Q: Do we need to make an appointment to visit the store?
A:
We do use an appointment system, however we will
never turn you away from the door or make you feel unwelcome. You may have to wait a short while if we are
busy with a previous appointment or if we are heavily booked, you will be able to book an appointment to see a designer at the earliest time available. In the mean time you will be able to peruse
the store with a cup of tea / coffee. We do, however, always make specific appointments
for first and second fittings of gowns after they have been ordered. This is to
ensure that you will have one of our skilled designers or dress fitters available
to ensure the perfect fit.
Q: Why don't you make customers take off their shoes and wear white gloves like
some other stores?
A:
We feel that this is a rather insulting practice used by some of our competitors
to reduce the cleaning of dresses necessary in a popular store. In our experience
many such stores still have very dirty sample dresses, so it is hard to understand
just what their motive is.
Even
though Society Brides is a very busy store, we believe that it is our responsibility
to regularly clean sample dresses for hygienic reasons and unecessary to inconvenience
our clients with the inference that they are not fit to touch our garments.
Q: How many fittings will I need to have?
A:
Normally a bride will initially visit the store either once or maybe even several
times to pick the style she likes, and then we will create an order for the dress. The bride
will then be required to come for a First Fitting. (Some designs require
a Toile (calico or lining mock-up) fitting prior to the First Fitting and although the first fitting is normally in the fabric of the finished garment, sometimes it is necessary to still work with the toile) At
this point the dress will almost certainly need some alterations. The bride wears
the dress while the fitter pins the various alteration points and makes notes
regarding the alterations. Then another appointment is made for the Second
Fitting. This is to ensure that all is right. Occasionally it is necessary
to fine-tune the dress with one or two minor alterations. Another appointment
is then made to have the Final Fitting and Collection of the dress. Bridesmaids
dresses generally require one less fitting than the bride's.
Please
note: there are times when extra fittings may be required for a variety of reasons,
but we try to limit them wherever possible.
Q:
Why so many fittings?
A:
Your wedding is special and your bridal gown will probably be the most important
garment you will ever wear. It is worth the time for our couture team to alter
it to fit you as the designer intended.
Q:
How long before my wedding should I order my dress?
A:
Ideally we would suggest looking for your dress about six months before the wedding
to give yourself plenty of time to 'do the rounds' of the stores and boutiques.
We have varying order times for gowns depending on which one you choose. The minimum
time required for ordering some of the styles is around twenty weeks others designs we produce can sometimes be ordered in as little as two weeks (and sometimes
even less). It is best to start looking early in order to avoid disappointment.
Q:
We are getting married next week and I haven't got a dress yet, can you help me?
A:
We will certainly try! As has already been said, some dresses can be ordered at
short notice. One thing that may prevent us from supplying a dress at short notice
is if we are too busy due to a large number of weddings at the time. You would
have to be prepared to make yourself available for fittings within the allotted
time.
Q:
Do you have wedding dresses for hire?
A:
No, we only sell new dresses and accessories.
Q:
Is there any parking near the shop?
A:
Yes, we have half hour parking outside the store and a nearby car park at the
Two Rivers Meet leisure centre.
Q:
Do you keep menswear?
A:
Yes, we have a mens formal wear hire department and sell some accessories.
Q:
I have a nearly new wedding dress, would you be able to sell it for me?
A:
No, we only sell new dresses. Occasionally we will sell our ex-sample gowns (which
have been on the rails in the store and sometimes used for a fashion show), but
these are clearly marked as such, and have never been worn for a previous wedding.
These are professionally cleaned before they are sold (except for some sale items
where cleaning is charged as an extra).
Q:
Why don't you open on Monday's?
A:
As we are such a busy store, being closed for one day a week allows us to clean
our samples (see Q.no 2 above). You will notice that many stores do not do this
and as a result often have very dirty dresses. We do not believe that this is
acceptable.
Q:
Can I bring my young children / baby into the store?
A:
Yes, of course. We have a few toys for little ones; all we ask is that you keep
them under control. If they are being fitted for a flower girl's dress we insist
that either you dress them or that you are present in the changing room whilst
they are being fitted.
Q:
Do you offer wheelchair access?
A:
Yes we do. The main doors are on street level (no steps). Inside the store the
floor is split-level. There is a ramp within the store on the left hand side to
reach the upper level of the store floor. The W.C. in the store is a little narrow,
but we do have handrails to aid access. If you would like any additional information
or help please ring us on our main contact number (01202) 478396 or feel free
to ask a member of staff upon your arrival.
Q:
Why can't we take photographs in the shop?
A:
We are a designer bridalwear shop and there are many issues of design copyright.
Our designers request that no photographs are taken prior to buying their
gowns as they have often experienced their dresses being copied (often to a much
inferior standard). They have invested huge amounts of money for their advertising
and design team costs, as well as the back-up service that they offer to retailers
which many forgers can by-pass by copying their designs.
Note
to the determined photographer: The staff are fully aware of how inconspicuous
cameras are these days, including the photo-taking ability of many mobile phones,
key-rings and pens etc., so please do not be embarrassed if they ask you to delete
any photos you may have already taken while they weren't looking.
Q:
Can we order a dress from your website?
A:
We do not currently offer this service for many of our dresses. It would be extremely
difficult to maintain our high standards if we were to rely on others to measure
for garments. Whilst a certain degree of accuracy could be achieved, there would
be certain elements involved in the fitting which only an experienced couturist
would notice.
Q:
Do you offer a dress cleaning service for dresses not bought at Society Brides?
A:
We are sometimes able to offer this service, but it all depends how busy we are.
It certainly doesn't hurt to ask.
Q:
I have already got my dress, but want to order accessories at Society Brides,
do you mind if I bring my dress into the store to try it on while I am looking
at accessories?
A:No,
we do not mind at all. Please
feel free to bring it, as well as any other items you are wearing to check for
colour matches etc.
Q:
All your staff members seem very friendly and keen to serve. Do they work on a
commision basis?
A:
No, the enthusiasm that staff members show is genuine. The company does
not use commision as an incentive to staff members, because we believe in genuine
customer care as opposed to service with a less noble motive.
