our other Special Order wedding dresses here.

+ What custom changes are available?

The most common custom change options include train extensions, neckline change, custom length, and color options. During your bridal appointment, your personal bridal stylist will share which changes would work best for you and your dress. Some custom changes are more cosmetic while others are needed for the best fit. For example, an open bust cup gives us the ability to order the dress in your exact bust size so the dress provides the amount of cover you are looking for. Don't worry about knowing dress terminology. Our trained team will share with you the best way to order the dress and provide you with all the options available.

+ What sizes are available?

We have bridal sizes 0-18 for dress try on. The dresses can be made to order up to a size 26. Using the Lane Bryant size chart as a reference, we carry up to a size 16 in Lane Bryant for try ons. In addition to Ines Di Santo, we carry Anne Barge Curve. We are currently working on adding more bridal sizes 20-24 to our collection. If you are concerned about sizing, we recommend sharing your size when you book your appointment. Your stylist will ask for a wedding dress inspiration photo. From there, we will confirm if we have the style and size available in stock. If for any reason, we do not have a good collection of dresses to show you, we may recommend another boutique for you. Our top priority is making sure you have the very best experience at our boutique or a nearby Florida shop.

Questions About our Off The Rack Bridal Boutique

+ What dress styles are available?

We carry a collection of 120+ off the rack wedding dresses. We source dresses from 15 different bridal designers. Some of our favorite off the rack/sample sale designers include: Berta Bridal, Monique Lhuillier, and Reem Acra. Our inventory changes constantly. You can see a sneak peek of some of our off the rack dresses here.

+ Are your dresses pre-worn?

No! Our off the rack wedding dresses are sourced from retailers, never brides. Our dresses are runway samples and samples that are originally from other bridal stores. Most of the wedding dresses are in new condition. To be extra safe, we provide complimentary cleaning when you purchase your off the rack wedding dress.

+ What does off the rack mean?

Off the rack simply means you are purchasing the dress you are trying on. When you say ‘yes’, we are not reordering the dress for you. Many of our brides take advantage of the benefits of buying an off the rack wedding dress.

+ What are the benefits of purchasing a dress off the rack?

The two biggest benefits of purchasing a dress off the rack is saving time and money. You'll save 20%-60% off of retail! Plus, you don't have to wait for production. Your dress is here and we can get started on alterations sooner. The two biggest benefits of purchasing a dress off the rack is saving time and money. Ordering a dress can take an average time of 6 to 9 months. If you are having a short engagement, an off the rack dress is perfect for you!

 

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976 N. Orange Ave, Suite C Winter Park, FL 32789

407-960-5225