What Do I Need to Know Before Buying a Wedding Gown on Long Island?
Bride and bridesmaids on the move in their beautiful wedding dresses. © Dan Wagner 2023
Before shopping for your bridal dress, you need to know how soon to shop, how much to pay, how to make sure your gown fits properly, and where to shop. Even if you’ve helped friends and family shop for their wedding dresses, it can still seem overwhelming when you’re shopping for your own. That’s only natural!
After all, you’re not just buying a dress, you’re buying a dream. Your wedding dress has to live up to the expectations you’ve had since childhood. More than that—you want everyone to love it as much as you do. From the first time your future husband see’s you walking down the aisle, and to the first and last dances, you want to have zero regrets about the wedding dress you’ve chosen. But guess what? The most important thing you’ll be wearing on your wedding day is your joy—that’s what matters!
Hopefully, this blog article about what you need to know before buying a wedding gown on Long Island will provide some useful information. Please view my other helpful wedding gown articles: How Double-Sided Fabric Tape Can Save Your Wedding Gown Catastrophe!, and 12 Best Bridal Shops in Long Island.
Video on What You Need to Know About Fitting Into Your Wedding Dress!
Best Long Island Bridal Dress Shop FAQs
When should I start shopping for my wedding gown? 9 to 12 months before your wedding or earlier.
How can I get the wedding gown I want ASAP? Find a designer what offers rush service, or a shop willing to sell you their floor sample.
Do I need to make an appointment with most Long Island bridal dress shops? Time and other brides permitting, some bridal shops will try to accommodate walk-ins.
Will my Long Island bridal dress shop allow me to try on wedding gowns on my own, and unsupervised? It depends on the shop. Because wedding gowns can easily be damaged, many shops require brides to work with a sales associate.
How long is a bridal dress shop appointment? Depending on the shop, many appointments are an hour long. This amount of time is often sufficient to try on 4 to 10 wedding gowns.
Am I allowed to take pictures of myself in the wedding gowns? Some shops have a no-picture policy, so be sure to ask before making your appointment.
What is the “standard” wedding gown length? According to my research, most wedding gowns come in a 5’7” length based on a 3” shoe heel. Ordering your wedding gown in a custom length often requires a modest additional charge.
What happens if I gain or loose weight after my wedding gown is ready? Wedding gown shops are only responsible for delivering the gown size you ordered. Fortunately, many shops work with talented seamstresses who may be able to let out your gown by a size or two, or take it by three or four sizes. A lot depends on the style of wedding gown, and the fabric.
Should I use my own seamstress to alter my wedding gown, or the Long Island bridal dress shop’s seamstress? That’s entirely up to you. Just keep in mind that the bridal shop is responsible for their seamstress’ work, but not for yours. This can be very important!
What should I bring to my first wedding gown fitting? You should bring the undergarments and shoes you intend to wear at your wedding. If you don’t have the shoes yet, then bring a pair of shoes with the heel length you plan to wear.
Beautiful Long Island bride with her wedding gown and bouquet. © Dan Wagner 2023
How Much Will My Wedding Gown Cost?
According to my research, designer wedding gown costs range from $2,000 to $10,000 and beyond.
A lovely off-the-rack wedding gown may be found for under $1,800. So much depends on luck. Many bridal dress experts believe the key to a great wedding gown is a great fit. Here’s where a dollar spent on alterations may save you ten dollars in gown cost.
How Can I Save Money on My Long Island Wedding Dress?
Order as early as possible to save money on rush fees.
Sometimes you can save money on your wedding dress by shopping during a slow month such as January.
In some cases, you can recycle expensive material from a relative’s dress such as lace or silk. Of course the chances of having enough of these materials, and of style matches may be remote.
How Much Are Bridesmaid Dresses?
Bridesmaid dresses often cost about $150, and are generally paid for by the bridesmaid. This includes accessories such as shoes, hair and makeup, and transportation.
Beautiful brides wearing their beautiful wedding gowns. © Dan Wagner 2023
What is Wedding Gown Preservation and Cleaning?
Some Long Island bridal dress shops such as The Bridal World offer a Wedding Gown Preservation Service. So, unless you’re planning on trashing your dress—this is an excellent way of preserving your treasured family heirloom!
“The cleaning and preservation process takes about 6-10 weeks and will be returned in a window box for easy viewing. Approximately 95% of all stains are able to be removed-including tar, blood, perspiration, grass, mud, grease and food.
You may also send in items such as your veil, gloves, garter, money bag, handkerchief or slip. Up to 3 items are included free of charge. REMEMBER: never store your gown in the attic or basement.”—The Bridal World
Photos of a Long Island bride and bridesmaids wearing beautiful dresses. © Dan Wagner 2023
Simple Tips for Long Island Wedding Gown Photography
As a Long Island wedding photographer, I was told by my mentor, the late great Bart Stevens, that I should always ask brides and bridesmaids to hold their bouquets at bellybutton height. This is a flattering position, and it looks nice when people hold their bouquets at the same height.
One of my favorite wedding gown photos is of the bride looking over her shoulder while holding the bouquet at her side.
When shooting on grass, wet areas, or any place that might stain the wedding gown, it’s important to put a drop cloth or other barrier down to help protect the gown. This is especially important if you’re taking photos before the wedding ceremony.
Naturally, it’s important to make sure the bottom of the wedding gown is draped attractively.
“As a Long Island wedding photographer I’ve photographed hundreds of beautiful wedding gowns. I can’t even begin to count the number of times I’ve bent down to make sure the bottom of the bride’s wedding gown was positioned properly. Some of my favorite wedding gown photos are of the maid of honor and bridesmaids helping the bride adjust her gown, the bride looking over her shoulder while holding the bouquet at her side, and romantic couple’s photos of the bride and groom in picturesque settings.”—Dan Wagner
Stay tuned for more Long Island wedding photography blog articles!
Every Bride and Groom Deserve Beautiful Wedding Photos!
Please feel free to share your thoughts and experiences about what you should know before buying a wedding gown in the comment box below. Have a wonderful wedding, and many thanks for visiting my Long Island wedding photographer blog!