Once you've found the dress then it pays to be on the ball for the next phase of the dress buying process. Shop around to find the best price for your chosen gown or if you've fallen in love with the staff at a particular bridal boutique then ask if they might price match with another store.
If you're buying an 'as seen' dress then be careful to note any stains, creases or imperfections at the time of purchase. After this stage the imperfections become your responsibility, not the salon's.
And be aware that some stores will also charge to store your dress, especially if it's going to be there for a long time, and most will want you to collect it fairly soon after it comes in – even if it's ages before your wedding and it still requires altering. So you might want to consider how to store your wedding dress; maybe you could get a wedding dress storage bag, or storage box.
It's also important to note that salons generally do most of their business in the summer and this is why – due to space constraints – many only allow first fittings on a Saturday. So it means that once you've ordered your dress then you'll need to come back and get your new dress (as opposed to the sample dress you first tried on) on another day.
This is all food for thought when deciding where to buy your dress – and, more importantly, before you hand over the cash!
Chat about dresses and swap tips with other brides-to-be on the Scottish Wedding Directory Forum
