Wedding Dress Shopping During COVID-19

Posted on May 11, 2020 by Today's Bride

After a month and a half of closures, Bridal Shops in Northeast Ohio are re-opening their doors as early as tomorrow! If you’re a bride anxiously awaiting your turn to shop for your wedding dress, you may be wondering; what will wedding dress shopping look like during COVID-19? We chatted with local wedding dress shops to give you an idea of what to expect at your next appointment.

Enjoying your shopping experience, safely

When interviewing local shops, one factor was universal: bridal shops still want you to have the shopping experience of your life in the safest way possible. That means many stores are implementing practices like frequent sanitization, wearing masks and gloves, and social distancing. But, some stores are taking it a step further to assure your safety.

Sara Recker from The Dress Bridal Boutique told us about the ways The Dress will disinfect their gowns. “We will steam our gowns in between each appointment before they are tried on by another client.” Jennifer Esposito from Brides By the Falls adds, “Our store has just been professionally cleaned and sanitized. We will have face masks available for customers and staff. We plan on asking each customer whether they would like us all to wear masks or not.”

Bridal shops want you to know that one thing hasn’t changed: the excitement of the experience. Clara DeLisio from Galleria Gowns reassures, “We will make the experience just as special as it always has been.”

What you should expect – the do’s and dont’s

So, what should you come prepared with? Here are a few “Do’s and Dont’s” we learned form local bridal shops:

Do: Expect to make your appointment in advance.

Don’t: Bring more than 2-3 people.

Do: Call ahead to learn that particular store’s requirements. Each shop will happily give you their individual requirements.

Don’t: Go to your appointment if you feel sick, or have been in contact with someone who is.

Do: Come prepared with pictures and ideas! Pinterest is a great resource, but make sure to check out the dress shop’s website to see which designers they carry!

Don’t: Delay in finding your gown or making a decision. Vera Boumadi from Vera’s Ladies Apparel recommends ordering as soon as you find “the one.” Custom orders and shipping from manufacturers may take longer than expected, unless you opt to buy off the rack.

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Some advice from the pros

Bridal shops want you to know that, while a few little details may change, their mission of helping you select the perfect wedding dress will stay the same. They wanted to offer a few pieces of advice and assurance for dress shopping during this pandemic:

Sarah from Abbott’s Bridal

“Our job is to make sure we can provide you with the best customer experience and deliver you once in a life time dress. We want you to stay positive and excited for your dress try on appointments with us, even though there may be restrictions. Remember this is your day and smile, because at the end of this YOU are getting MARRIED!! We are here for all of our customers and ask you to be patient as we are trying our best to navigate through this odd time together.”

Kathie from Doreen Leaf Designs

“Brides should allow 7 to 8 months for delivery… It may not take that long, but it is best to plan on it. Safety for our Employees and Customers is #1!”

Kayla from CLE Brides by Expressions

“Don’t panic, we are here for you. It is our commitment to continue to make this process fun and as stress free as possible.”

Lisa from Henri’s Cloud Nine

“Your consultant is a trained expert and is your ally during these uncertain times. She is committed to helping you from the moment you walk in the door until the moment you walk down the aisle. Don’t be afraid to reach out to her directly with any questions or concerns you may have!”

Brandon from Lavender Bridal Salon

“Please do not stress about the process of coming to shop for your dream wedding dress. We will ensure that the process is still just as enjoyable, fun and relaxing as it has always been. Please have peace of mind in knowing that when you come to our shop we have taken every measure possible to provide our customers with a safe and thoroughly clean environment in which to shop in for their dream wedding dress. We can’t wait for you to become a Lavender Bride!”

Sara from The Dress Bridal Boutique

“We are going to do our very best to give the Bride our special experience, no doubt about that. We will just have to limit all the special things we do at this time to keep everyone safe. She will still have her own private suite, her own consultant and her ability to try on as many gowns as her vision allows!”

Jennifer from Brides by the Falls

“Your engagement time should be one of the happiest times in your life. Despite the Corona Virus you have found love and happiness. This is a time to celebrate your love and enjoy planning a wedding.”

Clara from Galleria Gowns

“We are still all about the Bride. Even though we have different protocols doesn’t meant the experience will be less than it was before.”

 

A special THANK YOU to the bridal shops who contributed to this article: