The majority of appointments made at Saltaire Bridal are first timers. I’m told it is due to a combination of the Inclusivity Statement on our website and socials and booking form, the glowing Google and Facebook reviews left by past brides (thank you, you’re all superstars!) and the fact the boutique is small, independent, welcoming and the appointment is exclusive.
For all these reasons, I’m grateful.
If you are a first timer I’d like to put your mind at ease before your appointment. Below you’ll find the most common questions answered for you in advance.
“When should I book an appointment?”
That depends on how decisive you are, how long you have before the wedding, if you are ready to pay when you say “Yes” for off-the-peg and ordered dresses.
“Do I pay in full on the day I say Yes to my dress?”
Great question! Everyone has a budget.
Off-the-peg – if the dress you have chosen is an off-the-peg dress (meaning it’s the only one and you take it away on the day) then yes you will pay in full. To clarify, the majority of off-the-peg dresses at Saltaire Bridal are under £1000.
Order – If the dress is to be ordered in for you, then yes you will pay in full on the day. These are generally between £700 and £1200.
Bespoke – For bespoke dresses and items you will have a fitting and pay 50% of the total price on order then pay the final 50% at the time of collection. These are priced depending on your requirements however they are generally priced from £300 for a top or skirt/trousers and go up to £3000 for a dress in the Rebel Rose and Bowen-Dryden Black Label Collection.
When making your booking online at Saltaire Bridal you’ll be asked for your approximate budget, this helps me to guide you with the selection of dresses to show you. I won’t show you a dress for £3000 if your budget is under £1000.
“Eek! I’m so anxious about going wedding dress shopping – how can you help me?”
That’s an easy one for me to answer, I’m really passionate about making sure everyone feels comfortable, seen and heard. You can find my Inclusivity Statement on the Home page and read more on this link
From the very beginning of your bridal appointment process on the booking form or via email you’ll be able to share your concerns, anxieties and provide any Neurodivergent information. This gives me a heads up to prepare for your appointment and put everything in place to make you feel at ease.
I even offer familiarisation visits to the boutique, if that works for you, this gives you the opportunity to see the layout of the boutique and once you are comfortable you can revisit and start trying dresses on. Even at that point I have procedures in place that mean your whole experience will be considered.
“What do I have to wear for my appointment?”
The amount of apologies I get for underwear is off the charts – and to clarify I don’t mind what colour your bra and pants are in the appointment, I don’t mind if they don’t match or if it’s your favourite comfy set.
Lots of dresses have internal bras or cups and I trust that you will choose the correct underwear on your actual wedding day. Darker colours will show through some dresses and can distract you so if you can choose a pair that are neutral colours that will be helpful.
“Should I do anything special with my hair and make up before the appointment?”
That’s not essential. It’s okay to wear whatever makeup you want to make you feel comfortable or no makeup if that’s your vibe.
I do have hair clips and bands you can use to put your hair up if needed. You may choose to have a different hairstyle after you find your dress.
You can plan your wedding look with your hairstylist and make up artist once you have the dress style totally nailed.
“Do I need to bring my wedding shoes with me?”
Nope, is the simple answer. Firstly, you will probably need to choose your wedding wear before the shoes. Secondly, I have a pedestal you can stand on that is about the size of a 4 inch heel and finally I have options of shoes and cowboy boots available in the boutique to try on.
“I haven’t got a clue what will suit me!”
That’s what I’m here for – I’ll listen to you, hear about your wedding vibe and then suggest options that you can try. Being open minded is very helpful.
“I’ve never worn dresses – where do I start?”
Again that’s where you can put your trust in me. You may choose not to wear a dress too – there are options – jumpsuits, separates and we can work through it to make sure you still feel like ‘you’ and comfortable, especially on your wedding day.
“I didn’t expect to say Yes to the Dress on the first appointment!”
This is the big one and trust me it happens A LOT!
You don’t have to book boutique after boutique to find The One – if you do find a boutique that shares the kind of vibe you are looking for then it is possible to find the right style, fit, colour and say Yes on your very first appointment.
“Why is the dress I have chosen completely different to the one I liked online? This is not the dress I thought I’d choose!”
Something that happens a lot too – it could be down to the fact the person in the images you found online are totally different to your style, height or body shape. It could be that the fabric is actually not your favourite when you see it in person.
“It looks so different on me than on the hanger”
Yep, this is a frequent-flyer statement and yes, dresses come alive with a body inside them. Being open minded and trusting in the process means if I bring a dress into the changing room during your appointment there’s usually a reason.
“How do I style my dress with accessories?”
This is heaven to my ears and one of my fav parts of an appointment. By the time you have chosen the dress you love you can start to make it more ‘you’. If you want to add or take away sleeves, add a caped veil from the shoulders or choose a headband or jewellery to compliment the whole look then we stock many many options to try on in your appointment. We make ombre veils, embroidered detachable sleeves and can create jewellery especially for you. Let’s have fun and work it out together.
“Can I have time to think about it?”
And my answer is Yes. There’s no pushy sales here, this is the most important clothing purchase you’ll make.
If the dress you have chosen is an off-the-peg item then there is a limit to how long we can hold it for you. There is also limited space in the boutique so do please ask.
If your dress needs to be ordered from one of our collection brands, they do discontinue some stock and I can check that for you – I don’t want you to miss out.
If the dress is bespoke then there is a process to go through – you can read more about it on this blog.
“What if I need alterations?”
Well no worries on this count, I have done the research and found amazing seamstresses both locally and further afield, if you are travelling to Saltaire from across the UK. I’ll give you their details and you can make a booking with them directly, each one has their own studio for you to visit. They are lovely ‘fabric magicians’ who will guide you through, from taking up a hem to restructuring a bodice and everything in between.
I suggest booking in with the seamstress 3 months before the wedding (if you have that long) even if your wedding is a year away. You can make changes to your appointment date nearer the time, if necessary. The key point is that you have connected with the seamstress – they are amazing and therefore get very booked up.
In addition to the questions here, you’ll find lots more answered on the FAQ page and if your specific question is not covered here then please do get in touch (tracy@saltairebridal.co.uk) and I’ll do my very best to put your mind at ease so that you can enjoy your appointment fully – the way it should be.