The Questions and Answers below are based on general industry information and information
particular
to our store. Feel free to contact us if you have additional question. See Contact Us.
Where should I shop for
my gown?
♥Ask your friend for referrals. Experience is the best teacher.
♥Call local stores for information-Being treated well on the phone is your first indications of how
you will be treated when you shop.
♥Bigger is not always better. We are a private,
locally owned store with a personal interest
in the customers we
serve. We offer a larger selection of styles than national companies.
Our sales people know their customers and have worked in the bridal industry for years
not months.
What should you expect from our store when you visit?
♥To be greeted and assisted by a friendly and knowledgeable staff.
♥You
should feel comfortable asking questions about what services are provided before and
after the sale such as:
What is the price range of dresses in the store?
At the Art of Weddings our dresses range in price
from $200-995. for our regular stock
and $50-400
for our clearance gowns.
Is the dress I try on the dress I am
purchasing?
At the Art of Weddings we special
order our regular stock dresses in the size and color
that is best for you. If however you need a dress immediately, we will on occasion, at
our discretion, elect to sell a regular stock dress off the rack. Some manufacturers
carry
additional inventory that may be available for immediate delivery as well.
Clearance
gowns & regular gowns sold off the rack are sold as is.
If I'm
special ordering my gown, how is my size determined?
Since
gowns are ordered based on a size chart, and since every companies chart is
different,
we make every effort to get the size that will fit you the best and require
the fewest alterations possible. (See alterations information below.) In order to do
that we take your current measurements plus, if possible, have you try on a dress
from
the same company in the size we have determined based on the measurements.
We then consult with you about any expected changes to your size so you can
make the best size decision.
Do I need to pay for my dress in full
when I order it or are there other options?
For
bridal gowns you may pay in full or you can make an initial down payment of 1/3
and
divide the balance up into 3-6 monthly payments.
For
bridesmaids, flower girl, Mother of the Brides gowns, 1/2 is required to order with
balance
due on arrival.
All gowns do need to be paid
for in full before alterations are started.
How long does it
take for my dress to arrive?
General order time
is 4-6 months. Rush orders are available for an additional fee.
We recommend factoring in additional time for alteration. If you have found THE Dress,
it is best to order at that time so you don't have to worry about delivery time or
possible discontinuation. Bridesmaid are usually 12-14 weeks.
What
should I do once my dress comes in?
It is
a good idea to come in and try on your gown ASAP. While there is rarely a
problems, if there is, the sooner we can address it the better.
After trying on my dress do I need to take it with me or is the dress kept at the store?
At the Art of Weddings we will store the dress at our location for you at no charge.
Brides typically leave their dress until after their alterations are complete and the
gown has been steamed and pressed. We usually do the pressing the week before
the wedding and brides usually pick up 2-3 days prior to the wedding.
Are
there additional charges for alterations?
Alterations
are extra. Our alterations people are independent ladies that have done
alterations for numerous years. While they are very experienced, they make every
effort to keep your costs very reasonable, rarely exceeding $100, unless a major
modification is requested. Appointments are scheduled directly with the alterations
person but are done at our store. Alteration appointments will be done during our
regular store hours. Peak alterations season is May-September so if your wedding
falls in that time frame you will want to allow extra time for completion.
When can I pick up my dress?
You
can pick up your dress at anytime however, most brides leave there dress until
a day or two before there wedding & after alterations are complete and the dress has
been steamed and pressed. Once the dress has left the store we are no longer
responsible for these services.
What kind of
protection is provided for transportation of the gown when I pick it up?
We provide a breathable fabric zippered dress bag for your gown at no additional
charge.
We hope this information has been helpful to you
and we look forward to assisting you in your gown selection.