What Will My Bridal Appointment Be Like?

Hi brides! Elise, here. I’m a bridal consultant with Kimberly James Bridal, and I’d love to share with you some information of what to expect at your bridal appointment with us!

The very first thing that will happen is that you will fill out a short form so we know your wedding date, venue, budget, and any information you have about what styles and silhouettes you are liking so far. If you have no idea about that yet, all good! We love helping brides try on a myriad of styles so as to find the favorite look.

Our appointments are 1.5 hours, so we have plenty of time to try on lots of gowns! You’ll have a specific bridal consultant working with you throughout your appointment, and she will guide you through our well-stocked showroom and take whichever gowns you are interested in to your salon’s fitting room. We generally say there is time to try 10-12 gowns, but more may be possible if time allows.

Once you feel you have seen all the options and are ready to try on, your consultant will assist you with getting into the gowns and fitting them to you correctly. Don’t worry if the samples are not all your size — that’s what clipping is for! Our samples are different sizes ranging from 6 to 18, and our Plus section has samples sized 18 to 40.  We will help you to envision exactly how the gowns will each look in the correct size.

Say you are really loving a certain style and want to see other similar options. At this point, your consultant may bring you some similar gowns from the showroom that you may have missed! Or if you are really liking the top of one gown and the skirt of another, for example, it may be that your consultant has the perfect option to add to your lineup!

Of course, we are also here to answer any styling questions, demonstrate how each dress could bustle, and to guide you through the decision-making process. Once you’ve tried your selection, it’s time to narrow it down to the favorites! Usually there is enough time to retry your favorites so you can make closer comparisons. This is also a good time to try a couple veil options, if only just to see how each gown may look with the complete wedding day fit! Throughout the whole appointment, your consultant will be your guide.

If you have narrowed it down to a few gowns and need to sleep on it, no worries! We take detailed notes so that when your Retry Appointment comes, we are ready to try the favorites again or suggest new options.

If you have narrowed it down to one gown and you are ready to commit, then we delight in getting the privilege to celebrate with you…you said ‘yes’ to the dress!! We especially love taking your photo in front of our “l Said Yes” wall, both for you and also for the KJB Instagram story!

Next up, we will review the contract with you, giving you time to read the details and sign. You will get a copy of the contract and payment details to take home with you. Payment can be taken in full that very day, should you choose, but most of our brides choose the 50% deposit option. The remaining 50% of your payment will be due at pickup. We take multiple forms of payment, so just let us know which is right for you! Lastly, your consultant will let you know around when to expect your gown to come in and will share any relevant timeline information.

If you buy a sample off the rack that day, and your wedding is coming up quickly, we can go ahead and book you into our Alterations schedule! We pride ourselves on being able to help a bride from the beginning to the end when it comes to the dress journey, and we are so lucky to have our incredible seamstress working right in the store with us to help our brides get it just right.

Have any other questions? Give us a call or shoot us an email! We are happy to help, and we cannot wait to see you at your appointment!