Bridal Timelines

The age old question… when should I start shopping for my wedding dress? We’ve got all the answers and more. This weeks edition of STYLED we are going to go over all the timeline details for Bridal right here in Eastern Nebraska at Black Tie and White Satin.

When is the best time to shop for a bridal gown?

The answer to that question is as simple as you think. Truthfully, any time is the right time! There is no certain time of year that is better to shop for you wedding dress than others here at Black Tie and White Satin. 365 days a year, we have a stocked showroom with the latest trends and designs from top designers in the industry. Whether you’re looking in January or August, we have you covered. We are not a seasonal shop, so bring in your crew any time of year and we will find you your dream dress!

How long does it take for a bridal gown to come in?

Typically, newly ordered gowns take around 20 weeks to arrive after the time of ordering. Having that in mind, you will be waiting about 5 months for your dress to arrive. Of course, there are always options to get your gown a bit quicker with our Rush shipping options; these vary for each designer. Another thing to think about is alterations. Typically, every bride is going to need some sort of alterations on their gown, whether it’s some strap adjustments and a hem, or something as simple as getting a bustle put in. This takes time as well. We always recommend at least 4-5 months for alterations. No, that process doesn’t take that long, but you want to give yourself enough time for A.) a seamstress to get you in for a consultation B.) the seamstress to perfect the details on your gown, and C.) any adjustments that might need to be made after the initial alterations are done. I know… this is a lot of info, but with all of that in mind, we suggest you pull the trigger on your wedding dress at least 9-10 months in advance of your wedding date!

I’m getting married in just a few months, what are my options?

We totally understand…wedding planning is HARD! There’s so many details that go into it, and sometimes you just put your dress on the back burner for a while. OR sometimes you have only given yourself 3 or 4 months to pull everything together, and that is OK! We have plenty of options for you at Black Tie. All of our wedding gowns are not just samples; everything can be boughten off the floor. That means you can have your dream dress in your hands in a matter of 2 weeks or less! And as I stated before, many of our designers can turn around a brand new dress for you in as little as 8 weeks. Don’t think you will have to settle for anything less than your dream just because you don’t have 9-10 months to spare :)

Ok, what about Bridesmaids?

This is probably our most common misconception when it comes to wedding planning. No, bridesmaids are not as simple as picking out your dresses a few weeks before the wedding. All of our bridesmaid gowns are cut and made specially for each member of your bridal party! To guarantee the perfect fit, make sure to give your bridesmaids gowns about 2.5-3 months to arrive. After that, they may have to get some slight alterations as well. A perfect timeline for bridesmaid shopping is about 5-6 months before your wedding date.

Do I need to pick out all my accessories that far in advance as well?

Absolutely not. Most accessories such as veils, belts, hair clips, earrings are more only take about 4 weeks to arrive. A lot of our brides have no idea how they are going to wear their hair, what kind of veil they want, or more when they find their perfect dress. We love to wait until your gown arrives, and then accessorize from there. That way you will have plenty of time to really think on what you want to add to your wedding look. And if you stick to the timeline above, you will have all of your accessories ready to go with plenty of time to spare.

Ok, can you break all this down for me?

Absolutely. Here is a sample of what your ideal timeline should look like:

10 Months Out - Book your Bridal Appointment
9-10 Months Out - Find your dream dress at Black Tie and White Satin
6 Months Out - Book your Bridesmaids and Mothers Gown Appointment
5 Months Out - Dress arrives, pick out accessories, book your alterations
4 Months Out - Bridesmaids and Mothers gowns arrive
2 Months Out - Everything is Wedding Ready!

We can go on and on about timelines with brides, but the reality is, every situation is different. Our passion here at Black Tie and White Satin is to have our clients look and feel their best, so whatever we need to do to achieve this, we will. Happy Planning, Brides! We can’t wait to have you in the shop!
-XOXO, Black Tie