it’s happening! Your appointment is booked! what next?
The experience of finding your wedding gown is an exciting one, no doubt. But it’s understandable for brides to feel nerves or jitters as the day approaches. We’re here to calm your nerves and provide all the info so there are no surprises…except maybe the surprise of falling in love with a gown that was nothing like you imagined;)
Allow us to answer a few common questions for you:
What do I need to bring? The things you need to bring are few. But there are things that are helpful to bring along to make your whole experience a lot smoother. Namely:
Flesh-toned undergarments, particularly undies. You’ll likely try most gowns without a bra, so no need to bring a special strapless bra.
An established budget. We highly recommend ironing out the budget before ever putting on a gown. Establish how much you want to budget, and who is paying for the gown. You’ll communicate your budget parameters to your stylist, and your stylist will be diligent about making sure all gowns you try are within your specified budget. At House of White, our gowns start at $2,000 and range upwards of $7,500, with the majority of our inventory falling between $2,500 and $4,500.
Your people! If there is a particular person you’d like to share this moment with, bring them along. A reminder, we allow up to 6 guests in addition to the bride for Signature Appointments, and 8 guests for Platinum Appointments.
A little inspo. You don’t have to have dozens of pre-selected specific styles, but a quick browse on Pinterest to help organize your vision and kickstart your appointment is always helpful.
What’s the parking situation? House of White has ample street parking, both on Market Street and on Jennings Street. We reside in a quaint historic building, so is helpful if you let us know of any guests with restricted mobility so we can provide access alternatives.
How long is my appointment? Signature Appointments at House of White are 90 minutes, Platinum Appointments are two hours, and VIB appointments are 2.5 hours.
How does this work? Upon arrival at House of White, you’ll be greeted by your assigned stylist - at House of White, every bridal stylist is experienced and proficient in styling, gown construction, current trends, and customizations. She’s going to guide you through this process, and you are safe in her hands :) After chatting about your vision and looking at any inspo pics you’ve saved, your stylist will begin pulling gowns for you. In your private dressing room she’ll assist you in getting zipped and clamped into each style so you feel comfortable and fabulous when you then make your entrance to show your shopping squad. Your stylist will guide you through this entire process, assessing your thoughts and feelings about each style, and suggesting gowns based on your reactions. Ultimately, we’re gauging your reaction to each gown, until you put on a gown that feels like ‘the one’. (Trust us, you’ll know it when you feel it)
What happens when I say ‘yes’ to my dress? After the well-earned celebration time with your crew, your stylist will then begin the process of getting your gown ordered. We start by taking measurements to assess what size gown you require. Once we agree on a size and confirm any customizations or additions that are being made to your gown, we go over every last detail before processing your payment and sending your order off to the designer.
What form of payment do I need? House of White accepts all major credit cards, as well as cash and check. If you are unable to pay for your gown in full at the time of ordering, we can accept a 60% deposit toward your gown, with balance payment upon arrival.
How long does it take for my gown to arrive? Short answer? It depends on the gown. But ideally give yourself 6 months for your gown to arrive. Timelines can be shorter and rush options are always available, but to be safe we recommend allowing yourself 6 months for your gown to be delivered to us.
As for the nitty gritty of alterations, what happens when your gown arrives, cleaning and preservation, etc., you’ll find all that info in a link similar to this that will be sent to you after your ‘yes’ moment. Til then, enjoy this time and let us know how we can help! There are no silly questions when you’re a bride, we promise. And between now and your appointment, may we suggest….
Check out House of White on Pinterest and see a sneak peek of our collection.
Preorder champagne for you and your group, and we’ll have it poured and ready for your arrival.
Text us anytime! You can reach us via text at the number that sent you this link - you’ll chat directly to our House of White stylists anytime during business hours. You can send us inspo pics about looks you’d like to try, as well as any questions you may have prior to your appointment.
We approach every one of our brides with immense gratitude, and are so honored to be part of your day. Let us know if there’s any way in which we can enhance this experience.
With Love,
Team House of White