Before You Book – 7 Pro Tips From Gown Stylists at Maddison Row South

The Scoop on Bridal Appointments

You found the one, now it’s time to …drum roll, please… find your dream dress. 

Before you book, we asked Maddison Row South Co-Managers Michelle Miller & Lindsey Principi what they wish each beloved bride-to-be knew (but rarely ask) before making their appointment. 

When To Start Shopping

There is no hard rule, but generally, we recommend having at least a date set before you book bridal appointments. This will determine our lead time for ordering your gorgeous gown along with accommodating any customizations and alterations. 

To be on the safe side, you’ll want to choose your custom gown about 6-8 months before I-do’s. 

We also recommend having a venue or location in mind before dress shopping – this helps us all get a sense of your wedding vision and picture your dream dress in context. Cue happy tears!

Dollars & Sense

Not only is it wise to know your budget before you start shopping, but also be sure to research the price range for gowns at each boutique on your wish list. 

Most shops are not shy about price points – for example, we list our range ($2,000 – $6,500) on our website. Knowing your budget helps you feel good going into your appointment, and ensures you’ll have a fabulous selection available to you.

Do Some Digging

A little homework goes a long way. Most of our brides start with designers or gown styles they like and work backward to find boutiques that carry them. 

Study up on the boutiques themselves too – check out their social media profiles and peruse their websites – this will help you come into the appointment with all the gowns on your must-try list.

Inside scoop! If a boutique carries a designer you love, but may not have a specific gown on your shortlist, know where there’s a will, there’s a way. With a heads up, we may be able to borrow a sample gown directly from our designers. Often this comes with a shipping fee for the sample, but not always. 

Go Beyond The Gowns

While doing your research, also look into the experience and services offered by a boutique as this is truly icing on the cake. 

Do they offer in-house alterations? Will you enjoy private try-on rooms? All factors worth considering on your quest to find the one. 

Suss Out Sample Sizes

The majority of our sample gown sizes are 10 to 12 and tend to run small compared to conventional street-sizes – think your standard 6 to 8 dress size for comparison.  

We celebrate all shapes and sizes with plenty of tricks up our sleeve to give you the best sense of how a gown will look once it’s made JUST for you, but if you’re wondering how sample sizes run, it never hurts to ask when booking your appointment. 

Set Realistic Expectations

During a 1.5-hour appointment, it’s realistic to try on 8 to 10 gowns. That number may seem low at first blush, but keep in mind this process isn’t meant to feel rushed and these beautiful numbers take a little more work to get in and out of. 

Pace Yourself

When it comes to bridal appointments, we caution against booking more than two in one day. It’s tempting, especially for visitors, to try and pack in those appointments, but, trust us, too many will leave you exhausted, confused and in a dress-induced blur. 

Ready to find the one? Book your bridal appointment with Maddison Row South online today! Photos by Abby Murphy Photography.

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