We’re always here to support our beautiful LOVE brides during their wedding dress journey. Here, we have grouped together some Frequently Asked Questions to help you find a quick response to the questions we get asked a lot.
You just got engaged…what next?
Do I need to make an appointment to see the dresses or am I able to browse?
LOVE is located in a stunning old Victorian building with a spacious, air-conditioned dressing room which takes up the whole of the first floor of the boutique (she is a beauty!) We close the boutique for each and every bride during her appointment so you will have complete privacy during your appointment. For this reason we are by appointment only so to book your exclusive appointment please get in touch via email hello@lovebridalboutique.co.uk or via our enquiry form on our website and we can get you booked in with us.
Do I need to make an appointment to see the dresses or am I able to browse?
LOVE is located in a stunning old Victorian building with a spacious, air-conditioned dressing room which takes up the whole of the first floor of the boutique (she is a beauty!) We close the boutique for each and every bride during her appointment so you will have complete privacy during your appointment. For this reason we are by appointment only so to book your exclusive appointment please get in touch via email hello@lovebridalboutique.co.uk or via our enquiry form here on our website and we can get you booked in with us.
When should I make my appointment?
We recommend ordering your dress around 9-12 months before your wedding date. This will allow enough time for your dress to be handmade and for it to arrive in plenty of time before your wedding, as production can take up to seven months depending on the particular designer. The rest of the time will then be used for fittings and alterations (which start roughly 12 weeks before your wedding day). If you’re planning a more impromptu wedding however and working to much shorter timescales, then please do get in touch and we can advise you on the best way to secure a beautiful designer gown with a shorter lead time (a couple of our designers offer a “rush service”) or there is the option to buy one of our Sample Sale gowns “off the peg”.
How far in advance can I book an appointment?
We open our diary a maximum of 8 weeks in advance of an appointment date. When the time comes to you booking an appointment with us then do let us know your availability and if a weekday/evening or Saturday appointment would be best for you (please note we are closed on Sundays and Mondays). We can’t always guarantee that we will have availability on your preferred date as we hold occasional events in the boutique and also have a lot of existing brides to assist with their gowns but we will of course do our very best to accommodate your preferred date as best we possibly can.
I’m getting married in 2 years’ time, can I still visit you now?
Unfortunately, we can’t take appointments or orders more than 18 months in advance of a wedding date, as collection and ordering processes will have changed too much within that time frame. We would therefore recommend booking in with us a little closer to your wedding.
Which designers do you stock?
At LOVE we have hand-picked an eclectic range of refreshing, exciting bridal designers. These include Made with Love, Sassi Holford, Lola Varma, & For Love and Savannah Miller. From traditional to modern, whimsical to fashion forward, all of our gowns are luxurious and exquisitely designed.
To view our full collection of dresses currently stocked here at LOVE you can view these on our Pinterest board here pinterest.co.uk/lovebridalcheshire/our-dress-collection/
What’s the price range of your dresses?
Do you charge a booking fee?
How many guests can I bring to my appointment?
We can accommodate up to three guests per bride (4 including yourself), and we would usually recommend up to 2 guests. In our experience it can be very overwhelming for the bride with so many opinions, so a smaller number will result in a far more enjoyable experience for you.
As much as we love them, we have a strict policy of no children on site due to the boutique layout and health and safety. A bride’s newborn baby is permitted but we do ask you to bring a guest who can help settle and entertain them during your appointment.
How long is my appointment?
Do you ever have sale events?
We regularly hold sample sale events that are available to brides by appointment only. You can find out about these via our social media channels and by signing up to our LOVE Club. Alternatively, you can book a midweek sale appointment with us outside of our event and can view our current sale gowns on our Pinterest board here: pinterest.co.uk/lovebridalcheshire/sample-sale/
Your appointment is nearly here…
What should I wear or bring to my appointment? (i.e. shoes and underwear)
Nude underwear will ensure you can see the true potential of a gown. We may recommend removing your bra to ensure you see the full effect of a gown particularly if the dress has a low neckline/back detail, however if you are not comfortable with this then we completely understand and can work around this. We provide shoes to try on with your dresses in sizes 4 – 7, however, if you have your wedding shoes already, then please feel free to bring them with you as we’d love to see them!
What should I wear or bring to my appointment? (i.e. shoes and underwear)
Nude underwear will ensure you can see the true potential of a gown. We recommend removing your bra to ensure you see the full effect of a gown particularly if the dress has a low neckline/back detail, however if you are not comfortable with this then we completely understand and can work around this. We provide shoes to try on with your dresses in sizes 4 – 7, however, if you have your wedding shoes already, then please feel free to bring them with you – we’d love to see them!
What size dresses are available for me to try on?
The majority of dresses we stock vary in size from 10 to 16 with a few gowns sitting either side of this. We tend to stock one size for each dress in the boutique, with a few exceptions. Please note that depending on the designer we can order gowns up to a size 22.
How many dresses can I try on during my appointment?
In advance of your appointment we will ask you to pre-select up to 5 gowns that you’re really drawn to from our collection and these will be ready for you when you arrive for your appointment. During your appointment, we will then work with you to determine the style/shapes that suit you the most and that you prefer, making additional dress suggestions for you to try on.
Do you stock bridal accessories like shoes, veils and jewellery that I can try on too?
We stock a variety of veils from a range of different designers including Made with Love, Sassi Holford’s ‘The Couture Veil’ , luxurious hair accessories and jewellery from Hermione Harbutt. Eden b. Studio accessories are coming soon, too.
Is there anywhere to eat/drink/have a coffee nearby?
We are located in the fabulous market town of Altrincham, about 30 minutes (by road) outside of Manchester, which is filled with fabulous eateries, including the famous Altrincham Market.
LOVE is located on Oxford Road which is home to lots of independent businesses including specialist lingerie shop, Betty & Belle; a variety of beauty salons including the fabulous ‘Beau Beauty Therapy’, plus eateries including our personal favourites Oxford Road Café, Yara and California Coffee & Wine.
Other favourite haunts within Altrincham include The Con Club, Toast, Gran T’s, West Beverly, Most Bakery, So Marrakech and Blanchflower.
We’re also within walking distance of Hale Village with many other fabulous dining options including Victors, Juniper, Cibo and The Garden.
I’m travelling by car – is there parking nearby?
Yes, there is on street metered parking on Oxford Road (the road the boutique is located on!) for a maximum of 2 hours (you can pay for this via the RingGo app which can be downloaded before your appointment). There is also a Sainsbury’s close to the boutique which offers free parking (max stay 2 hours). As well as parking on local side streets and two local car parks – Goose Green Car Park & The Stamford Quarter Car Park.
I’m coming by train/tram into Altrincham, how far are you from the station?
Altrincham’s tram/ train station is just 5-10 minutes walk from the boutique depending on how quickly you walk!
You said “yes” to the dress…
How long does a wedding dress take to arrive and when should I be ordering?
We recommend ordering your dress around 8-12 months before your wedding date or fly date if you are getting married abroad.
How long does a wedding dress take to arrive and when should I be ordering?
We recommend ordering your dress at least 9-12 months before your wedding date or fly date if you are getting married abroad.
When do I need to pay for my dress?
We take a 50% initial payment on ordering, the remaining balance is then due around 4 months before your wedding date. If you are ordering your dress less than 9 months before your wedding/fly date (whichever is sooner) then we will need to take full payment at the time of ordering.
What happens after I purchase my dress?
Once you are a fully-fledged member of our LOVE Club we will send you a LOVE Welcome Pack detailing your order, timings and how to book your fitting appointments with our recommended seamstress. We will also arrange a date for you to visit us for a Styling Appointment once your dress has arrived with us to celebrate the arrival of your dress, at which point you can also try on any accessories with your dress too.
How many fittings will I need?
On average, brides need 2 dress fittings, but this can vary depending on what alterations/customisations need to be made.
What happens after my final fitting – will I get to take my dress away with me?
You will agree a collection date at your final fitting with the seamstress. Your dress will be pressed and placed in a white breathable dress bag when you come to collect it.
I’m getting married abroad. Can you give me any advice on how to transport my dress?
Your dress can be packed in your hand luggage or we recommend purchasing a bespoke Travel Box (which can be bought in different sizes to fit to your airline’s overhead locker specification). Travel boxes are available in a range of colours and designs. They are also acid free and come with acid free tissue to wrap your dress, this ensures the dress is protected and the colour preserved. Please enquire for more details about this.
How do you recommend I care for my dress after the big day?
We recommend getting your dress dry cleaned as soon as possible after your big day and we can give you the details of our recommended dry cleaner. We can also advise you on how to box your dress in order to preserve its condition. Our dry cleaner offers a boxing service too.
If you can’t see the answer to a question you’d like to ask us here, then please get in touch by emailing: hello@lovebridalboutique.co.uk. For even more wedding advice and inspiration read the LOVE blog or check out our Instagram and Pinterest pages.