Attire & Accessories Forum

Order a Sample to Try On?

This is probably a really obvious question, but I can't seem  to find the answer anywhere. So please excuse me if this is common knowledge! :)

I tried on a wedding dress I loved a few months ago, and pretty much decided it would be my dress. Then, I lost a bunch of weight and decided to keep looking. I noticed the same designer makes a dress incredibly similar to the one I loved, but with a slimmer silhouette that may flatter (and let's be real: show off) my more svelte (ha!) shape. Of course, now that I want this dress, I can't find a local bridal shop that carries it. 

So, after that long and wordy preamble, my question: Can bridal shops order a sample of a gown for me to try on? Is this a normal request or is the dress seller going to look at me like I'm crazy? Is there usually a fee for this sort of thing?

Any advice, experience, etc. are much appreciated! Thanks!!!

Re: Order a Sample to Try On?

  • From what I know, no. Boutiques carry samples in maybe 2 or 3 sizes (from tiny to large) in only the dresses for designers they carry. If they don't already have a sample dress, they probably won't just order it in. But it doesn't hurt to ask, especially if it is a designer they are licensed to sell! Or they might know someone who does have a that sample already. 
  • I think it depends on the bridal shop. The shop where I ordered my dress offered to order me a sample gown (from a line she carried already) because I had see it online and loved it. There would have been a $75 fee to order the sample and if I ended up ordering that gown, she would have applied the $75 towards the dress order. I ended up loving a different dress in the shop so I didn't have to go that route but it was nice to have the offer. 
  • some designers have a loan policy where they will loan out gowns if they have them in the warehouse for you to try on i know bonny has that program..

    this is your best bet go to the designers website click on locate retailers/stores near me button type in your zip code and search within a two hour radius if it does not give the option to check how many miles then do your zip code first then after that search do a search with a zip code at least 2 hours from you. 

    write down all stores and numbers who carry the gowns then call each one up and ask them if they have that particular gown almost all wedding designers have the style number or name under the dress online. that would be your best bet in locating that particular dress. 



  • some designers have a loan policy where they will loan out gowns if they have them in the warehouse for you to try on i know bonny has that program..


    this is your best bet go to the designers website click on locate retailers/stores near me button type in your zip code and search within a two hour radius if it does not give the option to check how many miles then do your zip code first then after that search do a search with a zip code at least 2 hours from you. 

    write down all stores and numbers who carry the gowns then call each one up and ask them if they have that particular gown almost all wedding designers have the style number or name under the dress online. that would be your best bet in locating that particular dress. 



    Punctuation is your friend.  Don't be afraid to use it!  You usually give good good advice, but it's often difficult to read your posts due to the lack of punctuation.  
    QueerFemme
  • Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll start hunting and calling around.
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