Bridal & wedding dress FAQs
Why should I buy from Special Day?
We are the only store in Bristol and Bath that are members of the Retailer Bridalwear Association which gives you the confidence to buy with us!
PLEASE REMEMBER LADIES TO COMPLETE THE BRIDAL ASSURANCE SCHEME LEAFLET INCLUDED IN YOUR PACK WHEN YOU PURCHASE – your gown is guaranteed! Find out more here.
When should I start shopping for my wedding dress?
It is never too early to start looking for your wedding dress! You also shouldn’t leave it too late as your dress will be made especially for you, it can take 6 months for the dress to arrive, plus there needs to be time for fittings and alterations to ensure that it is the perfect fit for you.
Of course if time really is tight we also have a “Take Me Today” range of gorgeous gowns which you can purchase and take home on the same day.
What sizes do you stock?
The gowns we have in stock range from 10 to 28 but all dresses are available to order from 6 to 34. Rest assured that we carefully select dresses that will enhance every figure. Every bride deserves to feel and look fabulous on her wedding day and dress size should not be a factor.
Do I need to book an appointment?
Yes, we work by appointment only. You will have your own personal stylist and your own dedicated appointment focused entirely on you, this means you will have no pressure and ample time to find a perfect dress.
How long will an appointment last?
Our appointments last for 1 1/2 hours.
How many people can I bring to an appointment?
Our bridal suites can comfortable accommodate yourself and 3 guests. This is the number of people we recommend, sometimes too many voices can be confusing!
We also have one private suite which has room for yourself and 5 guests. Please specify this suite when making your appointment booking.
Is there a charge for an appointment?
There is a £25 charge for appointments on Saturdays, and if the private suite is available you can book this with no additional charge.
There is no charge for weekday appointments in our standard sized suites, but if you desire the private suite (for up to 5 guests) there is a £25 charge.
What should I bring to my appointment?
From a functional point of view it is best to wear neutral coloured underwear that is supportive and potentially the bra being strapless.
Otherwise all you simply need to bring an open mind and excitement for the fun that is wedding dress shopping! Your stylist will listen carefully to any ideas that you already have and they will be able to make dress suggestions that they know will be the very best specifically for you.
For a fitting appointment we ask that you bring the shoes and underwear that you will be wearing for your wedding, this means we can ensure everything is correct for your big day.
Can I take photos?
Yes indeed! You may very well want to share your experience with your friends and family, it’s such an exciting time after all!
You may also want to have something to refer back to when you get home. But do remember though that mobile phones don’t always take a perfect photo and can often not truly reflect what the dress really looked like at the time. So in these situations we suggest that you take photos of your very favourites more as an “aide-mémoire”.
What if I want to lose weight before my wedding?
Our stylist can help you through your options, but certainly you can order your gown and then organise a second measurement appointment providing their is sufficient time. The initial measurements that we take ensure we order the correct size gown for you and we then carry out alterations once it arrives where our seamstress is able to reduce the size of the dress accordingly.
Please do be aware though that once the dress has been reduced to the target size we ask you to try and maintain the same weight. This occurs at approximately 4 weeks prior to your wedding.
Are alterations included in the price?
No. Alterations are a separate charge payable direct to the dressmaker and if you wish to use our service, we have 4 in-house seamstresses who work Monday, Tuesday Thursday & Friday in store or if you prefer an out of hours appointment Saturday, Sunday or evenings. We can give you their details and you can make an appointment at their premises. Please note they will only carry out work on garments purchased at Special Day Bridal.
Are alterations available as an extra service?
Yes. We have an in house seamstress who carries out modifications to dresses. Please note that most dresses will need alterations of some sort to ensure that it is the perfect fit for you.
Can you customise my dress?
Yes. Our professional seamstress is able to make most modifications to your dress to tailor it to your requirements, for example adding embellishments or changing a neckline.
Can you order a specific dress sample from one of your designers that you don’t stock?
In some situations we can order a sample from one of our designers at an additional cost of £50. If you then order the gown this cost will be deducted from the price of your order.
If you have seen a dress from a shop that is a distance away from your home and it is from a designer that we stock then we will be able to order the dress for you if you wish to remain local.
Do I have to pay the complete balance when placing my order?
We ask that you pay 50% at the time of ordering with the remaining 50% to be paid when the dress arrives in our shop. We can also offer a payment plan to spread the cost in advance of ordering a dress.
Can you store my dress for me when it arrives?
Yes, we can store your gown for you if you desire. Your stylist will talk you through the options in your appointment.
As an independent bridal boutique are you more expensive than National Outlet Shops (such as Wed2Be etc) or Preloved Retailers?
Definitely not! Our designer Take Me Today collection ranges from £399 to £1000 and our current range of gowns start from £799 to £2000. As opposed to some chain shops we only stock from recognised and renowned bridal designers and our aftercare service is second to none so you don’t have to expect to take your dress to find your own seamstress. At Special Day we have 4 dedicated in house seamstresses who will make necessary alterations to ensure your gown is the perfect fit. Our aim is to ensure you receive the very best personalised service we can provide.
Mother of the bride and groom
For mother of the bride and groom purchases you will also need to book an appointment for which you will have a personal stylist for 1 hour. They will help advise on outfits, shoes, hatinators and handbags. Prices range from £199 to £900 and we also have an end of season collection with dress priced from £40. Please note the designer collections we stock are exclusive to us and not available online or on the high street. We have 2 collections a year, arriving in January and August. For each style we order one size and once sold we cannot reorder, this ensures we don’t saturate the label. We have 4 dedicated in house seamstresses who can tailor your purchase. Unfortunately we are unable to put outfits to one side due to demand. Please also note that we cannot offer refunds or exchanges so please be sure that you are completely happy with your outfit upon purchase. If you are looking for accessories to an outfit you already have then we can also offer an appointment with a stylist who can help.
Is there parking near to your shop?
Yes. Tesco is behind our shop and you can park for 2 hours without charge. There are also various pay and display carparks nearby, including Station Road Car Park and Ashton Way. Charges are 40p for 2 hours or 90p for 4 hours. You can easily pay via the MIPERMIT app.
