Special Ordering a gown can be a bit unnerving but the following is the process your gown(s) must go through before you receive them. It is important to keep in mind gowns are not made until ordered. (I liken it to Jack in the Box. “We don’t make it until you order it!”) There is no warehouse in the sky with every dress in every color waiting to be chosen. These gowns are truly “Special Order.”
Once you choose your gown(s) and your order is received by the designer they begin the process of getting your order to the factory overseas. Here begins the process of collecting your choice of fabric and color to cut your size patterns. (This is why we go by the designer’s size chart it keeps the gowns standard and allows for fewer mistakes.) Once your pattern(s) are cut out; they are sent to the sewing room to be constructed. Each bridal gown is then sent to the fitting room to be placed on mannequins to be inspected and any additional fabrics to be draped and each Bridesmaids gown is inspected to ensure a proper fit. If the gowns need to be beaded or trimmed they are sent to the appropriate department where they are hand adorned. Once the gowns are completed they are inspected, if repairs or changes are needed they are sent to the appropriate department. They are then prepped and packaged to be shipped. Depending on where your gown(s) are made shipping may be a different process. Our understanding is some are shipped by air and some by boat. After arriving in the United States your gown(s) are required to be sent to the Customs Department and Border Protection. The items are checked and your gown(s) are then processed then released to be shipped to each designer’s warehouse. After the long journey your gown(s) is once again inspected to ensure colors, sizes, and manufacturing processes are correct and are then sent to be shipped to each individual bridal salon. It is of the utmost importance not only to the designer but also the salons and you that each gown be just what you ordered. Completed to the specifications of the designer the gown(s) are then charged to the salon and the shipping carrier is contacted. Depending on instructions and the carrier chosen your gown will be delivered to your salon within about 7 business days from the time it leaves the warehouse. This entire process typically takes several weeks to several months depending on which department and which designer and what time of the year you are ordering your gown(s).
As you can imagine, once the order leaves our salon there is very little we have control over. If everything goes accordingly the estimated date of arrival should not vary too much. A few things that have recently halted shipping range from volcanic eruptions, terrorist threats, New Year’s celebrations, a slowing economy which limits shipments out of other countries, U.S. Customs and shipping carrier strikes. We prefer to order your gown sooner than later as we want you and your bridal party to walk down the aisle in the look you chose for your special day. We do everything in our power to ensure your gown is here in plenty of time for alterations before your wear date.
Bride’s magazine suggests ordering your bridal gown at least one year in advance and your bridesmaids/mother’s gowns at least six months in advance. Depending on your wedding date we are often able to accommodate shorter time frames these incur additional fees and vary by designer. Contact us for more information.
