Article by Dawn Quick, Owner of The Wedding Place

Congratulations! As a “bride to be” the choices available to you in shopping for your wedding gown probably seem endless. The thought of shopping for the “perfect gown” may seem overwhelming… It doesn’t have to be that way. Shopping for this very important purchase can, and should be a pleasant experience. Before you even set foot in a bridal shop, there is just a bit of homework you can do to have a great experience!

First, you need to know what a full service bridal salon offers you and why it doesn’t need to cost more than a warehouse or a national chain. Many bridal shops say they are full service, but in order to be sure, you need to know what full service is and what it offers you, the bride to be. Full service offers you professional knowledgeable assistance from the day you walk into the salon till the day you walk down the aisle. Bridal consultants are trained to keep abreast of current wedding trends. They are truly the experts. They can help with all your wedding questions and even direct you to other wedding professionals. A true bridal consultant does much more that just sell you a dress.

A full service salon will order you a brand new gown and store it for you for FREE until the day of the wedding. They have the proper environment for the fabrics and lacework, and they are completely insured. While taking your precious gown home the day you purchase it may sound nice, remember, YOU are responsible if anything should happen to it. This isn’t very stress-free for you, the bride!

A full service salon will hand finish and press your gown and veiling for FREE before your pre-bridal portrait and then again for your wedding day. This can cost you as much as $90 at a dry cleaners each time! While gowns that are hanging in a bridal shop look nicely pressed, realize that all of these gowns have been steamed before you even see them. The stock gowns may be wrinkle-free, but you will get yours handed to you un-pressed. Gowns shipped from the manufacturers have wrinkles that need to be professionally removed. This is another FREE service you receive at a real full service bridal salon.

A full service bridal salon will also help you avoid PMS…(pre marital stress)! Sometimes it is nice to talk to someone about your worries. A good full service bridal salon has bridal consultants who can help put your mind at ease and offer you unbiased advise (if you ask for it)! While they can’t promise you’re marrying the right person, a true wedding professional at a full service salon will do everything possible to make your wedding day as perfect for you as you always dreamed it would be!