How far in advance should I start my dress search?

In order to make shopping for your wedding gown as enjoyable as possible, we recommend that you start looking for your dress 9-12 months in advance of your wedding date, ideally purchasing 8-10 months in advance. Dresses typically take 4-5 months to be made, followed by 8-12 weeks for the alterations process.

Do I need an appointment?

Yes, we are by appointment only and help you find ‘the one’ through a series of consultations, starting off with a virtual one, although the virtual one is entirely optional.

We think this is a really important meeting as it helps us to better understand your needs and aspirations for your gown, including styling details, budget and any other details you think are important to share with us about what you’re looking for. This initial virtual appointment helps us to prepare for your in-person consultation and allows us to pre-select & curate an edited range of dresses which we think will most meet your wish list. 

Book your virtual appointment

How long will my appointment be?

Our virtual appointments are 20 minutes long, enough time to get to know you a little, understand your aspirations and book in your in-person appointment. 

Our in-person consultations are 90 minutes long. If, for any reason, we are unable to get you into all of your selected dresses during your time with us, we will of course book you back in.

Are you COVID-safe?

Fortunately, this is now a thing of the past, although there are some aspects of Covid safety which we still maintain today!

The safety of our brides, their guests & our team is of utmost importance and although all legal COVID restrictions were removed from 19th July 2021, we are still applying the following safety measures:

• There is hand sanitiser in the shop, so please do feel free to sanitise - we do!

• We still test when we have colds - just in case it’s Covid! If it is, we will get in touch before your consultation to check in with you whether you’re still happy to visit.

• If you’re still happy to visit, we wear masks as we do if we have colds.

  If you have any questions about this, please just drop us an email at hello@the-bridalgallery.co.uk

What is the price range of your gowns?

Our gowns range from £2,000 - £4,500, with the majority of our range at between £2,500 - £3,000.

What is the difference between ‘made-to-order’ and ‘made-to-measure’?

Made-to-order means that there is no stock of your dress and that your dress is made once you place your order with us. We will take your measurements and the dress will be made in the closest size to your measurements, allowing time for you to make any alternations once it’s arrived in store. 

A made-to-measure gown is made to fit your exact measurements and will take 4 dress fittings. Each Designer has a surcharge for made-to-measure, to be discussed & agreed upon if this is the route you choose to go down. 

We recommend maintaining your size between ordering your dress and receiving your dress as the dress will be made to the measurements we take when you place your order. We cannot be held responsible for any changes to your measurements or sizing during this time.

What size are the shop samples to try on?

Our gown sizes range between 10 – 16, depending on the style. We’ve worked with our designers to select the best sizes for each gown. Please note that your dress can be ordered in any size. If your sizing is outside of the range mentioned above, we have creative ways of making sure you can experience the look of your desired dress.

Do you offer custom gowns?

We work very closely with our designers, and as all gowns are made to order, we are able to raise or lower a neckline, add extra length to a train, add or remove a sleeve, cross match the bodice of once dress with the skirt of another. Just ask during your appointment if this is something you’d like to consider.

Sometimes our designers come and visit for Trunk Shows and this is the best time to consider a custom gown as they can bring your vision to life through sketches.

How many people can I bring to my appointment?

We believe that finding the right dress has to be your decision, and to achieve this, we think that your appointment should be as intimate as possible. We’ve observed that sometimes too many opinions can overwhelm the bride, so we advise bringing no more than 3 people with you. We are also a small boutique and can only comfortably accommodate up to 3 guests. 

Do I need to bring anything to my appointment?

We have a good size range of mid-heel height bridal shoes for you to try during your consultation but also welcome you to bring your own. 

Good underwear really helps (preferably nude and seam-free) and we do ask you to keep your make-up to an absolute minimum if you possibly can for obvious reasons! 

What is the start-to-finish process of purchasing a dress from The Bridal Gallery? 

Your 1st appointment is your 20-minute virtual appointment, short but very important! It helps to narrow down your search through a series of targeted questions in addition to the short questionnaire you will already have completed online. 

If you’ve had a virtual consultation, during your first in-person consultation, we will have pre-selected 5-7 gowns for you to try on with one of our stylists, complete with veils to help you to complete the look. 

We hope you find ‘the one’ during this session and if you do, we will take your measurements as well as a 50% non-refundable deposit. 

Your dress will ideally come back into the shop 3-4 months before your wedding day to allow enough time for the alterations process. 

How long will it take for my made-to-order gown to arrive?

Typically, it will take between 4-5 months for your made-to-order gown to be made. We suggest you also allow a further 2-3 months for any alterations you decide you need. 

The final 50% of the cost of your dress is due within a week of your dress arriving in store. 

Do you offer/include alterations?

Alterations are a separate cost from your made-to-order gown. We work closely with a highly experienced, local bridal seamstress.

These alterations will be agreed upon between you & your seamstress. Prices will vary depending on the style & fabric of the dress as well as the scope of the alterations.

If you would like to have your alterations carried out by a seamstress closer to your home, that’s also fine, however The Bridal Gallery is not responsible for any alteration work carried out by a 3rd party.