Advice

You’ve booked your appointment at My Dream Dress and you’re counting down the days until you try on all of those gorgeous gowns—but the question is, what do you bring to your appointment? Make sure to check these items off of your list so you’re set for a successful day of wedding dress shopping.

 

  1. Inspiration.

Bringing along wedding dress inspiration to your appointment is very important. Some great ways to share your wedding inspiration are through your dashboard , your personal Pinterest page , printing out photos or telling your consultant all about your favorite designer. If you’re not sure about what you’re looking for, sharing venue, decoration or theme ideas can help your consultant lead you in the right direction.

  1. Proper undergarments.

While shapewear and the perfect bra aren’t totally necessary until your first fitting, feeling and looking your best will ultimately help you feel more confident to find the dress of your dreams. We suggest bringing along or wearing a supportive nude strapless or convertible bra, seamless nude underwear (such as boyshorts,

  1. Hair ties & clips.

Not only are you going to want to sweep your hair out of your face so you can get a full view of the dresses you’ll be trying on, but pulling your hair up with a hair tie or clip will also help you envision your wedding day look if you choose to wear an updo.

  1. Appropriate shoes.

Make sure you bring along proper footwear to try on with your dress. Already bought your wedding shoes? Great! If not, bring along similar-looking shoes to the pair you’d like to wear on your wedding day (think heels vs. flats).

  1. Your squad.

Make sure you bring along a few close family members and friends to help you “Say Yes”. Keep in mind though that less is definitely more—too many opinions from eager family members and friends can ultimately make your decision tougher.

At this time, due to COVID-19 concerns, we are adhering to a strict 2 person per bride policy at My Dream Dress Bridal Salon

  1. A realistic budget.

Finally, come with a relative idea of how much you’d like to spend on a dress. You should also include room in your budget for alterations, headpieces, a veil and any jewelry.

Creating a budget is one of the most important aspects of dress shopping! Although very important, it could also be challenging time. We recommend establishing your budget before you come to MDD, an important aspect of your dress shopping experience!

That being said it can also be one of the most daunting. Before your MDD appointment, it is important to come in with a budget because we has such a wide selection of wedding dresses.

But, it’s not just the dress you’ll want to factor in. There’s more to your dress budget than just the dress itself. Below we’ve listed the breakdown.

We want you to have the best shopping experience here at MDD and it truly the most helpful when you have a budget that you’re comfortable with. thong, or high cut underwear), as well as any shapewear you’d like to wear under your dress. There are plenty of shapewear options out there, so keep this in mind before you arrive at My Dream Dress for your appointment.

Dresses at MDD start at $1,500, but can go up to $10,000 or more. With more than 1,000 dress samples to try on in store, the large selection allows brides to find their dream dress in a range that works best for their budget. That being said it is so important to come in with a defined budget. It’s helpful to know the maximum amount you’d be willing to spend and remember that a 60% deposit is due at the time of purchase. Or complete amount if special orders and balance due in 60 days.

$100-500 starting price for Accessories. This includes veil, jewelry, headpiece, belts...you name it! You will not regret completing your bridal look, but it’s important to factor it in when determining your budget. For more details on finding the perfect accessories, check out ourAccessories Page

$ 450 starting price for Alterations. Any dress you purchase, no matter the price, will need alterations. If you choose to have it altered at My Dream Dress , you should factor in around $450. Alterations at My Dream Dress includes at least 3 fittings with My Dream Dress alterations staff spending up to 30 hours perfecting each dress! For more information about our Fittings and Alterations process, check out our Alteration Guide.

 $ 2500 starting price for Customizations. Most dresses can be customized to be uniquely yours! If you’re planning to add a personal touch, know that this can be an additional fee, $1000.

Michigan charges 6.00% state sales tax. If you plan on shipping your dress out-of-state, MDD will provide you with a shipping affidavit. Once that is notarized, sales tax is replaced with a shipping fee starting at $125.

Depending on your dress style or your alterations needs, you’ll have approximately 3 fitting appointments. Remember, your wedding dress was ordered according to the largest measurement (between hips, bust and waist), therefore it is likely it will NOT fit properly at your first fitting appointment. At the first appointment your fitter will pin the dress in all of the right places so our sewers can start customizing your dress to your body. This is where the customized MDD Couture Fit process begins. 

At this time, due to COVID-19 concerns, we are adhering to a strict 2 person per bride policy at MDD Couture Fit. The MDD Couture Fit is our signature alterations process. With an alterations staff of over 120 people, including fitters, seamstress, beaders, pressers and quality control, we alter your wedding dress to perfection. No other bridal retailer in the world alters a dress My Dream Dress does. Your dedicated fitter will properly sculpt the dress in the bust, waist and hips to your liking in 3 fittings (more or less as needed). The MDD Couture fit also includes a hem and bustle.

To properly fit your dress, you’ll need to know what undergarments you plan to wear on your wedding day. We suggest that you bring a supportive bra or shapewear to each fitting appointment. If you are unsure about the bra, your fitter will advise you and you can purchase a bra from our selection. Dress Hem

Besides properly fitting the dress through your bodice and hips, we will ensure that the hem is completed to your specifications and heel height. You want your dress to be the perfect length on your wedding day–that is why its important to bring your wedding shoes to each of your fitting appointments. With that, wedding shoes are required for all of your fittings. If you do not have the exact pair of shoes you’d like to wear on your wedding day yet, please make sure to bring along a pair of shoes that are the same style and height (think platforms for platforms, stilettos for stilettos, etc.). This way, your dress hem is the appropriate length and is fitted properly, as different styles of shoes change your posture and can alter the fit of your dress.

My Dream Dress does not sell shoes, so it is important that you search for the perfect pair before your appointment. If you do not bring your shoes, you will either be rescheduled for later in the day if an appointment is open, or additional appointments will be needed.

While the custom fit and hem are in the works, your fitter will also discuss the best bustle options for your train. A bustle gathers up the train of your dress to keep it from dragging on the floor during your dinner and reception. There are a few bustle types to select from which can be secured with buttons and loops or ties and snaps. You’ll work with your fitter and discuss different bustle options for your wedding dress. At your final fitting, we will teach you and your bridesmaid or family member how to bustle your dress so you can dance the night away.

Learn more about the bustle here. Not sure how to tie your bustle? Check out our video: https://youtu.be/TBCmyaQ0n_o

During quality control, your dress is checked to ensure that each bead, crystal, lace appliqué, sequin, etc. is perfectly in place for your wedding day.

 

After your final fitting, you will make arrangements to press the dress for pickup or shipping. The dress is pressed, steamed and packed with tissue paper so it maintains its shape. The dress will be covered in an opaque garment bag and will be ready to step into on your wedding day.