Bridal CoutureYou said YES!
You celebrated. You took the pictures. Maybe you popped some champagne. You officially found the gown you’re going to wear when you get married.
And then...
You left the store without it. 😂
Wait... what?!
We know how exciting—and sometimes a little nerve-racking—it can feel to purchase your wedding gown and then realize you may not actually see it again for several months.
Trust us, we can’t wait for you to have your dress either!
But first... we have to have it made.
And that’s where the next part of your wedding dress journey begins.
Your Wedding Gown Is Being Made for YOU
One of the things many brides don’t realize is that ordering a wedding gown is very different from buying a regular piece of clothing.
Your dress isn’t necessarily sitting in a warehouse somewhere waiting for us to order your size and have it shipped the next day.
In many cases, once we place your order with the designer, your gown goes into production.
Depending on the designer, the gown you’ve chosen, and the time of year, it can take approximately 6–8 months for your wedding dress to be made and shipped to our store.
We know. That can sound like forever!
But don’t worry. You have plenty to keep you busy while you wait.
What Does Your “Estimated Ship Date” Actually Mean?
Within a week or so of ordering your gown, you’ll receive an email from us with something called an Estimated Ship Date.
Please notice one very important word there:
ESTIMATED. 😉
Your estimated ship date is not necessarily the day your wedding gown will arrive at our store.
It is the approximate timeframe the designer expects your gown to ship.
Your dress could arrive earlier. It could arrive a little later. Manufacturing schedules and shipping times can change, so don’t panic if that date moves slightly.
We keep track of your order, and as soon as that very exciting box arrives at our store, we’ll let you know!
And yes... we get excited when your dress arrives, too.
First Things First: Find Your Seamstress
When you purchased your gown from us, you received a folder filled with helpful information—including a list of seamstresses we recommend for alterations.
Don’t put that list away and forget about it!
Even though your gown hasn’t arrived yet, now is a great time to begin contacting seamstresses.
Talk with a few. Ask questions. Get a feel for their personalities and processes, and let them know your wedding date and the estimated timeframe for your gown’s arrival.
Great seamstresses can book up quickly, particularly during busy wedding seasons, so getting on someone’s calendar early can save you a lot of stress later.
We generally recommend allowing approximately 2–3 months for alterations, depending on what your gown needs.
We’ll talk much more about alterations in an upcoming HBC Insider because—trust us—that topic deserves an article all its own!
While You’re Waiting... There’s Plenty to Do!
The good news?
Those months aren’t going to feel nearly as long as you think.
Now that you know exactly what your wedding gown looks like, you can begin putting together the rest of your wedding-day look.
Start With Your Wedding Party
Now is a great time to choose attire for the people standing beside you on your wedding day.
And we’re just going to say it...
This can sometimes be harder than finding your own dress! 😂
Different body types. Different budgets. Different opinions. Different schedules.
Coordinating a wedding party can be a challenge.
The good news is that brides and couples have more options than ever. Many wedding-party styles are now available online in numerous colors, fabrics, sizes, and price points.
Once you’ve selected the attire and colors for your side of the wedding party, you can begin coordinating what your partner and the rest of the wedding party will wear.
Everything doesn’t have to match perfectly. You simply want the colors, fabrics, and overall level of formality to feel cohesive when everyone is standing together.
Don’t Forget About Mom
Next up...
Mom needs a dress, too!
And sometimes finding Mom’s dress can be an adventure of its own.
She doesn’t want to look frumpy or matronly...
but she probably doesn’t want to look like she’s competing on Dancing with the Stars, either. 😂
The goal is to find something that makes her feel beautiful, comfortable, confident, and appropriate for the style of your wedding.
Department stores can be a great place to begin because they often carry evening wear and occasion dresses with flexible return policies.
If Mom chooses to shop at a bridal or special-occasion boutique, make sure she understands the store’s return policy before purchasing, as special-order and occasion gowns are often final sale.
Shoes, Undergarments & Accessories... Oh My!
While you’re waiting for your gown, don’t forget about the finishing touches.
You’ll eventually need to think about:
Wedding shoes
Any undergarments or shapewear you plan to wear
Jewelry
Hair accessories
And, of course... your veil!
If you purchased your veil when you said yes to your gown—wonderful!
If you didn’t, don’t panic.
When you return to pick up your wedding gown, that’s a perfect opportunity to try on veils and accessories with your actual dress and see how the entire look comes together.
And let us tell you...
There is something very different about putting on your wedding gown and adding the veil.
That’s often the moment when it suddenly feels real.
And Then... The Call You’ve Been Waiting For
Eventually, your phone rings.
Your wedding gown is here!
After months of planning, waiting, and imagining what it will feel like to put it on again, your dress has finally arrived.
And suddenly those six or eight months don’t seem nearly as long as they did when you first placed the order.
So enjoy the wait.
Use this time to tackle the other pieces of your wedding planning, choose your wedding party attire, help Mom find something fabulous, select your accessories, and get excited about everything that’s still to come.
Because before you know it, you’ll be standing in front of the mirror wearing your wedding gown again.
Except this time...
it’s yours. ❤️